South African expat MICHAEL BURGESS explains how some careful design planning and renovation in Singapore turned an old Katong shophouse into the perfect family pad.
Tell us a little about yourself and your Singapore journey.
I’m originally from Johannesburg, where I grew up, attended school and graduated from university. I lived in Italy for about six years before moving to Singapore on the back of a great job opportunity in 1996. I’ve been based here ever since, working as managing director and CEO of several large-scale creative production businesses. I’ve since gone out on my own and started two businesses.
In 2010, I took Singapore citizenship. I married my wife Melissa in 2016, and now have two young boys, Liam (5) and Luca (3).
Where have you lived in Singapore, and what drew you to your Katong shophouse?
We’ve previously owned condos but have always liked shophouses, given their historical links with Singapore and their unique layouts and design features. As the family grew, we needed more space. A shophouse was a good solution. We purchased this one in 2017 and renovated it over 2018 and 2019.
Most properties have pros and cons, so the design solution for our shophouse was important. Shophouses tend to lack light – they usually don’t have windows on the sides, and only some have skylights or light wells. They also have a different flow, given their long narrow topography.
There aren’t many conservation shophouses left, and we felt that ours offered us the best mix of size, location and opportunity to make it the home we wanted.
What appealed to you about the area?
Katong is great from a lifestyle point of view. School is a short walk away, and there are doctors, malls, supermarkets, restaurants, pubs, hardware stores and hawker centres within a short walking distance.
There’s also a lively feel here, and we’ve seen some gentrification – new houses and condos, great restaurants and coffee shops. In addition, we’re excited about the MRT being completed; the station will be about 200 metres from our house.
The commute is also short from here. It’s about 10 minutes to Raffles Place and 15 minutes to the airport, both on the ECP.
What was the shophouse like when you bought it?
Some renovation work had been done but it was poorly planned and badly executed. A huge stairway took up a lot of the living room, the kitchen was tiny and the upstairs rooms poorly laid out. Some rooms were insufficiently insulated so the house was very hot. Fittings and fixtures weren’t great either, and the interior was in disrepair. So, while there was an opportunity to salvage the house, it made more sense to redo it completely.
We’ve renovated four properties already so we could see the potential here, and we had an idea of what we were letting ourselves in for.
It now looks amazing! Tell us more about your shophouse renovation project.
The architects (Maria Arango and Diego Molina from ONG&ONG) did a fantastic job interpreting our brief. They used the space in an efficient, functional and attractive way.
We were very clear about what we wanted. The design of the house needed to support and complement our lifestyle, and we were hands-on throughout the design process, including selecting materials and finishes. We also worked with some contractors we’d identified to do the carpentry, kitchen and storage.
It was a major renovation and needed almost everything to be demolished and reconfigured. The central spiral stairway was a very clever solution – it’s both attractive and functional as it splits the house down the middle and the rooms radiate out, giving each one easy access, privacy and maximised useable space. There’s also a large skylight above the stairway that helps brighten the whole house.
The house has a great logic too – children’s room on the same floor as ours, ensuite bathrooms, a great openplan kitchen, and a pool at the back. We installed a glass wall overlooking the pool, and the doors fold away completely so the kitchen opens directly onto the pool deck. It gives a nice, open feel.
We spent a lot of time on the details. When we travel, we collect things from the places we go. Most of the furniture is handmade in Portugal, and many of the pictures and decorations are from across Europe, Asia and Africa. We also sourced our light fittings – they’re a mix of pre- and post-war European designs and some reinvented 1940s designs from the US.
We sourced most of our linen from shops in Europe that have been operating since the 1700s. The interesting woollen fabrics for our curtains and blankets are made by a husband-and-wife team who bought an old factory and have reinvented the manufacturing process using local sourced wool.
There are handmade ceramic Moroccan tiles in the bathroom and Portuguese tiles in the pool area. They have a very particular feel, and add to the overall quality we wanted. As far as possible, we used handmade items and natural materials from small artisans and small businesses rather than large-scale manufactured items.
