The small corner terrace house has a east west orientation so exposure to the sun became a primary parameter in the design. The side faces a primary school with its attendant noise and privacy issues. An unusual planning requirement for this house is that the setbacks are inverted with the larger setback facing the rear to remain consistent with the existing street block. All these contextual factors were instrumental in the development of the design.

Each of the 3 sides faced different views and orientation so each has a different strategy. An almost blank off form concrete wall on the side shields view and noise from the school. A light and breezy concrete screen at the front encloses an outdoor space with lush planting that feasts on the morning sun. And finally, custom made pre-cast concrete blocks on the rear gives the main living area the much-needed privacy from the neighbour. Its carefully sized openings, arrayed on playful grid across the wall, are glazed with a combination of clear and stained glass. The delicate hues of pink and yellow soften, yet add richness to the afternoon sun – a glowing piece of art in the house.

Name: Room Without Roof
Type: 2 storey corner terrace house with mezzanine and attic
Location: West Coast Grove, Singapore
Site Area: 239 m2
Gross Floor Area: 404 m2
Status: Completed 2019
Architect: HYLA Architects
Principal Architect: Mr Han Loke Kwang
Assistant Architects: Tiffany Ow, Thomas Ong, Zoe Lim, Michael Jimenez, Kimberly Foo
Structural Engineer: GCE Consulting Engineers
Main Contractor: : V-Tech Construction Pte Ltd
Landscape Contractor: : Nyee Phoe Flower Garden Pte Ltd
Interior Contractor: : Custom joinery designed by HYLA Architects built by Graceful Décor Pte Ltd
Photographer: Masano Kawana

This long site has a public footpath running along its side boundary as well as a high rise high density public housing development at the rear which was under construction. Thus privacy was a major concern for its occupants. The house is designed around 2 courtyards. The first is open to the sky and enclosed on 3 sides. The main living, dining and dry kitchen looks into this courtyard with a willow tree. The second courtyard is a more private and fully enclosed. Around this courtyard are arranged the private study and other ancillary spaces for the family. The courtyard is covered over with a glass roof with timber pergola, but it is well ventilated as there are side openings between this roof and the timber. In addition, a high volume low speed fan is mounted in the middle of the courtyard which ensures a calm and steady breeze whenever needed. The whole house is clad in a sand colored face brick which pairs very nicely with the timber form concrete used in the beams and ceiling soffit.

Name: A Tale of Two Courts
Type: 2 storey corner terrace house
Location: Wan Tho Avenue, Singapore
Site Area: 633 m2
Gross Floor Area: 794 m2
Status: Completed 2017
Architect: HYLA Architects
Principal Architect: Mr Han Loke Kwang
Assistant Architects: ‘Ann’ Tipnipa Pantipjatuporn, Thomas Ong
Main Contractor: : Emma Groups Construction Pte Ltd
Structural Engineer: GCE Consulting Engineers
Photographer: Derek Swalwell

The challenge of this semi-detached house was how to provide all the spaces the owner wanted in a site of just 245 m2 with a site facing west. With a small basement to house the utility areas, we were able to design an open plan living, dining and dry kitchen area facing a 15m lap pool with a lift, wet kitchen and powder room on the 1st storey. The front façade faces west and is shielded from the western sun by a timber grained off form concrete wall. Despite this the house has a very open and spacious feel and is completely private from the street. The upper levels hold 4 bedrooms all with ensuite bathrooms, a family room and a study. Behind the concrete wall a timber screens shade the bedroom levels from the setting sun. The staircase has a tapering section and faces a planting strip. At the 1st storey a geometrical screen separates it from the dry kitchen. This design shows that you can indeed have everything for your family without a large site.

Name: Openly Screened
Type: 2 storey semi-detached house with basement, attic and swimming pool
Location: Chiselhurst Grove, Singapore
Site Area: 245 m2
Gross Floor Area: 299 m2
Status: Completed 2018
Architect: HYLA Architects
Principal Architect: Mr Han Loke Kwang
Assistant Architects: Chong Wen Jin, Thomas Ong
Main Contractor: :iBuilders
Structural Engineer: NCL Consultants
Photographer: Derek Swalwell

The intermediate terrace house faces west so exposure to the sun became a primary concern in the design. The brief is for a multi-generational family spanning 4 generations. By introducing a mezzanine floor, the house is divided vertically from oldest to youngest. The front of the house has a rich pattern of horizontal aluminium screens whose density, profile and spacing is determined by the need for sun-shading to the spaces behind. A double volume living and dining hall showcases the owner’s rich collection of antique Straits Chinese furniture. In front of that is a spacious terrace which also serves as an intermediate zone to the front garden,

A unique feature is the design of the staircase which is located in front to allow each member to access their area without disturbing the rest. Each staircase tread is made up of 5 pieces of timber individually supported by a steel section and this is cantilevered from the adjacent wall structure. The lightness of the structure echoes the design of the front façade. At the upper levels, the younger generation have a more contemporary feel. By carefully introducing a courtyard and terraces, light is brought into this inter-house whilst carefully controlling the heat.

