Cover House 16 in Changi proudly stands as a thoughtful reimagining of kampong roots, realised through Create Architecture’s careful choreography of memory and design
House 16 in Changi proudly stands as a thoughtful reimagining of kampong roots, realised through Create Architecture’s careful choreography of memory and design
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From salvaged timber to family heirlooms, Create Architecture re-envisions a Changi kampong house as a multigenerational retreat
The story of Clover Villas began with a partnership between developer Khoon Development and the original landowners of a kampong plot in Lorong 108 Changi. What emerged was a quartet of terrace houses, each distinct yet tied to the land’s history. The original kampong dwelling had weathered zinc roofs, timber columns and simple partitions—elements that spoke of its modest past, but were showing their age.
House 16, designed by Create Architecture, exemplifies the ethos of the project: a tropical sanctuary that balances privacy with communal living while preserving cultural memory. Completed in 2025 after two years of construction, the 7,700 sq ft home incorporates five ensuite bedrooms, a study, a rooftop terrace, and multiple communal spaces.
“We were tasked to weave legacy into contemporary living,” explains lead architect Tan Bing Hui. “That meant carefully restoring elements from the old kampong house and giving them renewed life in a modern setting.” The result is a dwelling that tells a seamlessly intertwined story of past as well as present generations.
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Living Legacy
A rendering of the Peranakan-inspired dry kitchen
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The living room is where the family’s history is most palpable. The original roof beams were reinterpreted as ceiling features, while double-leaf timber doors and grid screens from the kampong house now frame contemporary spaces. Even the TV wall carries zinc sheets with their natural patina, anchoring the room with a tactile sense of memory.
Furniture and heirlooms were also reintroduced with care. A one-seater leather chair belonging to the client’s father was restored and given pride of place, while wooden cabinets with glass panels were repurposed to house memorabilia. Retro light switches and window shutters were not hidden away, but retained as functional accents.
“Each salvaged element carries an emotional weight,” says Tan. “By placing them where daily life unfolds, we ensured the family’s history remains lived rather than archived.” This layering of objects old and new transforms the living areas into a narrative canvas, where daily routines are enriched by reminders of lineage.
Read more: Home Tour: An elegant modern tropical home in Singapore’s Upper Bukit Timah estate
Spaces of Care
Sunlight streaming into one of the rooms
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Designing for three generations required thoughtful planning and a careful response to individual needs. A specially enlarged bathroom for the elderly matriarch prioritises ease of movement and safety, with wide doorways, gentle slopes, and fittings positioned for comfort. Bedrooms were planned to allow privacy while staying visually connected to shared spaces. A prayer room was created to honour the family’s Indian traditions, complete with niches for ritual items and ample space for gatherings during religious ceremonies and observances.
The bathrooms throughout the home were reconceived as restorative sanctuaries, flooded with natural light and finished with textured stone and warm timber. “Accessibility and cultural rituals are not afterthoughts—they are integral to how the family experiences home,” notes Tan. These details extend beyond function; they affirm the family’s rhythms of life and create an environment in which comfort and tradition happily coexist. The result is a series of spaces that embodies inclusivity and care, giving equal attention to both the physical as well as the spiritual dimensions of living.
In case you missed it: Home Tour: A thoughtfully restored heritage mansion in Singapore's Pender Road
Open Horizons
The rooftop terrace opens out to unimpeded views of the neighbourhood
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On the upper levels, the study, which is tucked under the attic roof, facilitates quiet focus, while the rooftop terrace opens out to unimpeded views. Both indoor and outdoor areas flow seamlessly across the house, aided by custom-designed screens that regulate light and air. “In a dense urban context, creating openness is both a luxury and a necessity,” Tan reflects. By blending greenery, the flow of air and crafted privacy, the house achieves a rhythm that feels tropical yet contemporary.
House 16 proudly stands as a thoughtful reimagining of kampong roots. It is at once a reflection of familial legacy, a modern tropical dwelling, and a symbol of continuity between generations, all realised through Create Architecture’s careful choreography of memory and design.
Create Architecture
Above Create Architecture’s founders, architects Tan Bing Hui and Xu Naiyan
Create Architecture’s founders, architects Tan Bing Hui and Xu Naiyan
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Founded in 2017 by architects Tan Bing Hui and Xu Naiyan, Create Architecture is a Singapore-based practice of 12. The studio delivers master planning, architecture, interiors, and branding with contextual sensitivity and rigorous exploration, producing work defined by precision, storytelling, and a deep respect for place.
114 Lavender Street, #09-78 CT Hub 2, Tel: 9750 5499 / 9823 8392, createarchitecture.com.sg
Credits
Images: Create Architecture
