Houzz Tours
Houzz Tour: Conservation Shophouse Gets a European Sensibility
This gazetted property in Singapore was reconfigured and renovated for a Danish couple by a French design studio
Interior and product designer Romain Chauveau of Supercraft Studio may be based in Paris, but that hasn’t stopped overseas fans from commissioning him to work on their homes. Case in point: a Danish couple living in Singapore who had been introduced to him by a mutual friend. Romain Chauveau (as the designer prefers to be known) shares: “They liked our work, and gave us a chance!”
Because the Chinatown shophouse is gazetted, the facade had to be preserved. “We wanted to do this anyway as the shophouse is such an important part of Singapore’s history and the facade is a large part of the allure of owning one”, he says.
Because the Chinatown shophouse is gazetted, the facade had to be preserved. “We wanted to do this anyway as the shophouse is such an important part of Singapore’s history and the facade is a large part of the allure of owning one”, he says.
Romain Chauveau’s foremost goal was to transform the dark spaces – typical of a shophouse that only has windows in its narrow front and back ends, and a small airwell in the centre – into light-filled spaces.
The shophouse’s pre-renovation condition (right) consisted of dark, small spaces. It had been previously renovated to fit five bedrooms, with limited area for socialising. “The plan didn’t support a social lifestyle for entertaining and receiving guests”, Romain Chauveau says.
As his Danish clients had a limited budget and a short timeline for the renovation, the designer reconfigured the plan (left) with as little structural changes as possible. He tore open all the bedrooms for a clean slate. Because the homeowners only required a master bedroom and a guest bedroom, the rest of the footprint was intended for leisure (a gym on the ground floor, for example) and entertaining.
As his Danish clients had a limited budget and a short timeline for the renovation, the designer reconfigured the plan (left) with as little structural changes as possible. He tore open all the bedrooms for a clean slate. Because the homeowners only required a master bedroom and a guest bedroom, the rest of the footprint was intended for leisure (a gym on the ground floor, for example) and entertaining.
In European style, the level above the ground floor is called the first floor, and the two bedrooms were relocated here. Romain Chauveau enlarged the guest bathroom and reoriented the master bathroom fixtures for efficiency and more space. He also made use of the space by the main stairs and airwell as a private lounge.
The designer wanted to curate and honour the history and aesthetic of the shophouse in the interiors. He did this by chipping away at the plaster of the party wall to expose the red brick as well as the concrete slab and beams installed when the previous owner had an extension built. He also preserved the elaborately-carved wooden doors of the master bedroom and the Peranakan tiles on its steps.
The homeowners wanted to retain most of their furniture, so the designer selected complementary as well as custom-designed built-ins that would work with the look of the existing pieces.
The homeowners wanted to retain most of their furniture, so the designer selected complementary as well as custom-designed built-ins that would work with the look of the existing pieces.
The master bathroom features his-and-her washbasins and a freestanding bathtub. In keeping with the exposed concrete of most parts of the house, it too wears that raw finish.
The guest bedroom, located on the same floor towards the front end, has a custom-built study-cum-bed and open-concept wardrobe.
Romain Chauveau relocated the entertaining spaces to the top floor of the shophouse. Living hall, dining room, kitchen, terrace and a bathroom are all here for the convenience of homeowners – who enjoy entertaining – and their guests.
This reconfiguration allowed for a new kitchen to be built from scratch, and for an atrium effect for both the airwell through to the ground floor, as well as the trellis-style exposed beams that introduce more light to the first floor.
This reconfiguration allowed for a new kitchen to be built from scratch, and for an atrium effect for both the airwell through to the ground floor, as well as the trellis-style exposed beams that introduce more light to the first floor.
The living hall enjoys exposed brick and rafters that are emphasised by the open bookcase.
The dining area, which seats eight comfortably, was not photographed.
The dining area, which seats eight comfortably, was not photographed.
His original clients have moved, says Romain Chauveau, and “ownership has since passed on a British couple in their late fifties who thankfully appreciated the design and planning just as much”.
With the designer and his team’s thoughtful space planning and loving attention to the history of the house, it’s no wonder that the French studio continues to design homes in Singapore.
Tell us
What did you like best in this home? Share in the Comments below.
With the designer and his team’s thoughtful space planning and loving attention to the history of the house, it’s no wonder that the French studio continues to design homes in Singapore.
Tell us
What did you like best in this home? Share in the Comments below.
Who lives here: A British couple in their 50s now live here, after it had been renovated for a Danish couple in their early 40s
Where is it: Blair Plain in Tanjong Pagar
Size: 250 square metres (approx. 2,690 square feet); 2 bedrooms, 4.5 bathrooms
Project duration: 6 months