Cover The façade of the House of Tan Yeok Nee on Penang Road
The façade of the House of Tan Yeok Nee on Penang Road
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Singapore’s last traditional Teochew mansion reopens following a meticulous conservation led by DP Architects and the Karim Family Foundation—reviving craft, scholarship and heritage as a living discipline
At first glance, the House of Tan Yeok Nee stands apart on Penang Road—a walled Teochew mansion holding its ground amid glass towers and traffic. Following its reopening last October, Singapore’s last surviving traditional Teochew mansion returns to public life through an approach rooted in craft, accumulated history and a deep respect for tradition—treating heritage as a living discipline rather than a static relic.
Built between 1882 and 1885 by Teochew merchant Tan Yeok Nee, the National Monument has long resisted singular definition. Over more than 140 years, it has moved between lives—as a family home, a refuge for orphaned girls, the Salvation Army’s headquarters, a university campus and a traditional Chinese medicine hall. The most recent restoration resists the temptation to arrest the building in any one of these eras. Rather than privileging a single “original” moment, the project honours the house’s layered lives, recognising history as cumulative—shaped by use, adaptation and conservation.
Above Interior view of the main courtyard of the House of Tan Yeok Nee
Interior view of the main courtyard of the House of Tan Yeok Nee
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That philosophy informed the year-long restoration led by DP Architects and conservation consultant Yeo Kang Shua, associate professor at the Singapore University of Technology and Design, under the stewardship of the Karim Family Foundation, which acquired the property in 2022. With a focus on cultural conservation and long-term custodianship, the foundation approached the project as a commitment to keeping a National Monument meaningfully active in public life. Archival research, material analysis and historical documentation informed every decision. Where original fabric could be retained, it was stabilised. Where elements had been lost, reinstatement followed documented precedent rather than conjecture. The aim was architectural integrity and historical accuracy, not visual perfection.
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Above The roof is crowned with intricate ceramic shard appliqués executed in the traditional Teochew “qian-ci” inlaying technique
The roof is crowned with intricate ceramic shard appliqués executed in the traditional Teochew “qian-ci” inlaying technique
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Craft sits at the centre of this work. Teochew ceramic roof inlays, executed using the traditional qian-ci technique, were carefully conserved. Murals depicting Chinese folklore and episodes from Tan Yeok Nee’s life were revived with restraint. Timber carvings—balustrades, phoenix and peony motifs, dragonfish-shaped corbels—were restored or newly commissioned using traditional methods. Even the carp-shaped rainwater spouts, both ornamental and functional, were preserved as working artefacts. In safeguarding material fabric, the project also preserves endangered craft knowledge.
Above Timber carvings in the main entrance hall finished with 24-karat gold gilding
Timber carvings in the main entrance hall finished with 24-karat gold gilding
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Scholarship underpins this approach. The conservation journey is formally documented in Honourable Mansion: The Invisible Hands Behind Singapore’s Last Teochew House, authored by Yeo and published by the International Council on Monuments and Sites (Icomos) Singapore. More than a commemorative volume, the book serves as a permanent scholarly record—positioning conservation as a rigorous, accountable practice.
Above Newly reinstated balustrades—an essential element in Chinese architecture—are joined by restored entrance gates
Newly reinstated balustrades—an essential element in Chinese architecture—are joined by restored entrance gates
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Above A carp sculpture anchoring the main courtyard
A carp sculpture anchoring the main courtyard
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Above The pavilion’s entrance door has been carefully reinstated
The pavilion’s entrance door has been carefully reinstated
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The house’s reactivation is equally measured. A heritage gallery, artist residencies and cultural programming return the building to public life without compromising its architectural integrity. Here, philanthropy functions as enabling infrastructure—supporting the time, expertise and long-term care that serious conservation demands.
In a city defined by reinvention, the House of Tan Yeok Nee offers a more exacting model: one where stewardship is earned through scholarship, craft and restraint—and where heritage is preserved not by freezing time, but by honouring it.
Credits
Images: Darren Soh
As Senior Editor of Tatler Singapore, Hashirin champions and refines the storytelling across platforms—curating and crafting compelling profiles, cover stories and features that spotlight visionaries shaping culture, business and impact. Driven by curiosity, she draws inspiration from the artists, changemakers and trailblazers she encounters through her work. Beyond the pages of Tatler, she is an avid supporter of local theatre and delights in seeking out art in every city she visits.
