Your school library dont have any damn books on shophouses? You
must be kidding me.
You're an architecture student right? Isn't shophouse such common
knowledge then? Unless you're overseas.
Anyway, there are several types of shophouses in different styles
(such as art deco, or the types with a front yard and a gate dunno
wat its called liaoz). But since your question is rather vague, a
typical shophouse is two to four stories, and because it is damn
elongated and narrow, the essence of it is the internal courtyard
for light and ventilation, which apparently is quite successful in
that.
For some shophouses, the front bits are conserved while the back
portion has more freedom to build higher (extension). And the
usuals: five foot way, staircase direct from the street.
