Niche brands turn Singapore’s old shophouses into vibrant spaces, and other stories

For PropertyGuru’s real estate news roundup, niche brands set up shop in Singapore’s old shophouses for the rent and the trendy vibe. In other headlines, the Philippine economy continues to enjoy stellar growth, providing opportunities for the real estate sector. Lastly, AI is reshaping how Australian manufacturers operate, innovate, and compete in the global market.

Joo Chiat, Tanjong Pagar shophouse rentals outpace Singapore’s average market rates 

In recent years, Kampong Gelam, an area steeped in heritage and history, has been cultivating a more modern and unique identity. The rows of old shophouses have attracted niche brands, which have turned the area into a hangout for the young and trendy. Besides the distinctive character of the place, rental is also cheaper in a two-storey shophouse – or about half that of a regular storefront along Orchard Road, said observers. Popular locations include Holland Village and Tiong Bahru, but over the past five years, Joo Chiat, Tanjong Pagar, Geylang, Little India and Upper Thomson have also become popular. Experts told CNA that this is mostly driven by niche brands and speciality businesses moving into these more gentrified areas with better connectivity, instead of shopping malls.

Philippine property market ripe with opportunities in 2025 — Colliers

The Philippine economy continues to enjoy stellar growth, providing opportunities for the real estate sector, especially in the retail, residential, and industrial segments. These are the property sub-segments likely to benefit from interest rate cuts recently implemented by the Central Bank. The Philippines’ young and skilled workforce with constantly rising disposable incomes also supports these sub-segments’ growth beyond 2025. According to BusinessWorld, the retail sector has exhibited resilience over the past 12 months with Philippine malls attracting greater interest from foreign retailers. Some mall developers have even reported that consumer traffic is even greater than pre-pandemic level and this presents tremendous opportunities for retailers and consumers alike.

Harnessing AI for the future of manufacturing in Australia

As a central pillar of the Fourth Industrial Revolution (Industry 4.0), AI is reshaping how Australian manufacturers operate, innovate, and compete in a rapidly evolving global market. However, this doesn’t happen automatically, and Australian manufacturers mustn’t get disrupted by others moving ahead of them on the adoption curve. As mentioned in DataCenterNews Asia, Industry 4.0 refers to the digital transformation of manufacturing processes, with AI playing a pivotal role. Traditional manufacturing systems, which once relied on manual processes and standardised production, are now evolving into smart factories. These facilities leverage AI to create highly automated, flexible, and efficient production environments. The key difference lies in the ability of AI systems to learn and adapt in real time, enabling manufacturers to respond dynamically to changes in demand, supply chain disruptions, and other operational challenges.

The Property Report editors wrote this article. For more information, email: [email protected].