NUS Baba House

Built around 1895, 157 Neil Road is a townhouse located in Singapore’s historic district of Tanjong Pagar. Once the ancestral home of a Straits Chinese (Peranakan Chinese) family, the property was acquired by the National University of Singapore (NUS) in 2006 from funds donated by Ms Agnes Tan, a lady of Peranakan Chinese descent. Archaeological excavations and detailed studies of architectural fe

atures and construction materials were carried out followed by conservation and restoration works before the premises officially opened on 4 September 2008 under the stewardship of NUS Museum. Named ‘Baba House’, the project is conceived as a heritage house facilitating research, appreciation and reflection of the Straits Chinese history and culture. This is articulated through the conservation and reconstruction of a domestic space which exhibits the community’s material culture dating back to the early 20th century. Academic researchers and art practitioners are invited to use NUS Baba House as a resource to launch into explorations on evolving narratives about the Straits Chinese, as well as to conduct studies in a variety of disciplines including urban changes, traditional architecture and building conservation.