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Landmark explainer

Temasek Shophouse, Singapore: what it is and how to visit

Facts as of · Independent explainer

Illustration of a row of Art Deco conservation shophouses with a covered five-foot way and shuttered upper windows
A generic Art Deco shophouse row. Original illustration by Shophouses Singapore. Generic artwork, not a depiction of any specific building, brand or business.

Short answer

Temasek Shophouse is a social impact hub at 28 Orchard Road, opposite Dhoby Ghaut MRT station. It occupies a conserved Art Deco building completed in 1928 and, since its September 2025 reopening, has spanned four linked heritage shophouses. It is owned by Temasek Trust, the philanthropic arm of Temasek. It is a working hub and event venue, not a shophouse for sale or a hotel.

Shophouses Singapore is an independent property resource. We are not affiliated with, endorsed by, or acting for Temasek Shophouse, Temasek Trust or any Temasek entity. Names are used only to identify the subject of this explainer.

Key facts

Address
28 Orchard Road, Singapore 238832
Original building
Completed 1928 as a townhouse; Art Deco with neo-classical elements
Owner
Temasek Trust (per Wikipedia and Surbana Jurong project page)
Expanded site
Four internally linked units (16, 22, 28 and 38 Orchard Road), about 6,400 sqm per CNA
Reopening
Public soft launch 29 September 2025; outdoor spaces slated for January 2026 (CNA)
Nearest MRT
Dhoby Ghaut (NS24, NE6, CC1)

What is Temasek Shophouse?

Temasek Shophouse describes itself as a social impact hub: a place where social enterprises, charities and philanthropic organisations work, meet and hold events. Wikipedia and the project page of its restoration architects both record that the building is home to Temasek's philanthropic arms, including Temasek Trust, Temasek Foundation and Stewardship Asia Centre, alongside co-working partners and a social enterprise cafe.

Despite the name, it is not a developer's shophouse project or a listing. For how real conservation shophouses are bought and leased, see our conservation shophouses guide.

History and heritage context

  1. 1928

    Four-storey building completed as a townhouse for businessmen Chee Guan Chiang and Ee Kong Guan (Wikipedia).

  2. 2019

    Restored and opened as Temasek Shophouse; the restoration received a URA Architectural Heritage Award (Wikipedia).

  3. Aug 2022

    Announced that the hub would close for works to extend into adjacent shophouses (Wikipedia).

  4. May 2025

    CNA reports the expanded hub, now three adjoining buildings larger, due to reopen by Q4 2025.

  5. 29 Sep 2025

    Public soft launch of the expanded hub (CNA Lifestyle).

CNA Lifestyle reported that the added buildings are among the few remaining street blocks of shophouses on downtown Orchard gazetted for conservation by URA, and that original staircases, tiles and a faded heritage facade sign were deliberately kept.

What is inside

Spaces reported by CNA (May and September 2025). Layout and availability can change.
SpaceWhat reports say
Co-workingMore than 60 co-working spaces across units 22 and 28, including hot desks and co-working offices
CafeForeword Coffee in unit 28; see our Foreword Coffee explainer
EventsCorporate activities, social events and exhibitions, including a third-storey event space called Tembusu Canopy
Outdoor areasTwo outdoor spaces slated to open in January 2026 (check current status)

How to visit

  1. 1

    Take the MRT

    Dhoby Ghaut station (North-South, North East and Circle lines) is directly opposite, per Wikipedia and Surbana Jurong.

  2. 2

    Check official channels first

    Opening hours, event schedules and access rules change, and we do not publish them. Confirm on Temasek Shophouse's own website or social channels.

  3. 3

    Look up while you walk

    The Art Deco massing and neighbouring conserved shophouses make it worth a slow walk along this stretch of Orchard Road.

Why it matters for shophouse buyers and tenants

  • It is an example of adaptive reuse: linking several conserved units into one operating space while keeping original features.
  • URA conservation guidelines apply to works on conserved buildings; its Conservation Portal shows a building's conservation status and allowable uses.
  • Heritage fit-outs take planning and time: the 2022 announcement and 2025 reopening span roughly three years.

Explore how this plays out for investors in our conservation shophouse investment guide and the Orchard district hub.

People also ask

What is Temasek Shophouse?+

A social impact hub at 28 Orchard Road in Singapore, housed in conserved heritage shophouses and owned by Temasek Trust. It hosts social enterprises, co-working, events and a cafe.

Is Temasek Shophouse a real shophouse?+

Yes. The original building at 28 Orchard Road was completed in 1928, and CNA reports the expanded hub links three adjoining heritage shophouses.

Who owns Temasek Shophouse?+

Wikipedia and the Surbana Jurong project page identify Temasek Trust, the philanthropic arm of Temasek, as the owner and client.

Is Temasek Shophouse open to the public?+

CNA reported a public reopening on 29 September 2025. Hours and event access vary, so check the venue's official channels before you go.

Is Temasek Shophouse for sale or rent?+

We have seen no indication that it is. This site is not affiliated with it and does not market it. For genuine shophouse inventory, see our listings pages.

Where is Temasek Shophouse?+

28 Orchard Road, Singapore 238832, opposite Dhoby Ghaut MRT station.

Sources

Facts as of 5 November 2026. Pages we link to may have changed since.

  1. Temasek Shophouse, Wikipedia. Accessed 2026-11-05.
  2. Temasek Shophouse to reopen by end-2025 with retail, community and social spaces, CNA, 28 May 2025. Accessed 2026-11-05.
  3. First look: Refreshed, expanded social impact hub Temasek Shophouse, CNA Lifestyle, 24 Sep 2025. Accessed 2026-11-05.
  4. Restoring the art deco masterpiece of Temasek Shophouse, Surbana Jurong. Accessed 2026-11-05.
  5. Conservation Guidelines, Urban Redevelopment Authority. Accessed 2026-11-05.

Next step

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Last reviewed 5 November 2026. See all shophouse explainers.