Story: Thanyaporn Maeowan (thanyamaew44@gmail.com). Photos: Yada Ordiazz (yada.saptawee@gmail.com)

When thinking of a traditional Thai house, most people would imagine a wooden structure, raised on stilts, and topped with a steep gabled roof, adorned with traditional decorations. Its design primarily aims to protect its dwellers from the sun and rain. Phuket, known for both its heat and rainfall, surprisingly showcases an entirely different architectural style.

A foreign friend of mine, upon visiting Phuket Town, exclaimed, “Gosh, it looks so European!” Another friend, residing in Singapore, couldn’t help but note the resemblance to the city-state he calls home.

Both of my friends were right. Phuket Town’s signature building style is the Sino-Portuguese shophouse, which combines European structure with Chinese design. Personally, I find them more European than Chinese, though this may be just the perspective of an Asian girl.

The Sino-Portuguese architecture emerged in Portuguese colonies in China, such as Macau and Hainan. From there, it spread with Chinese emigrants to what is now Singapore and Malaysia. And then, from Malaysia to Phuket in the 19th century.

Typically, a Sino-Portuguese building is a one-, two-, or three-storey commercial-residential structure with a very narrow facade that extends deep into the block, resembling a tunnel. The houses are tightly connected, with no gaps between them, often featuring a shared gallery that provides shade over the sidewalk.

Shophouses are urban dwellings where the front section might serve as a grocery store, a restaurant, or a pharmacy. The rear part of the first floor and the upper floors are reserved for living quarters, complete with bedrooms, bathrooms, and a kitchen.

Phuket Old Town is particularly known for its century-old Sino-Portuguese shophouses. However, it’s safe to say that this type of building remains a preferred choice for Phuketians to live and conduct business in the same place. Just take a look around next time you’re having a coffee at Boat Avenue!