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Annotated illustration of a Chinese Baroque style shophouse with a curved gable and arched windows

Heritage · Styles

Chinese Baroque Shophouse Style

Where Chinese motifs meet European ornament on Singapore's façades.

Typical elements

  • Curved or decorated parapets and gables.
  • Plaster relief with Chinese and European motifs.
  • Colourful glazed or painted decoration.
Decorative tile pattern illustration inspired by Chinese Baroque shophouse ornament
Ornamental motifs.

Context

It is a decorative idiom rather than one of URA's six formal classification styles. See the styles comparison.

Comparison of a Chinese Baroque style shophouse and a Late style shophouse
Related, but not identical.
Labelled diagram of Chinese Baroque shophouse façade elements
Key elements.

Sources

Frequently Asked Questions

What is Chinese Baroque architecture?+

A hybrid decorative approach combining Chinese motifs with European Baroque detail.

Is Chinese Baroque a URA style?+

URA's six styles are Early, First Transitional, Late, Second Transitional, Art Deco and Modern; Chinese Baroque is a descriptive term for decoration.