Places People Videos & Digital Resources

Stacked Homes A 4-Part Insiders Series

This video series explores unique homes in Singapore, from a 1940s worker dormitory in Katong, now a mid-century haven, to a designer couple's future-oriented home bursting with cinematic influences. It also features a bachelor's retreat blending Bali vibes with urban style in Tiong Bahru, and a heritage-infused walk-up apartment in Joo Chiat once home to Zubir Said, now reimagined with mid-century accents. Each space reflects reinvention, personal expression, and Singapore's architectural heritage.

Stacked-Homes-A-4-Part-Insiders-Series

Inside A 1940s Shophouse Unit With A Rustic Motorcyle Garage

Nestled in the heart of Katong's historic shophouse district, this unique home tells a story of thoughtful preservation and modern reinvention. Originally a 1940s worker dormitory, the space has been transformed by its current owners into a mid-century and minimalist haven, seamlessly blending vintage charm with contemporary design. Stripping back layers to reveal original red brickwork, the home honors its heritage while embracing a fresh layout that includes a cleverly elevated structure for flood prevention and a converted garage for motorcycle parking. With grey laminate, concrete, and brick accents, it's a space where history and modernity meet, creating a captivating backdrop for the couple and their mother-in-law, with no immediate plans for children, to call home.

Inside A Designer Couple's Old School Home In A Quiet Neighborhood

This home is a masterpiece of inspired design for a couple with future family plans. Drawing from cinematic and artistic influences like ""Constantine"" and ""Nighthawks,"" each space bursts with unique colours yet remains open, enhanced by morning sunlight. The circular architecture of nearby HDB blocks inspired the home's curved detailing and flexible layout, featuring three sliding window panels for natural ventilation, eschewing ceiling fans. Circular shapes echo throughout, from furniture to lamp swivels, creating a harmonious flow. Lamps over ceiling lights illuminate intentional curves, crafting a cozy, expansive atmosphere in this forever home, a testament to creative freedom and the charm of older flats.

 

Inside A Bachelor's Mid-Century Walk-Up Apartment In Tiong Bahru

This bachelor pad in Tiong Bahru is the perfect blend of Bali vibes and urban style, designed for a single American expat who values practicality and creativity. Featuring stone, walnut, wood, and micro cement ceilings, the home's aesthetic is decisively masculine. The interior showcases timber slats, custom metalwork, and a feature wall that strips back to the architecture's essence. Original balcony tiles are preserved, adding a touch of history. Designed to minimize clutter through clever storage solutions, this space is crafted for relaxation and ease. The homeowner's appreciation for the building's colonial history and unique triangular layout influenced a design that's both a statement and sanctuary.

Inside Zubir Said's Heritage Walk-Up Apartment with Mid-Century Accents in Joo Chiat

Once the creative haven of Zubir Said, where the melodies of Singapore's national anthem first echoed, this home carries a legacy intertwined with national pride and personal rejuvenation. Discovered by the current owner through a serendipitous walk, it has been lovingly transformed to honor its storied past. Infused with mid-century aesthetics, the space now showcases antique furniture, meticulously restored during the lockdown, blending with elements that celebrate Singapore's heritage, like kopitiam tiles and unique architectural features. Inspired by the Tiong Bahru SIT Flats, the redesign introduces light-enhancing metal-framed windows, while the thoughtful reconfiguration expands the kitchen and study, breathing new life into Zubir Said's former abode.

 





Other fascinating stories & events…

37 Emerald Hill Site Tours

18 - 19, 25 - 26 May • 10:00am

18 - 19, 25 - 26 May • 02:00pm

Come along for the first ever public site tours of 37 Emerald Hill, former home of Singapore Chinese Girls’ School, the first locally founded secular school for girls by our Straits-born community and conserved through a ground-up community effort.

A Bite of History - A Heritage Walk through Rochester Park

1 May • 12:00am

In this self-guided walking tour, explore and discover the stories and landmarks within Rochester Park, including the iconic black and white heritage bungalows that are a nod to Singapore's colonial past.

Appreciating the Architectural Moments of SCCCI over the Past Century

Enjoy a session of sensory display of how the SCCCI building maintain its stature of a century year old building. View through the eyes of the architect and avid photographers as they display the unique angles of the SCCCI building.