Cover In the living room, art by Robin Eley is matched with a minimalist sofa from Walter Knoll
In the living room, art by Robin Eley is matched with a minimalist sofa from Walter Knoll
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From a dashing Good Class Bungalow to an art collector’s Sentosa apartment, these luxurious Singapore homes showcase their owners’ gorgeous art collections
In Singapore’s most refined residences, art transcends mere decoration to become an integral part of daily living. From an art collector’s elevated Sentosa apartment with gorgeous ocean views to a neurosurgeon’s sublime Good Class Bungalow and a Singapore apartment inspired by artist Joan Miró, these homes showcase how collectors and creatives seamlessly blend architectural elegance with personal expression.
Each of these residences is a testament to the owners’ passion for art, transforming their living environments into curated galleries that celebrate both aesthetic beauty and individual narratives.
1. An art collector’s elevated Sentosa apartment
A sculpture by Chinese artist Chen Wen Ling makes a compelling statement in the living room of this Sentosa apartment with its bright red hue
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How does one take an abode with already enviable qualities to an even higher level of sophistication and user satisfaction? For Ricky Tay, design partner at interiors firm Livspace, this involved adopting an “inside out” approach to truly understanding the client first before proposing any concepts, however creative or visually impressive they might be. Such a meticulous approach ultimately paid off in the form of a fulfilling home perfectly tailored to the client and also a fitting representation of their story.
This 2,500 sq ft Sentosa apartment, located in the Cape Royale condominium in Singapore’s coveted District 4, boasts gorgeous views of the ocean, which Tay used as a starting point for the home’s décor and aesthetics. The client, who works as a venture capitalist, also owns various prized artworks, which the designer installed at strategic spots throughout the home to act as visual highlights.
A more intangible source of inspiration was the homeowner’s “zeal for life”, which Tay reveals also had some bearing on the home’s design. “A minimalist scheme where less is more, not constrained by specific themes or nuances, but a design and work from the heart,” he explains.
2. An artful, heritage-rich waterfront condominium
The Keppel Bay condominium by Mosh Interior has a spacious dining area in lieu of a living room, which the designers elevated with wooden details on the ceiling
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In the home of Dr Lavan Iswaran and his wife, Indra Iswaran, a palpable sense of history and heritage are closely intertwined.
It is a magic mix achieved with the help of Mosh Interior, the design firm they enlisted to transform their apartment in Singapore’s Corals at Keppel Bay condominium into a stunning sanctuary that is also wholly representative of the couple’s passion for the arts.
Comprising two adjacent units, the home already boasted many admirable qualities. But moving the couple’s acquisitions from a courtyard house in Bukit Timah to an apartment still required a careful curation of art and furnishings so that the interior feels characterful yet well-considered.
Don’t miss: Home tour: An artful, heritage-rich waterfront condominium at Keppel Bay by Mosh Interior
3. A Bukit Timah Good Class Bungalow inspired by art
Above The Good Class Bungalow's double-height living room features a striking sunset-inspired palette and a geometric rug symbolising the sun’s rays
Above A Riviere rug and lighting installation by ceramic artist Andreea Braescu turn the dining room into a stunning extension of the landscape depicted in the painting hung at the head of the table
The Good Class Bungalow's double-height living room features a striking sunset-inspired palette and a geometric rug symbolising the sun’s rays
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Rome wasn’t built in a day, and neither was a strong relationship. For French-born interior designer Maud Ferrand and the husband-and-wife owners of this Good Class Bungalow (GCB) in Singapore’s District 10, their collaboration has been an almost two-decade journey that began in 2005.
The couple had just completed their two-storey modernist tropical home—designed by renowned architect Ernesto Bedmar—and were in search of an interior designer to complete their vision. A mutual friend introduced them to Ferrand.
“The interview process lasted for six months,” she recalls. “The rest is history.” The clients didn’t just engage Ferrand for the initial design; they returned to her for a second transformation of their home. Completed in August, the refreshed interiors breathe new life into the 10,764 sq ft GCB space while honouring Bedmar’s architectural shell.
“The design brief was, well, brief: to develop a new concept incorporating the existing art collection and a few furniture pieces,” she shares.
4. A freehold Singapore condo filled with Asian art and antiques
KNQ Associates opted to bookmatch the large-format floor tiles to create a seamless look in the freehold condo’s living room
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Starting from the ground up may be considered the ideal situation for many homeowners. But there is beauty to be found in every space, and many design opportunities that can help turn a time-worn interior into a fresh and inspiring abode. This is a belief KNQ Associates has advocated since its establishment 20 years ago.
The four-bedroom apartment is situated in a freehold condominium that was first constructed during the ’70s, and has a sizeable footprint spanning over 3,000 sq ft. The owner’s large and colourful collection of art, antiques and furnishings was to be the focus of the interior concept.
Given the generous floor plan, the designers had plenty of room to work with; the challenge was to curate and display the many furnishings and artworks tastefully throughout the abode without cluttering the interior.
