the back of the site,” says Molina. “It was
not suitable for residential use. The traditional roof structure, material and design
had also been significantly altered. And
there were two office doors in the front
facade, rather than a single entry.”
The architect says these two doors
were removed and replaced with one
painted door with a double-leaf wood
panel. This has the ornamental details of
the late shophouse period when the house
was built – in accordance with the URA’s
conservation facade guidelines.
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Double casement wood panel windows
were reinstated with vertical iron bars in
front of the timber-framed glass screen.
And painted rectangular transoms with
carved panels and frames were restored.
“The second-floor facade was also
returned to the late shophouse style,” says
Maria Arango. “It now has longer double
French windows with operable louvres,
carved timber posts and rail balustrades,
and segmented, arched fanlights with
clear glazed panels. The existing moulded
cornices, composite column capitals
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and decorative facade reliefs were also
repaired carefully and restored. The shiny
enamel-finished dado tiles on the facade
are another link to the Peranakan roots of
the shophouse.”
The architects worked with the local
conservation authorities to restore the roof
to its correct design, reinstating the original unglazed tiles that were found on site.
One structural change was possible, however – a lantern roof with a skylight was
introduced to bring more light into the
centre of the house.