What are your tips for doing a rebuild or renovation in Singapore?
You can get involved in a renovation and make it what you want it to be. However, this does mean you need to know what you want – and to be able to find partners to help you achieve this. Be specific about your priorities; provide examples of designs, furnishings, finishes and materials you like – and provide as clear a brief as you can to all parties involved.
What have been your best buys, furniture or home décor-wise?
Our furniture is all handmade out of solid wood, and exactly the designs we wanted. So it was customised to the space it was going to occupy. For example, the sofas in the living room and family room have extra deep seats, and the width makes them fit in the respective areas. The dining table is also a custom width and depth as we knew it would sit partially under the stairs. We chose a lighter wood so it would brighten up the space, and be big enough to host eight people without obstructing the flow of people.
The kitchen and island were also a very good addition. During the day, the kitchen is the centre of the house, and the counter lets us work there with easy access to coffee and food. It’s also important over the weekend when we’re using the pool and playing with the boys. It’s just a very practical space that daily activity revolves around.
You’ve been here a long time. What do you love about it?
One real benefit of living in Singapore is the safety and efficiency – this is especially important for my wife and boys.We’ve also been incredibly lucky with work and business opportunities here – and the ease of travel across Asia. It’s one of the most dynamic places in the world and we’ve been lucky to be along for the ride – and to see some of these exciting countries and cities too.
Any advice for newcomers?
Get to know Singapore. There’s so much to see and enjoy, and such a mix of histories and cultures; it adds so much to your time here if you get to know them. Also, eat the food! Singapore has some of the most interesting and tasty food in the world. It’s also always nice to come home to when we’ve been travelling – some good old chicken rice, a spicy hot pot or char kway teow; always a treat!
Any trips on your bucket list, in the region or further afield?
We want the boys to know Asia, so we’re always travelling somewhere in the region. We’ve been to Thailand several times, Australia, Bali, Cambodia, Malaysia and Vietnam; the next countries will be Japan and China.
Next year, we’re going to Namibia to introduce the boys to family there and to enjoy some of their African history. We’re looking to go on a proper safari to see the desert elephants and bushman rock engravings up near Twyfelfontein, plus the incredible ocean wildlife – dolphins, whales, birdlife, seals – near Walvisbay, and visit the places around Swakopmund – Terrace Bay, Sossusvlei, Dune 7, the Skeleton Coast Park up north, and maybe Kolmanskop in the south.
Michael’s Recommendations
School
- Odyssey The Global Preschool | theodyssey.sg
Doctors & Dentists
- Dr Ian Ong, Thomson Paediatric Centre | thomsonpaediatriccentre.com
- Petite Practice | petitepractice.com
- Dr Nancy Wong, Smile Inc. Dental Surgeons | smileinc.com.sg
Restaurants, Cafés & Bars
- Xiao Ya Tou | xyt.sg
- Bedrock | bedrock.com.sg
- Decker Barbecue | deckerbarbecue.com
- Etna Italian Restaurant | etnaitalianrestaurant.com.sg
- Al Forno (East Coast) | alfornoeastcoast.com.sg
- Bacino Italian Bistro bacino-italian-bistro.business.site
- Ippudo | stores.ippudo.com/en_sg/singapore/singapore
- Maxwell Food Centre
- Marine Parade Central Market & Food Centre
- Zaffron Kitchen | zaffronkitchen.com
- A-Roy Thai Restaurant | aroythai.com.sg
- Khao Hom | khaohomsg.com
- Din Tai Fung | dintaifung.com.sg
Airlines & Hotels
- Singapore Airlines | singaporeair.com
- Capella Singapore | capellahotels.com/en/capella-singapore
Things to Do in Singapore
- Swiss Club (“excellent facilities, great food and a family ritual – swimming and playing with the boys”) | swissclub.org.sg
This article first appeared in the February 2024 edition of Expat Living. You can purchase the latest issue or subscribe so you never miss a copy.
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