New 32,000 sq ft social reading space at Causeway Point will let you bring home pre-loved books for free

A new reading and community space is set to be developed in the north of Singapore.

Slated to take up parts of the sixth and seventh floors of Causeway Point, the 32,000 square feet public space — The HomePage @ Causeway Point — will offer visitors a chance to discover new books and connect with each other.

The space comes as part of a memorandum of understanding between Frasers Centerpoint Trust and the National Library & Archives Board (NLB), the organisations said in an Oct. 22 statement.

It will open in 2028.

How it works

The space will house one of Singapore’s largest publicly accessible collections of pre-loved books from NLB’s libraries in English and Mother Tongue languages.

It will also feature Sing Lit and local authors.

Unlike a library, visitors will be able to browse and take home the pre-loved books without borrowing them.

This allows them explore titles at their own pace. Patrons are also encouraged to share their books with others.

Community space

Visitors can also enjoy food and beverages in the space, which doubles as a social hub.

For families, there will be a children’s play zone to provide interactive experiences and family-friendly activities.

A purpose-built indoor theatre and screening space will serve as a space for films, author talks, storytelling sessions, and cultural programmes.

How it looks

The HomePage @ Causeway Point pays homage to Singapore's heritage, drawing inspiration from architectural and cultural references shared by Singaporeans.

Its design borrows from the iconic Teck Whye HDB blocks, the former National Library building at Stamford Road, and the bold geometric forms of Singapore’s 1970s Brutalist architecture.

One of the spaces, dubbed The Story Spine, is a book wall extending through multiple floors, reminiscent of the modular forms of HDB architecture:

At the heart of The HomePage @ Causeway Point lies The Drum, an open space that contains the book collections, reading zone, as well as a cafe:

The aforementioned Sing Lit collection, simply named "Sing Lit", is designed as a continuous curved bookshelf featuring displays showcasing Singaporean history and culture:

"Making reading more accessible"

Melissa Tam, the chief executive officer of NLB, said that they hope to make reading more accessible and provide more opportunities for readers to discover Sing Lit and local authors.

Consequently, she hopes not just for more Singaporeans to take on reading as a lifelong habit, but also to connect more deeply with our shared heritage and identity.

Calling it a "first-of-its-kind social and reading destination", Frasers chief executive officer Richard Ng stated that The HomePage @ Causeway Point "will be a place beyond home and work".

He emphasised that this development comes as part of an evolution of Causeway Point, in light of the significant long-term growth set to take place in the Northern region of Singapore.