5. A Good Class Bungalow housing a neurosurgeon’s art collection
The grand scale of the Good Class Bungalow's ground-floor sitting area allows statement furniture, artworks and sculptural elements to shine against the lush views
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How does one improve upon something that’s already so luxurious? In the case of this Good Class Bungalow (GCB) located in the Holland Road precinct, Ed Ong, founder and creative director of Dwell Interior Design, undertook a richly detailed overhaul of its interior spaces so they would suit their occupants’ lifestyles better.
Occupying a 15,100 sq ft plot of land adjacent to the Green Corridor, the GCB is home to a neurosurgeon, his gynaecologist wife and their two young adult daughters. Its interiors, which amount to a built-up area of 12,000 sq ft spread over two storeys and a basement level, had not been updated in over two decades.
“They wanted a full makeover, which included a renovation of the living spaces, the kitchen and dining area, the bedrooms, and the basement entertainment room,” says Ong. There was also a need to factor in the family’s collection of artworks and vessels, which they had acquired from all over the world, in the rejuvenation exercise.
Read more: Home tour: This luxurious Good Class Bungalow houses a neurosurgeon’s remarkable art collection
6. A multi-generational, art-filled bungalow
In the living room, a painting by Robin Eley is matched with a minimalist sofa from Walter Knoll
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At first glance, there are many disadvantages to this house’s plot: it is positioned at a junction and it has an odd wedge shape, with two sides fronting two roads. But the homeowner picked the right collaborators—RT+Q Architects has the magical ability to conjure up homes that thrive because of their inherent quirks, and Ommo Design brings intimacy and character to interiors.
This was also to be a multigenerational family abode for the homeowner, his two grown sons and their young families. Rene Tan, who leads RT+Q Architects with TK Quek, conceived a courtyard scheme in which three blocks surround a central void, turning the home inwards for privacy. It is simple, but no less delightful and nuanced due to the high level of detailing and various interesting expressions.
The homeowner’s bold art collection gives the home its unique personality. Pieces are thoughtfully placed all over the house, with most adorning a wall in the double-storey clubhouse. “There are many spaces in the home designed for artworks, such as the double-height living space, the clubhouse and the gallery bridge. These allow for placing artworks and experiencing them almost as if one is in a gallery,” says Tan.
7. A Singapore home filled with Southeast Asian art and mid-century furniture
The sunken living room is partitioned off from the dining area with a low bookshelf that Budden built himself and a row of floating papier mache lotus leaves by Cambodian artist Eng Rithchandaneth
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Art historian and collector Krystina Lyon found her calling when she first immersed herself in the world of art. What started as a blooming interest became complete dedication; these days, she spends her time studying the practice of contemporary female artists in Southeast Asia, inspired by unexpected intersections. A tour of her home reveals not just a rich lineup of women artists from the region, but Lyon’s wealth of knowledge and the deep connection she has formed with every piece.
Her husband, renowned designer Mark Budden, is similarly fond of contemporary artists, having amassed his own collection of favourites in their shared home, alongside a series of mid-century Danish furniture.
The couple first met in England over 30 years ago, living out of a makeshift industrial apartment turned self-converted loft. Even back then, the hands-on pair were drawn to characterful furniture and art, beginning the collection they would ultimately relocate to Singapore around 10 years later.
In case you missed it: Home tour: Krystina Lyon and Mark Budden’s inviting Singapore home filled with Southeast Asian art and mid-century furniture
8. A Sentosa apartment with a modern take on Asian heritage
An overview of the Sentosa apartment's living room, in which an artwork featuring a school of koi fish catches the eye, as designed by Prestige Global Designs
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A home ought to tell a story and be a characterful space that represents your lifestyle and the magnetic sparkle of your personality. For this particular abode in Singapore’s Sentosa Cove, Prestige Global Designs sought to capture these elements and more by taking a cue from the family’s remarkable collection of Asian art.
With its stunning waterfront location and 1,711 sq ft footprint, the three-bedroom apartment already boasted desirable qualities of its own. The family of four were well-familiar with the process of renovation work and knew they wanted a home that was “unique and different” from any other residence they had lived in.
The homeowners also asked for ample storage space and wonderful ways to display their paintings and objets d’art. What Prestige Global Designs needed to do was help curate the selection as part of the apartment’s cohesive design.
9. A Singapore apartment inspired by artist Joan Miró
Orange upholstery lends freshness to the sunken living space in this artistic home
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Catalan artist Joan Miró (1893-1983) is known for his use of vivid colour and whimsical imagery in his work. Some associate his art with abstraction and surrealism, but Miró denied any affiliation with specific schools of thought, claiming that he simply aimed to let the subconscious take hold.
This playfulness, as well as the unbridled juxtaposition of colour and form, inspired PI Architects for the interior design of this Singapore apartment. “We looked at the owner’s art collection and were interested in how Miró’s explorations could be translated into the home’s design,” says Ivan Soh, who co-founded the firm with Paul Yeo and christened the home Apartment Miró.
This 40-year-old apartment features a capacious 3,800 sq ft floor plan typical of condominium apartments from the 1980s. But the original layout and décor—compartmentalised and gaudy with angular ceiling light coves and dated tiles—were not suitable for its new owner.
Credits
Images: Courtesy of the respective design firms
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