A pure white box floats above the open planned first storey and hovers precipitously over the aquamarine pool. This detached house has a semi-basement for two cars, dramatically entered by a colonnade of steel beams and columns. The living, dining and dry kitchen is cladded in blacks and dark greys and forms a striking contrast with the white box above. The family room has a glass box extension that cantilevers over the pool for added effect. The master bathroom is lit via a skylight from above with aluminium trellis for shade. Its walls are cladded with timber slats to give a warm feel.

This project was featured in Trends magazine.

Type: New Erection of 2-Storey Bungalow with Basement and Swimming Pool
Location: Windsor Park Road
Status: Completed May 2009
Main Contractor: QS Builders Pte Ltd
Structural Engineer: SB Ng & Associates CE

The living, dining and kitchen areas of this two-storey semi-detached house have been designed as one large audiovisual and entertainment space, efficiently soundproofed by double glazed sliding-folding doors. The two sidewalls that flank this space were intentionally built to taper towards the rear. This creates a slightly funnelled space that not only enhances the acoustic qualities of the room but also enables storage niches along the thicker ends of the walls to house hi-fi equipment. The client’s massive sculptural horn speakers anchor the front end of the space, and an outdoor terrace and lap pool anchor the rear. On the second storey, bedroom windows are recessed into curved walls that protrude subtly from the blank facade, recalling the form of the client’s horn speakers. A large skylight on the roof illuminates the second storey hallway glass floor and transmits light into the first storey living room as well. On the reinforced concrete flat roof, a layer of turfing efficiently insulates the house against heat.

Type: New Erection of 2-Storey Semi-Detached Dwelling House with Swimming Pool
Location: Crowhurst Drive
Status: Completed September 2008
Main Contractor: Toh Kum Swee Pte Ltd
Structural Engineer: KKC Consultancy Services

This 295 sq.m. house is sited on an irregularly shaped bungalow lot, surrounded on 3 sides by small roads. The building has been aligned to the longest boundary – along Daffodil Drive. The 1st storey is raised slightly above the ground, providing privacy for the outdoor terrace, swimming pool and visual screening from the carporch. A waterfall feature wall acts as a backdrop to the swimming pool while the outdoor spaces extend across the timber deck into the living and dining spaces. The building is curved at one end, in response to the curved site. This is reflected in the 1st storey around a dining space for 10 persons, and a curved walk-in wardrobe for the master bedroom on the 2nd storey. A green copper facade clads the entire western elevation and extends horizontally to form a canopy over the pool terrace, while a dark charcoal grey pebblecrete finish accentuates the curved form of the back and sides of the building. Inside the 2nd storey are two freestanding bathrooms enclosed in 3-Form Ecoglass panels surrounding two lush outdoor landscaped courtyards which bring both light and ventilation into the spaces.

Type: New Erection of 2 Storey Detached Dwelling House with Basement and Swimming Pool
Location: Daffodil Drive
Status: Completed December 2008
Main Contractor: V-Tech Builder LLP
Structural Engineer: KKC Consultancy Services

This modest pair of west-facing semi-detached houses sit on an original semi-detached site which was subsequently detached and subdivided again. Both houses are raised off the ground, with “basement” parking at road level. On the 1st floor, a small swimming pool and landscaped deck front the living and dining spaces. The master bedroom on the 2nd floor faces the west and Crescent Road. Although identical, both units have differing and unique master bathrooms encased in frosted glass walls – one round and the other square in plan. At the attic, the study room opens out to a rooftop terrace offering expansive views of the central business district skyline. The entire western facade is screened by operable aluminium louvers providing solar control while enabling the western views to be retained. When occupied, the interplay and angles of the screens give the building a subtle individual dynamism and character.

Type: New Erection of 2-Storey Semi-Detached Dwelling House with Attic and Swimming Pool
Location: 28B / 28C Crescent Road
Status: Completed August 2008
Main Contractor: J-Kho Engineering Pte Ltd
Structural Engineer:
Uni-Associated Consultants
GCE Consulting Engineering

The plan for this two and a half storey semi-detached has been reversed to face an existing lush landscaped garden at the rear of the site. One enters the house through an intricately trellised foyer area which then opens up into a 2-storey living and dining space that interacts with the park at the back of the house. A dramatic steel-framed staircase near the entrance provides access to the master bedroom, kids’ rooms and attic on different levels. This also forms the backdrop for the double height living space when viewed from the park. By reversing the plan for the house, the living spaces become connected to the lush rear garden while maintaining maximum privacy.

