Luxury co-living: Pre-war terrace house-style

Why is co-living going luxe, and what has restoration got to do with it?

Melody Bay & Michelle Bong Lejtenyi

Always wondered what it’s like live in a Shanghai Art Deco-style shophouse decorated with exquisite pieces by homegrown furniture brand Scene Shang? You could ask one of the tenants at Shang House.

A four-storey pre-war terrace house in Pegu Road, it features a soaring ceiling, bright airy minimalism, and beautifully curated Scene Shang furniture and accessories celebrating classic Asian elements and contemporary minimalism.

As a nod to the shophouse’s location in the Balestier area — which has a rich history in rattan manufacturing — you’ll find rattan bed frames, lights, entrance screens and a special wicker edition of the award-winning modular side table, Shang System.

The house’s five suites, each with its own bathroom, range from a cosy attic room to a palatial master bedroom complete with a walk-in wardrobe. Rentals range from $2,000 to $4,000 monthly

A ready market

Shang House was created by Figment, a boutique co-living rental agency that works with artists to reimagine curated shophouses as art and design living spaces in vibrant enclaves. Unlike other shared living space market players such as Cooliv and Hmlet, it is the only one to operate out of heritage shophouses.

Homes such as Shang House are rented out to clients, or Figment members. They hail from all over the world, and their average age is the early 30s. Some of the curated activities they get to experience with Figment include cocktail mixing classes, pop-up art exhibitions and private dining sessions with handpicked local chefs.

Protecting a slice of history

More than just offering homes, Figment’s approach also helps preserve Singapore’s architectural heritage.

Says Figment founder Fang Low, “To us, shophouses are much more than the commoditised real estate — each one is a unique work of art. Our owners allow us to assist in restoring their shophouse to its former glory; many have seen better days, and it is a joy to uncover undeveloped gems filled with unique stories.

“We start by researching historical archives to understand the background of the shophouse and the context of the neighbourhood. We then use this context to inform the design briefs, and we go on to select and partner Singaporean architects, interior designers, artisans and even pottery studios. We also invite local artists to craft unique work that contributes to the design narrative of each shophouse.”

While the co-living concept is not new, Low says we are starting to see the trend mature, and become more specialised.

He explains: “In an era of social distancing where space is at a premium, sharing a 3,500 sq ft shophouse compared to a 1,000 sq ft condo can be a real game changer. Up until Covid-19 struck, we had seen healthy, growing demand for boutique co-living … as a lifestyle, it has become more mainstream as people are drawn to it as a way to express their social habits and preference for flexible leases and allinclusive, hassle-free living

“We have recently seen more Singaporeans interested in experiencing shophouse-living move in with us, although we are definitely more popular with the expat population.”

In the next two to three years, Low believes demand will grow. He says, “Figment shophouses might not be for everyone. That said, we have seen a global move towards experiential travel, and a romantic notion to return to traditional ways of living at human-scale and within a tight-knit community.

“I believe more people will choose to live in such homes with character, with unbelievable street level ambience. I sincerely believe stronger memories of their travels will be built that way.”

Find out more about Shang House and the other Figment homes here. The original article was published on Home & Decor Singapore on Feb 21, 2020