New community space for heritage landmark

Housed within a century-old heritage building, Temasek Shophouse’s transformed space is designed to invite people to linger, learn, and connect. In this project, we have explored how heritage, community, and landscape can coexist within a compact urban site.

Working with Temasek Shophouse, we designed a landscape that blends shaded terraces, pedestrian-friendly paths, and intimate garden spaces with native planting, passive cooling, and water-sensitive features. Every corner of the roughly 3,000 sqm outdoor area (around seven basketball courts) was carefully considered to support biodiversity, create comfort for visitors, and maintain a visible connection to the heritage building.

Honoring heritage through material reuse

The history of the shophouse continues in its landscape through the reuse of materials. Salvaged glass from the former façade and crushed terracotta roof tiles have been repurposed into new paving that guides visitors through terraces and gardens. Excess tiles were transformed into the Habitat Tree, a sculptural installation that offers perches for birds and surfaces for climbing plants. Timber salvaged from felled trees appears in outdoor furniture and seating across the garden terraces. These material choices reduce embodied carbon while preserving a tangible connection to the site’s architectural heritage, ensuring that the landscape has impact and is unmistakably local.

“In a compact heritage site, every design decision matters. We used planting, water, and materials deliberately to support biodiversity while creating a space people want to spend time in.” says Jia Xin Chum, APAC Regional Director for Landscape, Henning Larsen

A living, community landscape

Native and regional planting forms the ecological backbone of the project, with 15 tree species and 55 shrub species supporting pollinators, birds, and insects throughout the year. Mature trees have been carefully preserved to maintain ecological continuity, while new interventions introduce layered habitats across the site.

Three nature-focused spaces each play a distinct role. The Rain Garden collects and temporarily holds stormwater while attracting amphibians and dragonflies. The Tiny Forest introduces dense planting that supports bird-rich micro-ecosystems. The Community Farm by Fullerton Fund Management encourages hands-on gardening and local food awareness, inviting the community to engage directly with the landscape.

Shaded terraces, garden rooms, and pedestrian paths create space for everyday encounters, from informal gatherings to workshops and events, reinforcing the shophouse’s role as a social impact hub.

Designed for Singapore’s tropical climate

Swales, rain gardens, and permeable paving slow stormwater runoff and help filter pollutants before water is stored and reused for irrigation. Rainwater captured by the arrival shelter supports irrigation for the garden terraces and urban farming areas, helping the landscape remain resilient and self-sustaining. Solar panels integrated throughout the building generate renewable energy on site.

“Temasek Shophouse gave us the opportunity to explore how heritage spaces can contribute to a regenerative urban future, showing how cities can evolve more responsibly through design.” says Jia Xin Chum, APAC Regional Director for Landscape, Henning Larsen

Temasek Shophouse reopened to the public on September 29, 2025. The gardens reopened on March 14, 2026.