Type: New Erection of 2 Storey Semi-Detached Dwelling House with Attic
Location: Greenleaf Rise
Status: Completed March 2008
Main Contractor: J-Kho Engineering Pte Ltd
Structural Engineer: KKC Consultancy Services

This good class bungalow in the Chancery Road area is an exercise in contrasts. A two-storey finely louvred box housing the formal living and dining spaces and the master bedroom ensemble floats above the swimming pool and reflective pond. The fine detailing of the external louvres creates a powerful interplay of light and shadow both in the day as well as at night. It also contrasts with the solid mass of the secondary wing which houses the informal living spaces and four bedrooms on the second storey. These two blocks are connected via a two-storey stairwell and an interesting home lift, which extends down into the basement parking below.

Type: New Erection of 2 Storey Detached Dwelling House with Attic, Basement and Swimming Pool
Location: Bukit Tunggal
Status: Completed July 2008
Main Contractor: QS Builders Pte Ltd
Structural Engineer: SB Ng & Associates CE

Sited at the end of a cul-de-sac, this property used to be a semi-detached residence. The new building detaches itself from its adjacent neighbour, creating a standalone bungalow. A long water feature and landscaped bamboo strip mediates the new building from the blank party wall of the neighbour. Four bedrooms, a study and a family space on the 2nd storey are contained in a pure white concrete box which is supported at one end by a teak-cladded services area on the 1st storey. The other end of the 2nd storey cantilevers more than 9 metres and overlooks a neighbourhood park immediately behind. This white box hovers seamlessly above the living and dining spaces. The rear boundary fence is openable, thus enabling the entire house to open directly into the park behind. The result is a dramatic expanse of greenery for the occupants to enjoy.

Type: New Erection of 2-Storey Detached Dwelling House
Location: Binchang Rise
Status: Completed September 2007
Main Contractor: Toh Kum Swee Pte Ltd
Structural Engineer: KKC Consultancy Service

The solid form of this corner bungalow along Meyer Road is outwardly deceptive. Along this busy road, a reflective pond has been added at the 2nd storey, acting as water wall to the Living and Dining spaces. At the 2nd storey, a series of retractable external roller blinds provide shade and privacy to the bedrooms and family room from the high-rise condominiums directly opposite. At the same time, it makes a lovely private, external and well-lit space that focuses the view towards the park along Crescent Road.

The 1st storey has an open concept with the living, dining and dry kitchen along a very simple rectilinear plan. All the glass sliding doors enclosing this space slide out of view. The master bedroom is at the attic, and has a generous outdoor deck facing the park. At the rear is an open concept bathroom with a landscaped strip and sky-lit bath.

This project was featured in Trends magazine.

Type: New Erection of 2-Storey Detached Dwelling House with Attic
Location: Crescent Road
Status: Completed April 2007
Main Contractor: Praxis Contractors Pte Ltd
Structural Engineer: PKP Consultants

A new large 2-storey timber deck, 3-car garage, swimming pool and master bedroom ensemble has been added onto the side of an existing 3-storey semi-detached residence at the end of a cul-de-sac. The naturally ventilated deck separates the old and new buildings and acts as an extension of the living room to the 15m long lap pool beyond. The new master bedroom suite hovers just above the pool, providing privacy and shade from the western sun. This central space becomes a place of private repose amidst the surrounding houses nearby.

The infinity edge detail of the pool forms a shimmering water wall cascading to the lower landscaped level at the back of the house. This contrasts with the exuberant details of timber sunscreens and circular masterbath ensuite modules above.

This project was featured in d+a magazine.

Type: Reconstruction to a 2-Storey Semi-Detached Dwelling House with Basement, Attic and Swimming Pool
Location: Lucky View
Status: Completed September 2006
Main Contractor: T&T Technology Contract Services
Structural Engineer: KKC Consultancy Service
M&E Engineer: Edward E. Woo Consultants Pte Ltd

The subtle low scale of this good class bungalow from the street hides a 12m lap pool and a single storey living room pavilion sited on one side of a large glazed and timber screened entrance foyer. On the other side of the pool, the dining space, kitchen, and bedrooms are housed on a long cantilevered block.

This L-shaped ensemble forms an inner sanctuary hidden from the street below. All the spaces interface directly with the pool and garden beyond – enclosed by the L-shaped building forms and the large chengal timber deck.

The large sliding glass doors of the dining room disappear into adjacent walls, further blurring the connection between the interior and exterior spaces of the house and thus emphasising its connection with the landscape and the pool. On the 2nd storey bedrooms, similar full-height glass doors also disappear, making the bedrooms feel as though they are large, deeply recessed balconies of an old tropical bungalow home.

Completing the ensemble is a discrete vehicle entrance leading down to a basement with parking space for four cars.

This project was featured in d+a magazine.

Type: New Erection of 2-Storey Bungalow with Basement
Location: Oriole Crescent
Status: Completed November 2006
Main Contractor: QS Builders Pte Ltd
Structural Engineer: Uni-Associated Consultants
M&E Engineer: Edward E. Woo Consultants Pte Ltd