Name: Intervening Light
Type: 2 storey corner terrace house with mezzanine & attic
Location: Sunset Way, Singapore
Site Area: 285 m2
Gross Floor Area: 477 m2
Status: Completed 2019
Architect: HYLA Architects
Principal Architect: Mr Han Loke Kwang
Assistant Architects: Tiffany Ow, Thomas Ong, Diana Ong, Yao Tian
Main Contractor: : Praxis Contractors
Interior: Thung Interior Contractor
Landscape: Nyee Phoe Flower Garden Pte Ltd
Structural Engineer: GCE Consulting Engineers
Photographer: Daniel Koh

A series of cascading courts between the house and the party wall forms the basis by which this semidetached house is organized. From the outside one is scarcely able to see these courtyards due to the screeining and deep shadows. The courtyards are covered with a glass roof and timber pergola, which makes them pretty much all weather spaces. Indeed they are open at the ends and that makes it a very breezy space and house which is ideal for our hot tropical climate. The exterior elevations have an almost Japanese simplicity with the vertical timber screens and off form concrete walls. The timber screens gives the upper level bedrooms privacy from the road. At the entrance, one is greeted by a cascading water feature with an upper level planter. The main living areas on the ground level open to a bamboo garden on the side. The family room on the second level is a double volume space which fronts the main courtyard with a feature tree set in a middle of a water feature.

Name: Cascading Courts
Type: 2 storey semi-detached house with attic
Location: Faber Drive, Singapore
Site Area: 409 m2
Gross Floor Area: 568 m2
Status: Completed 2017
Architect: HYLA Architects
Principal Architect: Mr Han Loke Kwang
Assistant Architects: Navin Rungsmai, Amanda Goh, Thomas Ong
Main Contractor: : Praxis Contractors Pte Ltd
Structural Engineer: GNG Consultants Pte Ltd
Photographer: Derek Swalwell

In most typical residential developments, the living spaces face central communal areas. This blurs the distinction between private and public spaces and results in a loss of privacy for the residents. In this design, one of the key objectives was to properly define the public and private spaces and make a clear separation between them.

This cluster housing residential development consists of 10 units of semi-detached houses arranged around an entrance court forming the main public communal space. The court is dominated by three cascading swimming pools (adult, child and toddler) with three frangipani trees growing out of the water. Surrounding this water feature are the entrances to all units, each with their own private courtyard that features a perforated granite wall. The private enclosed courtyard and the entrance foyer act as a transition zone between the public space and the private space.

The living areas face the external perimeter where they have their own private garden. On the second level, the junior master faces the central space but is kept private with a timber screen. Adjoining it is a balcony which then becomes the public platform by which the resident can relate to the pool area and the other units.

The staircase and lift core are stepped back from the front, thus giving the front elevation a lower scale to  provide the houses with a better scale that relates to the entrance court. Furthermore half the attic is left as an open roof terrace so as to reduce the scale of the development even more. Nevertheless, each unit still has five bedrooms, one study and one utility room as well as two private car park lots.

Internally, the living and dining area forms one main space with the open concept kitchen adjoining it. The staircase, with its geometric aluminium screen, brings in lots of light to all parts of the house. The master bedroom and bathroom faces the rear garden as well so as to maintain privacy.

.

Type: Cluster housing development of 10 semi-detached units with swimming pool and basement parking.
Location: Toh Crescent
Status: Completed
Main Contractor: V-Tech Construction Pte Ltd
Structural Engineer: S B Ng Structural & Civil Engineers
Mechanical & Electrical Engineer: Richard Lok Consultants
Quantity Surveyor: 1MH Quantity Surveyors
Landscape: Nyee Phoe Landscape

The original and true meaning of the shophouse is its dual use of commerce at the ground level and residence at the upper levels. Few conservation shophouses, however, stay true to this heritage as gentrification and intensification has meant that most shophouses in the CBD have been converted to fully commercial uses. Thus we were delighted to be given this rare opportunity to do this shophouse in the historic Kampong Glam district which the owners intend to both work and live there. The site is tiny and its width measures just 3.6 metres. The ground floor office is divided into three sections. The first area has a reception and meeting room, the middle is the work area and at the end is a pantry with a green wall. On the second storey, the residential section is also divided into three areas. Upon entering, there is a dining area with a unique spiral stairs that leads to the mezzanine sleeping area. Below this middle section is the kitchen and bathroom. Finally, the last section at the front is the living space.

