• An assembly ground for impact: The refreshed Temasek Shophouse spans four shophouses, conserving their century-old heritage while adding more facilities for changemakers, including co-working spaces, event venues, and a media studio.
• New ways for the public to experience social impact in action: Curated partnerships will develop new offerings and experiences, enabling accessible ways for people to engage with causes related to heritage and culture, sustainability, and community.
• New collectives for changemakers: The Temasek Shophouse Collective and Impact Storytellers Collective will support changemakers and youths, amplify stories of change, and foster collaboration across Singapore’s social impact ecosystem.

Singapore, 24 September 2025 — The expanded social impact hub Temasek Shophouse (TSH) will open its doors to the public on 29 September. Restoration and design efforts across the four conserved shophouses carefully honour the buildings’ history. The introduction of new facilities and initiatives strives to help changemakers grow their capacity and enable the public to engage with social and environmental causes in approachable ways.

“The social impact space has never been more vibrant, with a groundswell of active voices championing initiatives for a better society and a healthier planet. As a social impact hub, we aim to nurture this momentum by supporting changemakers with relevant resources. With a focus on heritage and culture, sustainability, and community, we hope Temasek Shophouse will serve as an assembly ground where people of all ages are inspired to engage with meaningful causes,” said Yvonne Tay, General Manager of TSH.

Expanded capacity for impact for changemakers and public

TSH’s expanded premises span four adjoining heritage shophouses — once home to historic landmarks such as the Malayan Motors showroom and the early film distributor Midfilm House. Built in the early 20th century, these shophouses are among the few remaining street-block of buildings along downtown Orchard gazetted for conservation by the Urban Redevelopment Authority (URA).

The redesign transforms these heritage buildings into a modern hub that will house a growing community of changemakers, while offering approachable, everyday experiences for the public to engage with heritage and culture, sustainability, and community.

TSH will now feature 60 co-working spaces (triple its previous capacity), three dedicated event spaces for social enterprises, non-profits and charities (up from one), and a media studio.

Two new event spaces — Tembusu Canopy and Banyan Cove — will enable TSH to host larger and more sustained impact-focused events. They can accommodate 160-200 and 180-220 people respectively, depending on the seating arrangement. This is in addition to the Living Room event space, which can accommodate 80-100. More details and images of the event spaces can be found in Annex A.

The added capacity allows TSH to pursue more meaningful partnerships and curate larger-scale and enriching community experiences. One example is the partnership with Dementia Singapore. To mark TSH’s opening and Dementia Singapore’s 35th anniversary, both organisations will host activities that raise awareness, support people living with dementia, and engage caregivers and the public in inclusive conversations about ageing and well-being.

Spatial storytelling for public to experience social impact in action

Aside from the new event spaces, TSH’s spatial design aims to help visitors understand social impact, heritage, and sustainability through creative installations, and a curated selection of retail and F&B partners.

These are located along a corridor that connects all four shophouses. Visitors can explore AI-animated video work by architect-turned-AI-artist Lip Chiong, which brings archival photographs of Singapore to life, an interactive illustrated panel by 8EyedSpud, offering an overview of the design strategies adopted in developing TSH, as well as a two-way sticker at Block C that retraces the history of the Midfilm House and its role in supporting Asia’s early film industry, making cinema accessible by connecting people, stories and technology.

At the other end of the linkway is the new Shophouse BAR — a mini-gallery curated by Our Grandfather Story, well-known for telling timeless and overlooked stories in Singapore and beyond. Conveniently located along the pedestrian walkway on Orchard Road and inspired by the nostalgic provision shop, it invites commuters and passersby to discover stories of Singapore’s heritage, community, and shared values. Visitors can leaf through books by local authors, admire dioramas that depict Singapore’s impact landscape, watch short films that capture local memories, or leave reflections that become part of a collective dreamscape of Singapore’s aspirations in celebration of SG60.

TSH also features three F&B and retail partners: Bibik Violet celebrates Singapore’s culinary heritage with an all-day Peranakan café, Martket by ABRY empowers underserved communities through socially responsible retail and mentorship, and Foreword Coffee champions inclusive employment for differently abled individuals.

These immersive experiences turn everyday routines — eating, shopping, or catching up with friends over coffee — into opportunities to learn, contribute, and engage with social impact, making the hub a vibrant destination for all ages and backgrounds. More details of the installations and lifestyle partners can be found in Annex B.

Empowering a community of changemakers

TSH is also creating more opportunities for mentorship and networking to help changemakers scale their impact. It has launched the Temasek Shophouse Collective — a membership initiative providing social enterprises, charities, and ground-ups in Singapore with tailored support for growth. Members will gain access to co-working and event spaces, as well as curated workshops, mentorship sessions, and networking opportunities. They can also tap into a global network of over 110 Impact Hubs through TSH’s unique partnership with the global Impact Hub network.

Recognising storytelling as a powerful tool to amplify reach and impact, the new space also features a media studio with professional-grade production capabilities. This is accompanied by the launch of the Impact Storytellers Collective, which will train aspiring storytellers and changemakers to produce, showcase, and amplify impactful stories. Members will gain access to TSH’s media studio, filming-friendly zones, and screening opportunities throughout the hub. They will also get to attend curated workshops, masterclasses, and networking sessions to build skills and expand their reach.

These initiatives build on ongoing efforts to engage the wider community, leveraging the networks and resources of the Temasek Trust ecosystem and beyond. More details of the new collectives can be found in Annex C.

A vibrant line-up of activities, outdoor spaces to be ready in January 2026

Following its 29 September opening, TSH will roll out a vibrant line-up of events and activities in the months ahead.

The public can look forward to the return of its monthly Let’s Jam concert on 29 September, and the Come Together Concert from 1–3 November, featuring familiar faces such as Larry Lai, KF Seetoh, Jordin Tan, Irene Ang, Ang Peng Siong, Eddie Sung, and Clement Chow.

Another highlight is GREEN-HOUSE on 8-9 November, a festival that brings together people, brands, and communities to amplify social and environmental impact, with contributions directed to the 100K Coral Initiative by the Garden City Fund.

TSH will also host seasonal markets, interactive experiences, and hands-on workshops to showcase heritage, innovation, and social causes, while creating more opportunities for the community to convene, engage, and collaborate.