On a very standard semi-detached plot size of 319 m2, the house re-examines the typology of a typical landed house in Singapore. A series of landscape terraces progresses from the front garden on the first level to the last floor. The gardens also wrap around the sides on the 2nd and 3rd levels to envelope the house in nature. Every floor has a ‘landed’ ambience and the plants help to screen the internal rooms as well as defining the edge of the spaces.

This semi-detached house is for a multi-generation family. The first level has the main living, dining and kitchen areas with rooms for the grandmother and 2 helpers. The second level has 2 kid’s bedrooms as well as a large family area for them. Above this is the master suite with an attached bathroom and gym. Finally on the attic is a generous study for 2.

The site faces a residential road as well as an incoming junction to one side. The land is also sloping with the side and rear setback area as well as the neighbours on higher ground. The area is zoned as a 3-storey mixed landed zone.

The houses uses face brickwork for the exterior walls and this continues internally in the party wall separating the house from its neighbour. This is where the circulation zone is and here the staircase and corridors are made in off form concrete. Alternating bands of concrete stiffeners give a musical rhythm to the soffit of this space. On the 3rd level the face brickwork also returns internally to form a landscape courtyard to the master bedroom and bathroom.

Name: Natural Progression
Type: 3 storey semi-detached house with attic
Location: Sennett Avenue, Singapore
Site Area: 319 m2
Gross Floor Area: 555 m2
Status: Completed 2023
Architect: HYLA Architects
Principal Architect: Han Loke Kwang
Assistant Architects: Tran Thi Thu Trang, Sabrina Chua, Teoh Feng Mei, Thomas Ong, Juperi
Main Contractor: : Toh Kum Swee Pte Ltd
Structural Engineer: GCE Consulting Engineers
Landscape: Green Forest Landscape Pte Ltd
Interior: Thung Interior
Photographer: Derek Swalwell