Social impact hub Temasek Shophouse (TSH) is opening its new outdoor community space to the public on 14 March 2026, blending heritage conservation with sustainability and community engagement. The space aims to foster biodiversity, promote environmental learning, and support public participation, aligning with Singapore’s vision to integrate nature into urban life and transform Orchard Road into a greener, more family-friendly destination.
This marks the completion of a multi-year transformation guided by TSH’s holistic sustainability framework, which carefully balances the site’s historic character with contemporary environmental and social needs. Key features include solar panels, hybrid cooling systems, energy-efficient lighting, rainwater harvesting, pollinator-friendly native plants, and a community farm, all designed to create an eco-conscious and inclusive environment.
A Living Testbed for Sustainable Design
TSH’s Sustainability Framework, developed in consultation with SJ Group’s Sustainability & Resilience Office and environmental design firm Atelier Ten, encompasses seven pathways: Optimised Energy Performance; Climate Resilience; Landscape & Biodiversity; Holistic Water Management; Health & Wellbeing; Material & Resource Circularity; and Inclusive & Supportive Community.
The framework follows local and international benchmarks for energy efficiency, low-carbon operations, sustainable building design, resource efficiency, occupant health, and waste reduction. With adaptive reuse of the original shophouses, TSH significantly reduces embodied carbon and construction waste.
Energy-saving measures include:
- Solar panels offsetting part of electricity demand
- Hybrid cooling system with ceiling fans and CO₂ sensors to optimise airflow and indoor air quality
- Rainwater harvesting to reduce potable water use
These innovations are expected to deliver up to 47% energy savings, surpassing Singapore’s Super Low Energy standard of 40%, a remarkable achievement for a conserved heritage building.
TSH is also on track to become the first heritage shophouse in Singapore to achieve both BCA Green Mark Platinum Zero Energy and WELL Building Institute WELL Certification (Platinum).
Reimagining Outdoor Spaces for Nature and Community
In collaboration with design firm Henning Larsen, TSH has transformed its courtyards into green social spaces, preserved mature trees, and repurposed timber from older trees into furniture and fixtures. Fully native planting enhances biodiversity and ecological resilience, while landscape features also support rainwater management.
Wall murals along the canal connect TSH’s heritage with its sustainable future, emphasizing its dual role as a conserved landmark and a forward-looking social impact hub.
Partnerships Driving Decarbonisation and Community Engagement
TSH’s sustainability initiatives are strengthened through partnerships with Sembcorp and Fullerton Fund Management.
- Sembcorp supports decarbonisation across the site, showcasing practical solutions for reducing operational carbon footprints in heritage buildings.
- Fullerton Fund Management manages the TSH community farm, hosting workshops, farm tours, Farmers’ Markets, and a farm-to-table experience with Bibik Violet, promoting sustainable living and local food resilience.
Preserving Heritage, Inspiring Sustainability
Built in the early 1900s, the shophouses that form TSH were once home to landmarks such as the Malayan Motors showroom and Midfilm House. Through adaptive reuse, TSH preserves Singapore’s architectural legacy while demonstrating how heritage buildings can meet modern sustainability standards, providing a model for inclusive, eco-conscious urban development.
