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

With both the front and rear facing busy roads, and the side an old house, this house looks inwards. A triple volume covered but naturally ventilated court with a pool becomes the focus of the internal space. On the side, a sculptural staircase cantilevers from the wall to reach the family room on the second level. The journey continues upwards on another staircase with a stepped planter on the side and lit from above. The whole house is finished in off form concrete and grey face brick. The Master bathroom continues this theme, with brick openings that allow ventilation but not views through. This bathroom as well as the attic bath has planting areas that offers a green contrast to the grey scheme. Custom storage units in the living, family and study echo the concrete and brick geometry of the house.

Name: Surprising Seclusion
Type: 2 storey corner terrace house with attic and swimming pool
Location: Binchang Rise, Singapore
Site Area: 298 m2
Gross Floor Area: 360 m2
Status: Completed 2017
Architect: HYLA Architects
Principal Architect: Mr Han Loke Kwang
Assistant Architects: Chong Wen Jin, Thomas Ong
Main Contractor: : Praxis Contractors Pte Ltd
Structural Engineer: GCE Consulting Engineers
Photographer: Derek Swalwell, HYLA Architects

A courtyard on two levels sits in the centre of this semi-detached house. On the first level, a frangipani tree sits in the middle of a pond, framed by a timber-clad box. The double volume living room and the dining room wraps around this courtyard. The second storey level of the courtyard lies over the dining area and in front of the master bedroom. The full height glass façade facing the courtyard is screened by interlocking vertical and horizontal timber members.

The courtyard offers the house a lot of privacy and lets light into the centre of the house. It also acts as a buffer against noise from a major road a distance away.

Type: New Erection of 3 storey semi-detached house with attic & basement
Location: Greenbank Park
Status: Completed September 2014
Main Contractor: Praxis Contractors Pte Ltd
Structural Engineer: GCE Consulting Engineers

This terrace sits at a corner site and thus the full side of the house fronts the side street. To preserve privacy while allowing light and ventilation, a slatted timber screen covers the entire side elevation. At the front, an outdoor terrace with a high volume fronts the main garden. The space continues into the double volume living room with a feature bookshelf that extends two storeys. The first storey has an open plan and large glass sliding doors open up to the lush side garden. One enters the house into the triple volume space with the cantilevered stairs on both sides of the walls.

Type: New Erection of 2 storey corner terrace house with attic
Location: Faber Terrace
Status: Completed June 2014
Main Contractor: V-Tech Construction Pte Ltd
Structural Engineer: Tenwit Consultants Pte Ltd

This three-storey intermediate terrace house has a unique rotating screen on its front elevation. Its cross section has an aerodynamic boomerang shape that serves to deflect wind on one side. On the other side the screen is cladded with timber to give privacy. This allows the occupants to rotate the screen according to their needs. This also gives the façade an ever-changing pattern that corresponds to the mood of its users. Inside the house on the first storey, there is a high ceiling and it creates good cross ventilation into a rear garden court. The staircase has a unique triangular cross section and is well lit with a skylight above.

Type: New Erection of 3 storey intermediate terrace house
Location: Primrose Avenue
Status: Completed June 2014
Main Contractor: Renobest Builder
Structural Engineer: PTS Consultants

This house sits at the end of a semi-circular block of terrace houses, all of which still retain their original design. Taking advantage of the planning guidelines allows the house to gain an additional storey. The front façade is dominated by an intricate timber screen, which on closer look, has a musical pattern of supports and gaps. The side elevation, which faces the afternoon sun, is more solid and is clad with grey granite, which gives it a strong contrast with the warmth of the timber screens. Internally, there is a two-storey void, over which a flying bridge of profiled timber steps appears to hover over. The bathrooms have a rich medley of materials and colours for their different users.

Type: 3 storey semi-detached house with swimming pool and attic
Location: Jervois Road
Status: Completed
Main Contractor: Praxis Contractors Pte Ltd
Structural Engineer: PTS Consultants

A timber-clad façade greets the visitor to this private semi-detached house. The house opens up to the side garden with its timber deck and lap pool. The staircase opens up in the middle of the house and an elliptical skylight brings in light to this space. On the second storey, a curved wall interplays with the timber-slatted corridor, which looks down into the pool below. The third storey has a lounge room which opens to the roof terrace. An open shelf with varying widths and heights reflect the design of the front façade, which also has its timber members reducing in width towards the edges.

Type: New Erection of 3 storey semi-detached house with swimming pool
Location: Eng Kong Gardens
Status: Completed June 2014
Main Contractor: V-Tech Builder LLP
Structural Engineer: S B Ng Pte Ltd

This compact semi-detached house with a swimming pool faces a busy residential road and the challenge is to provide privacy for the occupants. The entire side of the first storey opens out to the swimming pool and deck. The full height glass sliding doors to the living and dining area can be pushed all the way to the back thereby creating an ‘outdoor’ room. The staircase is made with timber treads that are hung on steel rods, giving it a most delicate and light screen which also acts as the balustrade. On the first storey there is a timber screen behind the staircase which gradually becomes more open from one side to the other, hiding the wet kitchen while revealing the dry kitchen. This detail is repeated in the front façade but in the opposite direction to give the master bathroom privacy.

Type: 2-Storey Semi-Detached House with Swimming Pool, Basement and Attic
Location: Greenwood Avenue
Status: Completed
Main Contractor: iBuilders Pte Ltd
Structural Engineer: PTS Consultants
Landscape: Nyee Phoe Landscape

A light well with a reflecting pool divides this intermediate terrace house into two blocks. The light well is covered at the top with a glass and timber trellis, providing shelter from the rain while allowing light and ventilation to pass through the entire house. The staircase runs along the side and underneath it lies a gently-cascading water feature that feeds into the pool. The top of the stairwell is also covered in glass and timber. The timber trellis is hung on steel cables, giving it a gentle camber. The whole house is in off-form concrete and tropical timbers of teak and chengal.

Type: New Erection of 2-Storey Intermediate Terrace House with Attic
Location: Belimbing Avenue
Status: Completed February 2014
Main Contractor: Praxis Contractors Pte Ltd
Structural Engineer: SB Ng & Associates CE