A geometric screen inspired by nature fronts this western facing semi-detached house. Between the screen and the house is a two-storey outdoor covered space with a pond and a timber deck. The living, dining and dry kitchen extend beyond. On the second storey, a family room has a TV-cum-shelf dividing it from the staircase. The master bathroom cantilevers dramatically into the outdoor space with its sunken bath and shower. At the top, the attic bathroom is made with cantilevered elements – shelf, sink, mirror and light.

Type: New Erection of 2-Storey Semi-Detached Dwelling House with Attic
Location: Bowmont Gardens
Status: Completed
Main Contractor: Bison Construction Pte Ltd
Structural Engineer: GNG Consultants Pte Ltd

No. 13 Lorong 24A Geylang is a shophouse conservation and extension project. Two red staircases—both spiral, yet very different in design and effect—dominate the interior. The larger sculptural spiral staircase is placed within a 4-storey light well between the existing conserved building and the new 4-storey extension behind. It sits above a blue reflecting pool and forms the centre piece of the house, spiralling up to the light and roof terrace above. The client likened it to a ‘red dragon’. The other staircase serves the attic level above the main conservation building. It sits above the kitchen area on the 1st storey and is spiral as well but with a rectangular shell.

This project is part of a series of 8 shophouses (together with No. 19) along Lorong 24A which was awarded the Architectural Heritage Awards 2013 by the Urban Redevelopment Authority. It was also featured in Singapore Architect magazine.

Type: Conservation, Additions & Alterations to Existing 2-Storey Intermediate Terrace Dwelling House with Additional Mezzanine Floor and New 4-Storey Rear Extension
Location: 13 Lorong 24A Geylang
Status: Completed January 2013
Main Contractor: M&R Building Maintenance
Structural Engineer: GNG Consultants Pte Ltd

Presenting a sleek façade to its neighbours, the finely detailed screens of 19 Jalan Angin Laut conceal a house nestled gently into a garden.

With its entrance elevated above the ground, one has to ascend a glass staircase to enter the house.  Opening the solid timber front door, one is greeted with a swimming pool and patio surrounded by lush greenery, amply shaded overhead and admitting light and air from the sides. This space is a paradigm of living comfortably in the tropics.

A glass bridge spanning lightly across the pool leads into the living room. This bridge extends the threshold of the house, prolonging the act of entering and highlighting the importance of this space to the overall design of the house. The rest of the house takes its cue from this scene, with the main living spaces being punctuated with light, greenery and timber accents. Together with the skilful manipulation of solids and voids, the overall effect is the architecture integrating harmoniously with nature.

Type: New Erection of 3-Storey Bungalow with Basement and Swimming Pool
Location: Jalan Angin Laut
Status: Completed November 2012
Main Contractor: 21 Construction Engineering Pte Ltd
Structural Engineer: GNG Consultants Pte Ltd

A finely detailed, intricately patterned screen envelopes the side façade and main gate of this semi-detached house. Located on a tight site alongside a busy road, privacy was a main consideration. The main screen is designed to have different densities at various heights to maximise privacy yet allowing views out. The second storey cantilevers over the outdoor terrace that faces the swimming pool. On the attic, the bathroom looks into the screen and a planter. The family room has a bookshelf made up of boxes stacked on top of each other.

Type: New Erection of 2-Storey Semi-Detached Dwelling House with Basement, Attic and Swimming Pool
Location: Carisbrooke Grove
Status: Completed June 2012
Main Contractor: V-Tech Construction Pte Ltd
Structural Engineer: GNG Consultants Pte Ltd

A metal spiral staircase sits in the middle of this two-storey conservation shophouse. It is gently tilted towards the front and spirals upwards over the three floors to end in the attic space over the well-lit jack roof. At the rear, a reflecting pond sits below a light and air well with a playful pattern of aluminium slats. The design of the house is completely open on the first storey and ends in a delightful bamboo court. On the second storey, the twin bathrooms are cladded in the same aluminium slats that are used in the staircase. One of the bathrooms has a pregnant bulge where the bathtub sits.

This project was awarded the Architectural Heritage Awards 2011 by the Urban Redevelopment Authority. For more information on this project, visit our micro-site.

It also won the Singapore Institute of Architects Design Award (Conservation Category) in 2012.

The project was also featured in the  New York Times, Singapore Architect, d+a and Cubes magazine.

