WHERE PERANAKAN HERITAGE FEELS LIKE HOME

To Alvin Yapp, Peranakan heritage isn't just history — it's home. Through The Intan, Singapore's smallest museum, he's preserving a culture, one artefact at a time.

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Step into The Intan, and you're not just stepping into a museum — you're stepping into Alvin Yapp's world. Nestled in a quiet Joo Chiat estate, The Intan, which means “rose-cut diamond” in Malay, is Singapore's smallest museum, yet its impact is anything but. It's a love letter to Peranakan heritage, a personal collection that has evolved into a cultural institution.

“I never set out to start a museum,” Yapp says with a laugh. “I was just collecting things I loved, and one day, I realised I had more than a home. I had history sitting in my living room.”

From a childhood fascination with Peranakan artefacts to a full-fledged commitment to preserving heritage, Yapp's journey has been one of passion, storytelling, and a deep sense of responsibility. Even Singapore Airlines took notice: His home was famously featured in the airline's inflight safety video, a testament to The Intan's cultural significance.

A COLLECTOR'S FIRST LOVE

Yapp's love affair with Peranakan artefacts began when he was just a teenager. “I was drawn to the colours, the craftsmanship — the sheer beauty of these pieces. I didn't know it was Peranakan then; I just knew I loved them.”

His first purchase? A pink-and-blue enamel tiffin carrier from an old shop in Katong. “I had no idea what to do with it, but I had to have it. That’s how it starts — the collector’s itch.”