Shoppers in the Orchard Road area will have access to a new outdoor community space on March 14, located outside the newly revamped Temasek Shophouse. The space, roughly 3,000 square meters – the size of seven basketball courts – is designed to support local biodiversity and serve as a gathering place for the public.
New Community Space Features
The outdoor space includes a community farm, a garden terrace with cooling features, and shaded seating areas, all of which will be available to the public free of charge. The area is intended to host events such as outdoor cinema screenings, performances, and public lectures, according to Ms. Chum Jia Xin, studio director of design studio Henning Larsen, which collaborated with Temasek Shophouse on the project.
“Quality outdoor spaces in Singapore are something much needed,” said Ms. Yvonne Tay, chief executive of Temasek Shophouse, during a media preview on March 12. “A space that is thoughtfully designed, not just to attract the birds and bees and butterflies, but also to attract humans to coexist side by side with nature.”
Shelters and cooling systems have been installed to improve thermal comfort for visitors.
Temasek Shophouse Renovation Complete
The opening of the outdoor community space marks the completion of a four-year renovation of Temasek Shophouse, which now houses event venues, co-working spaces, and food and beverage outlets. The shophouse initially underwent renovation in 2023 and reopened in September 2025 after expanding from one to four interconnected units.
Including the outdoor spaces, Temasek Shophouse now spans 9,200 square meters, equivalent to 22 basketball courts.
Sustainability Features
The revamped space incorporates a range of sustainability features, including solar panels, hybrid cooling systems, energy-efficient lighting, and rainwater harvesting. A hybrid cooling system, along with ceiling fans and carbon dioxide sensors, adjusts airflow and cooling based on occupancy and indoor air quality.
“Bug hotels” – man-made shelters for insects – and roosting structures for birds were incorporated using recycled materials such as old steel frames and roof tiles from the renovation. Mature trees, such as angsana and yellow flame, were preserved, and native plants were added throughout the space.
“The outdoor space and conserved shophouse are designed to support strong community interaction, strengthen the relationship with nature and improve energy efficiency,” said Ms. Naree Phinyawatana, director of environmental design consultancy Atelier Ten, which worked on Temasek Shophouse’s sustainability framework.
Henning Larsen’s Ms. Chum noted that the project demonstrates how cities can evolve responsibly. Since reopening, Temasek Shophouse has hosted sustainability events such as the Green House Festival 2025 and Farmers Market. Ms. Tay stated that the expanded space will allow for a greater depth and breadth of events, and the organization hopes to hold sustainability events and educational workshops in the future.
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