Alvin Yapp founded The Intan, a multi-award-winning home museum dedicated to Peranakan culture, in 2003.
Yapp has been amassing a collection of Peranakan antiques for more than four decades. His home in Singapore is filled with artefacts ranging from intricate beadwork and embroidery to delicate ceramics and beautifully inlaid furniture.
“The Intan is one of the most unique museums in the world,” says one person who nominated Yapp.
“It is perhaps the only significant representation of Peranakan culture that is open to the public. Based in Singapore, Alvin has turned part of his home into a museum where he personally tours guests through his collection and tells the history of the Peranakan people (of which he is one). The Intan has become a must-see stop for various dignitaries, executives, celebrities, tour groups, and culture aficionados.
“There are many ”home museums” in the world, but this one is special and is done in a truly thoughtful way that gives the guests a fascinating history of a relatively unknown culture. Alvin is active in the museum community and is constantly looking to improve – and others look to him as a shining example of this type of museum.”
The museum is available to visit by appointment only, and visitors can choose from experiences such as sampling The Intan’s signature tea or enjoying an authentic Peranakan meal. The museum also offers virtual experiences and has developed retail lines available from the boutique at Raffles Hotel and other partners.
In 2020, the museum collaborated with HomeTeam NS to develop the first Peranakan-themed children’s indoor playground in Singapore.
Furthermore, Yapp launched Project Intan in 2008 to leverage the museum’s local and international reputation to raise funds for charitable causes. This initiative has raised more than $1 million, and in 2016 Yapp was recognised with the President’s Volunteerism and Philanthropy Award.