Shophouse

A shophouse is a special kind of building that is found mainly in Asia. It is usually a tall and narrow building that has a shop or business on the first floor, and a living space on the upper floors.

Think of it like a double-decker bus, but instead of seats on top, there are bedrooms and a kitchen! The bottom floor is like a store, where people can buy things like food or clothes, and the top floors are where people live with their families.

Shophouses have been around for a very long time because they are a clever way to make the best use of limited space in cities. They are also important to Asian culture because they represent a mix of business and family life.