Type: Conservation, Additions & Alterations to Existing 2-Storey Intermediate Terrace with Additional Mezzanine
Location: No. 19 Lorong 24A Geylang
Status: Completed April 2011
Main Contractor: The Mandy’s Pte Ltd
Structural Engineer: EDP Consultants

Formerly a semi-detached house, this site was converted to a bungalow. A lap pool is placed between the new house and the party wall, creating a private courtyard space. The first storey opens up to this space with the living, dining and dry kitchen adjacent. Upstairs, the master bedroom features a rainforest tree in the middle. A unique spiral staircase connects the master bedroom to the study above. Here, the shelves are inspired by the shape of the Ligne Roset sofas. The kids’ rooms and bathrooms are custom-designed according to the children’s own briefs.

Type: New Erection of 2-Storey Bungalow with Attic and Swimming Pool
Location: Princess of Wales Road
Status: Completed December 2011
Main Contractor: Jenjosh Developments Pte Ltd
Structural Engineer: EDP Consultants

The front has a westerly orientation and thus the house is turned around to face the back which is more private. A series of sleek vertical aluminium screens protect the house from the sun while allowing the wind to pass through. The entrance hall has high volume and features a reflecting pool. The stairs travel up the three levels alongside a granite-clad wall to reach the master bedroom and roof terrace at the top and rear. The master bathroom has a free-standing vanity, bath and wc with a skylight and light chandelier on top.

This project was featured in Singapore Architect magazine.

Type: New Erection of 2-Storey Semi-Detached Dwelling House with Attic
Location: Faber Avenue
Status: Completed August 2011
Main Contractor: Toh Kum Swee Pte Ltd
Structural Engineer: GNG Consultants Pte Ltd

The house faces a public green but also the west. To allow the view and yet protect it from the sun, motorised timber screens­ – which can be moved when needed ­­– are used. The timber screens have a subtle pattern of varying depths and heights to create a sense of movement. Inside, the theme is carried through in the staircase, which is also wrapped by a vertical timber screen.

Type:  New Erection of 2-Storey Semi-Detached Dwelling House with Swimming Pool
Location: Greenfield Drive
Status: Completed May 2011
Main Contractor: V-Tech Builder LLP
Structural Engineer: GNG Consultants Pte Ltd

The brief for this three-storey semi-detached was to address the busy Upper East Coast Road facing the front of the house while providing a place of refuge away from its hustle and bustle. A large front building setback is used to park three cars while enabling them to exit head-first onto the road. Immediately after the car porch is a perforated granite-clad feature wall with a waterfall on its reverse side facing the interior. This, together with the white noise generated by the water feature and koi pond, provide an ambiance, which effectively shields the first storey from the noise and visual mess of the main road. Hiding behind this feature wall, the living, dining and kitchen areas surround a three-storey timber-clad box, which also supports the staircase from the second to third storeys. Both staircases (first-to-second and second-to-third) comprise solid glass stair threads spanning across either steel stringers or timber walls. Their structure also helps to bring in light through the deep three-storey stairwell itself. All the living spaces hide behind a commercial glass curtain wall on the front, which provides a seamless understated façade to the mess and clutter along the main road.

Type: New Erection of 3 Storey Semi-Detached Dwelling House
Location: Upper East Coast Road
Status: Completed June 2009
Main Contractor: Renobest Builder
Structural Engineer: Uni-Associated Design

This bungalow in Sentosa Cove presents a simple and subtle statement along Cove Way. Hidden behind a bamboo planting screen, the first storey is transparent ­– privacy being provided by a series of horizontal timber blinds. These complement the oxidised brass roof that folds to become the front façade and also the canopy and car porch in one dynamic sweep. The living, dining and dry kitchen open across a covered timber terrace and an infinity lap pool. This maximises the entertainment possibilities at the first storey for the occupants. The pool deck then cascades to a lower terrace level, before connecting to the seawall with its future yacht mooring on the water. A unique stair structure clad in timber connects the three levels. The master bathroom utilises a barrel vaulted roof space and an oval skylight to create an interplay of light and shade. At the attic, the guest bathroom is seen as an extension of a luxe spa bath opening out onto a pebble garden on the roof terrace.

This project was featured in Cubes magazine.

Type: New Erection of 2-Storey Detached Dwelling House
Location: Sentosa Cove Way
Status: Completed July 2009
Main Contractor: 21 Construction Engineering Pte Ltd
Structural Engineer: KKC Consultancy Services