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Singapore's conservation & commercial shophouse authority

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Diagram of a Singapore shophouse entrance showing the pintu pagar half-door and folding timber doors

Heritage · Details

Pintu Pagar and Timber Shutters

The half-doors, louvres and carved timber that give shophouse entrances their character.

Common timber elements

ElementRole
Pintu pagarHalf-door for airflow and privacy.
Main timber doorsFolding or panel doors.
Louvred shuttersVentilation and light control.
Timber windowsUpper-floor casements.
Shophouse façade diagram highlighting timber louvred shutters and windows
Shutters control light and airflow.

Restoration approach

  • Repair rather than replace where possible.
  • Use compatible timber and finishes.
  • Obtain URA approval for changes visible from the street.
Three shophouse entrances in different styles with timber doors
Entrance detail varies by style.
Four-step diagram for restoring timber doors and shutters on a shophouse
A careful approach to timber.

Sources

Frequently Asked Questions

What does pintu pagar mean?+

It is Malay for fence door, describing the half-door at a shophouse entrance.

Can I replace timber windows with aluminium?+

On conserved façades, original timber elements are generally required to be retained or restored; confirm with URA.