Home tour: an audiophile’s Grange Infinite apartment filled with lush plants and an air-conditioned outdoor deck

Upon stepping into the apartment, most visitors would immediately spot the potted olive tree set in the middle of a bespoke bench, or the garcinia trees and other plants that seem to sprout up from the ground. “We designed a marble bench that encircles the base of the olive tree for guests, which gives them a place to sit and mingle while having casual conversations and a drink,” says Quah.

“The apartment is surrounded on all edges by private planters and a deck, with an expansive view of the other towering apartments in the Leonie Hill area. The owners wanted to maximise the use and experience of the substantial deck space while creating the impression of a garden pavilion in the sky,” he adds. To that end, Quah created a custom concealed planter system hidden under the deck to create the illusion of trees and other landscaping emerging from the ground, just as in a real outdoor pavilion.

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On the balcony, there’s also a cosy spot where one can enjoy a good book while reclining in a Dedon Mbrace rocking chair. The outdoor area can be fully air-conditioned once the heavy outdoor curtains are drawn, ensuring both occupants and guests can enjoy it even in muggy weather.

Equally of note is the homeowner’s hi-fi system. In the living room, a pair of tower speakers flanks a number of decks and amplifiers. These are nestled below the television, which is fitted in a rose-gold titanium enclosure that also incorporates concealed storage space and other speakers. Look upwards, and you’ll notice that the ceiling benefits from the same tailored acoustic treatment used in the Singapore Airlines First Class lounge—a testament to the homeowner’s dedication to his hobby.

The living area is anchored by a Forme Congo coffee table, which bears concentric rings like the cross-section of a tree trunk. Set atop a large rug that resembles the surface of the moon and accompanied by a plush sofa set from B&B Italia, the overall effect is reminiscent of a zen garden punctuated by a lone stone sculpture.

To the right, a full-height backlit shelving unit spans the length of a wall. Each niche houses something that carries with it memories and meaning, like a signed copy of a Richard Clayderman concert programme, a Lego model of James Bond’s Aston Martin DB5, and a painting of a manor. Beyond the sofa is an indoor dining corner where a Skovby #33 dining table holds court, flanked by matching dining chairs from the same brand. A Flos Frisbi suspension lamp softly illuminates the table when evening approaches.

Like the rest of the apartment, the bedrooms are clad in soft, neutral hues, chosen to create a soothing atmosphere. While beiges and browns reign supreme in the living area, soft greys and whites are more prominent in the bedrooms, and this subtle shift in the colour palette visually serves to separate play from rest. In contrast, the bathrooms are much more playful thanks to the use of unexpected fixtures, such as a Gessi Goccia spout that descends from the ceiling, and a curved backdrop made of stunning dark-grey marble.

In the master bathroom, striking his-and-hers frosted washbasins on a green marble countertop steal the show. Ornamental orchids within the bathroom complement the planters on the periphery of this space, which itself resembles a tropical resort—which is exactly what the homeowner wanted. The stunning dark-green shower stall with gold fixtures is no slouch, either. Meanwhile, built-in cubbies provide plenty of storage space for the showering accoutrements that one inevitably collects over time.

Regardless, the most significant—and unexpected—layout changes took place in the dry kitchen. “Instead of a typical island layout, we counter-intuitively created a feature shelf screening off the dry kitchen from view,” says Quah, who notes that most people would want to keep the area open to create the impression of a larger space. However, he adds that “the visual clutter of the open dry kitchen counter and appliances distracted from what was truly the essence of the apartment, which was about the view towards the city, the large sheltered deck area, and the outdoor planters surrounding the apartment.”

When asked to pinpoint his favourite spot, Quah picked the dining deck. “Designing the outdoor dining pavilion was especially rewarding, with its focal point being an olive tree and custom bench that evokes the social charm of a piazza.” Balancing the owner’s advanced audio and home theatre requirements with the warm, understated aesthetic of the home was another key achievement. “All in all, this is a house that disguises many complexities beneath a space that exudes calm and restoration as an oasis within its urban setting,” he concludes.

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