Name: Shophouse Redux
Type: 2 Storey Conservation Shophouse with Mezzanine
Location: Jalan Pisang, Singapore
Site Area: 80 m2
Gross Floor Area: 146 m2
Status: Completed 2016
Architect: HYLA Architects
Principal Architect: Mr Han Loke Kwang
Assistant Architects: Tran Trang, Goh Chiou Hwa
Main Contractor: : Renobest Builder
Structural Engineer: PTS Consultants
Photographer: Derek Swalwell

Sited within the tropical heritage surrounding of the botanic gardens, the house was designed with the narrative of nature and its relationship with architecture. Building around the inhabitant’s experience, the house blurs spatial boundaries to orchestrate light and environment into daily life. Timber was the natural choice of material for this house, the crafted array of timber strips that form the screen around the house, vary in density to provide privacy where needed, yet diminish towards the top purposefully to allow plants to thrive. The specific selection of Kebony, a treated timber product from Norway, was chosen for its natural graying characteristic which further builds on this narrative of celebrating the natural in architecture. The house is green not only in design and spirit, but also in its operation. It comes equipped with a rainwater harvester and solar panels on the roof top that sustains everyday needs yet tread lightly on the environment. Contrary to resisting the elements of nature, the house pursues this idea of when the building stops, nature takes over.

Name: Fade to Green
Type: 2 storey semi-detached house with attic
Location: Jalan Harom Setangkai, Singapore
Site Area: 293 m2
Gross Floor Area: 406 m2
Status: Completed 2018
Architect: HYLA Architects
Principal Architect: Mr Han Loke Kwang
Assistant Architects: Chong Wen Jin, Thomas Ong
Main Contractor: : Emma Groups Construction Pte Ltd
Structural Engineer: GCE Consulting Engineers
Landscape: : Nyee Phoe Flower Garden Pte Ltd
Photographer: Derek Swalwell

This is a classic black & white colonial conservation bungalow which has been restored after a devastating fire. Located in a prime residential and shopping area of Singapore, the house is nestled amongst mature trees in a large green site. There is a main two storey house with 2 large bedrooms, living & dining and dry kitchen and a verandah at the 2nd storey. Particular attention has been paid to the space on this verandah, which has been enclosed by a frameless vertical window. By doing this, the original ambience of the verandah has been recreated, while allowing for it to be enclosed for airconditioning, security and protection against the elements when needed. The main house is complemented by a 2 outhousese, which hold the wet kitchen and other ancilliary rooms. Careful attention has been paid to the selection of finishes and the detail of the fittings, to ensure a modern, yet classic feel.

Name: Black & White Classic
Type: 2 storey conservation house
Location: Seton Close, Singapore
Gross Floor Area: 430 m2
Status: Completed 2018
Architect: HYLA Architects
Principal Architect: Mr Han Loke Kwang
Assistant Architects: Goh Chiou Hwa, Michael Jimenez, Tiffany Ow, Thomas Ong
Structural Engineer: SB Ng & Associates CE
M&E Engineer: Richard Lok M&E Consultants
Quantity Surveyor: PQS Consultants Pte. Ltd
Main Contractor: : V-Tech Construction Pte Ltd
Photographer: Derek Swalwell

The brief from the clients was to have a 20m lap pool which spanned almost the entire length of the house. As the pool faced west and also a neighbouring house, it is covered by a series of aluminium screens which vary in density to allow light into the pool but minimise heat into the house. The aluminium screens are perforated and hung from the top to create a delicate mesh over the pool. This forms a ‘pool house’ enclosure which becomes a natural extension of the living space. The living, dining and dry kitchen area has a double volume height which matches the pool space. The timber stair has a unique structure of teak strips sandwiched together and seemingly floats towards the dry kitchen area. There it combines with it and becomes a sculptural element which then frames the view to the mezzanine level. It then continues to become the stairs to the 3rd level.

At the mezzanine level, the gym fittingly overlooks the pool to complete the activity area of the house. At the other end, an outdoor terrace sits over the foyer and overlooks the main entrance and the pool. The palette of the house is muted with grey tiles, stones and cabinets being paired with natural teak and chengai timber. Only the rust red of the aluminium screens stands out, as if to symbolize its active spirit.

Name: Pool House
Type: New build of 2 storey detached house with attic
Location: Lorong G Telok Kurau, Singapore
Site Area: 616 m2
Gross Floor Area: 697 m2
Status: Completed 2021
Architect: HYLA Architects
Principal Architect: Mr Han Loke Kwang
Assistant Architects: Tran Thi Thu Trang, Constans Tan, Thomas Ong
Main Contractor: : Emma Groups Construction Pte Ltd
Structural Engineer: GCE Consulting Engineers
Landscape: Gardens By the Bay
Interior: Graceful Décor Pte Ltd
Photographer: Derek Swalwell