01 House in Layers

The house unfolds in layers.

Somer House moves vertically, each level carrying its own rhythm.

The Gallery opens to the street through exhibitions, conversations, and programme. One floor above, the Residence offers privacy and stillness at a different pace. Somer Circle moves across every floor, connecting the house through access, familiarity, and community.

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02 People, Gathering & Wellness

A house only becomes itself when people are inside it.

Somer House was shaped around a simple belief: meaningful gatherings matter. Not the largest or loudest kind, but the ones that leave an impression. The kind where conversation stretches naturally across the evening, where the atmosphere feels thoughtful without feeling controlled.

The house itself plays a quiet role in this. Wellness here is not treated as a feature. It exists in the way the house moves and how it allows people to move within it.

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03 Heritage, Sustainability & Tech

Old bones. Thoughtful practice.

The shophouse carries a depth shaped by time, with original architectural details carefully preserved so the heritage of the building remains present throughout the experience of the house.

Beyond the physical space itself, Somer House is also shaped by the ideas that move through it. Through exhibitions, gatherings, and collaborations, the house encourages thoughtful conversations around culture, sustainability, wellness, and technology — and how these ideas influence the way we live, create, and connect today.

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Somer House

A House with History

At 137 & 139 Devonshire Road, Somer House stands within one of Singapore's surviving rows of early twentieth century terrace shophouses in the Somerset district. For more than a century, the house has carried different lives, trades, and stories through its rooms while quietly holding onto its original character.

1910s–1920s

Built on Devonshire Road

Constructed as part of a terrace row of pre war shophouses designed for both commerce and family life.

Early Years

The First Owners

The house became home to a Baghdadi Jewish merchant family: Elias, Ellis, and Sassoon, whose names continue through the residences at Somer House today.

Mid Century

A Family Home & Ginseng House

Ownership later passed to a Chinese family who ran a traditional medicine and ginseng business from the property while living within the house itself.

Late 20th Century–2020s

The Quiet Years

For more than thirty years, the house stood uninhabited as the city changed around it, preserving much of its original structure, proportions, and atmosphere through time.

2025

Restoration Begins

A careful restoration began with the intention of carrying the building forward while respecting what came before.

2026

A New Chapter

The house reopens as Somer House: a contemporary residence and gathering space shaped by heritage, culture, and modern city life.

A few things people often ask.

Plan your visit

The Gallery is open during exhibitions and public programme events. The Residence and Somer Circle spaces are accessible through enquiry or membership.

View the current programme, or contact us directly to arrange a visit.

Yes. The gallery and gathering spaces are available between exhibitions. Reach out through the contact page and we'll be in touch.

Reservations can be made through enquiry, with a minimum stay of three months. For special requests or longer stays, please reach out to us directly. All stays are subject to availability and review.

Applications are reviewed on a rolling basis, with an emphasis on fit rather than profile. Visit the Somer Circle page to learn more.