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Houzz Tour: Modern Meets Rustic in This Northern Singapore Home
At the junction of two roads in a sleepy residential area, this house makes a dramatic statement with stark lines and substantial dimensions
Bernice Calupas
12 April 2016
Houzz Singapore contributor. History nerd, occasional voracious reader, fan of YouTube baking videos
Houzz Singapore contributor. History nerd, occasional voracious reader, fan of YouTube... More
The initial design brief was simple: a home renovation which aimed to reuse as much of the original structure as possible. But after a series of meetings with architects Park + Associates, the design evolved into a newly-built dwelling, yet one that gives a nod to its architectural roots. For instance, the architects were “enamoured with the burnt orange bricks of the existing house,” says Christina Thean, a director at Park + Associates and one of the members of the project’s design team. How did the team manage to include this element? The end result is a home that’s contemporary yet also respectful of its history.
Photos by Edward Hendricks
Houzz at a Glance
Who lives here: The elderly parents of a Beijing-based couple in their 40s, who built the house for their parents
Location: Northern Singapore
Size: 865 sqm (site); 670 sqm (total floor area)
Project Duration: 15 months
The facade is a striking study of forms and textures. The architects “aimed to capture modern design through clean, straight lines and massive forms.” This austere aesthetic is balanced by a “meticulous and creative selection of materials to bring a warm, rustic touch to the feel of the house,” Thean says.
Houzz at a Glance
Who lives here: The elderly parents of a Beijing-based couple in their 40s, who built the house for their parents
Location: Northern Singapore
Size: 865 sqm (site); 670 sqm (total floor area)
Project Duration: 15 months
The facade is a striking study of forms and textures. The architects “aimed to capture modern design through clean, straight lines and massive forms.” This austere aesthetic is balanced by a “meticulous and creative selection of materials to bring a warm, rustic touch to the feel of the house,” Thean says.
As you enter the house via a simple foyer dominated by grey granite, you are then greeted by an airy, timber-panelled, double-height living room. Golden teak wood panels lining the upper half of the space are juxtaposed with cool, polished marble and neutral-toned furnishings. “The intention was to create not just a contrast in volume but also in materials,” Thean explains.
i-one motorised system blinds: Earthlink Concept
i-one motorised system blinds: Earthlink Concept
The living room looks out to a serene lotus pond – one of many features that highlights the architects’ goal of “creating a dialogue between indoor and outdoor.” At night, the lit-up living room and expansive windows make the house seem like a glowing, faceted box. The teak wood panels add a warm and natural touch to the structure’s modern lines.
Despite its modern lines, the breakfast deck has a more rustic feel, with its timber decking and exposed brick walls. A swatch of bright green grass adds a refreshing touch to the space. In keeping with Singapore’s tropical climate, the deck’s ceiling boards – also used throughout the house – are of moisture-resistant fibrous plaster and finished with weather-resistant paint.
Pivot wood doors separate the deck from the dining area and dry kitchen. Depending on one’s mood or the occasion, the three doors can be left open, thus creating one big space for dining, entertaining or just enjoying the outdoors. As with the living room, the theme of contrasting textures is also evident in this room.
Kitchen appliances: Fisher & Paykel Singapore
Kitchen appliances: Fisher & Paykel Singapore
An interior balcony on the second floor offers a view of the living room below. Thean says, “We consciously tried to create more visual links to the living space as this is the most often used portion of the house.” The ceiling’s timber strips, with its orderly pattern of lines, is echoed throughout many areas of the house.
The master bathroom is an oasis of calm. Generous proportions, luxurious materials and a view of verdant greenery give this room a spa-like atmosphere.
Vitra bathroom sanitary wares and fixtures: Futar Enterprises
Vitra bathroom sanitary wares and fixtures: Futar Enterprises
“All the living spaces on the ground floor are strongly grounded by its relationship to the outdoors,” says Thean. As with the dining room, the mahjong/game room leads to an outdoor deck, accessed via timber pivot doors.
The mahjong room’s deck has its own landscaping, including a water feature that adds to the serenity of the space and underscores the nature-centred dialogue between the house and its environs.
Balau solid timber decking: Plony Timber & Trading
Balau solid timber decking: Plony Timber & Trading
The powder room’s brick walls – an element seen repetitively throughout the house – show the architects’ desire to “reconnect the history of the original house” to the new one. A full view of the mahjong deck’s water feature lets in an abundance of light and creates a greater sense of space.
TELL US
What do you like most about this house? Let us know in the Comments section.
TELL US
What do you like most about this house? Let us know in the Comments section.
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