Cover The garage inside this detached house by TA.CO Architects, where the husband keeps his treasured cars, connects visually to the entertainment room
The garage inside this detached house by TA.CO Architects, where the husband keeps his treasured cars, connects visually to the entertainment room
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TA.CO Architects adds subtle sophistication to this developer-built detached house with an atmospheric material palette, dynamic lighting and private, dedicated spaces for the family
A couple purchased a developer-built 12,191 sq ft house, but it wasn’t well designed for their family’s needs. As such, the parents of two kindergarten-age children approached Constans Tan of TA.CO Architects to renovate it. “Modern luxury” was the generic description of their desired style but, more specifically, it had to be a comfortable home as well as able to host gatherings for up to 10 guests at a time.
Due to the topography, which slopes towards the rear, the main entrance and vehicular entry in the basement is level with the road. The garage, for the husband’s prized cars, connects visually with an entertainment room through a large glass window.
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Above The basement lift lobby pairs a sleek, polished console with a framed abstract artwork
The basement lift lobby pairs a sleek, polished console with a framed abstract artwork
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“The garage and entertainment areas were designed with privacy in mind, both visually and acoustically, to avoid disturbing the neighbours. Naturally, the design took on a more introverted approach, where the main gate was also changed to one that is less porous,” says Tan.
Above The entertainment room’s concealed speakers and built-in bar sit within a moody, textured backdrop
The entertainment room’s concealed speakers and built-in bar sit within a moody, textured backdrop
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The garage features a Barrisol ceiling to diffuse light. It mimics a skylight, providing necessary illumination to what would otherwise be a dark and deep basement. In the entertainment room, there is a concealed wall speaker system, and the projector screen can be hidden when it isn’t in use.
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Greet and meet
Above A dark timber wall anchors the living room, paired with a sculptural lamp and a swivel chair
A dark timber wall anchors the living room, paired with a sculptural lamp and a swivel chair
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A dog-leg staircase ascends to the detached house’s first storey, where the living room looks out to a spacious terrace facing the street. Tan changed the doors between the living and dining areas, and the dining area and the kitchen to tinted-glass pocket doors to connect the spaces visually. A void cuts through the centre of the house next to the dining area and the dry kitchen, bringing natural light deep into the plan.
Above Stone and dark timber invigorate the living room, which also features a plush sofa and sheer curtains
Stone and dark timber invigorate the living room, which also features a plush sofa and sheer curtains
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“The owners love hosting so this area is where they would like to dine, take photographs with friends, and display their art. We sealed off an odd window looking into the basement, replacing it with a feature wall in the dining space. This also provides better acoustics when there is a karaoke session in the basement entertainment room,” Tan reveals. A home theatre system from Bang & Olufsen, as well as a generously sized sofa from Baxter make the detached house living room a welcoming spot for movie nights.
Above The entertainment room’s speaker system is concealed within a sleek, dark media wall
The entertainment room’s speaker system is concealed within a sleek, dark media wall
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The detached house’s dark palette incorporates stone, burnt oak wood, and metal. “When applied in the right proportion, they create a sense of luxury,” explains Tan, who pays attention to “restraint in the precision of details, alignment of shadow gaps, concealing services, and designing how materials meet”. To him, luxury is not defined by excess, but rather about “proportion, calmness, and how a space makes you feel at ease”.
Holistic home life
Above The double‑volume dining area features Occhio pendant lights
The double‑volume dining area features Occhio pendant lights
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Luxury is also having a home that allows one to enjoy favourite activities in a seamless manner. For example, the wife enjoys cooking on occasion, and now has well-equipped wet and dry kitchens, connected through a tinted-glass pocket door.
Above This lighting installation is hand‑gesture‑operated, a Singapore first
This lighting installation is hand‑gesture‑operated, a Singapore first
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“The wet kitchen is functional and concealed with high-tech gadgets, while the dry kitchen acts as a social extension of the dining area. We integrated the wine refrigerator for a clean look, and designed the island for both food preparation and gatherings,” Tan says.
Above The master bedroom’s Baxter bedframe conveys elegance and comfort beneath cascading pendant lights
The master bedroom’s Baxter bedframe conveys elegance and comfort beneath cascading pendant lights
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The second storey is a private zone, housing the children’s bedrooms as well as the master suite. Tan doubled the size of the walk-in wardrobe as well, as he noticed the wife’s lack of display spaces in her former home, “bursting with bags, with boxes everywhere”.
Above The master bedroom houses a Senzafine Ego wardrobe system from Poliform, with customised glass elements
The master bedroom houses a Senzafine Ego wardrobe system from Poliform, with customised glass elements
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Above The walk-in wardrobe’s Poliform joinery displays exotic-range handbags and jewellery
The walk-in wardrobe’s Poliform joinery displays exotic-range handbags and jewellery
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Hence, this new walk-in wardrobe’s design was “an exercise in taking stock, prioritising storage space, and apportioning space for a full display walk-in,” he explains. For comfort and to provide a spacious feel, Tan extended the width of the corridor leading to the master bedroom and also rejigged the latter space’s layout. Here, two washbasins are now placed side by side rather than flanking each side of the door.
Crafting sensual spaces
Above This bathroom’s stone walls and backlit niche give it a distinct look
This bathroom’s stone walls and backlit niche give it a distinct look
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“Everything was carefully planned for practical adjacencies and comfort,” Tan says. He also gave each bathroom in the house a distinct identity. In the powder room, a customised Gessi washbasin is paired with a mixer that descends from the ceiling and is operated via a motion sensor. “This enables a sleek, touch-free experience that blends modern innovation with refined luxury,” Tan comments.
Above Created by repositioning the junior master bathroom, the attic study features gently backlit shelves and a sculptural desk
Created by repositioning the junior master bathroom, the attic study features gently backlit shelves and a sculptural desk
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In the attic, he repositioned the attached bathroom of the original junior master bedroom to create a capacious study. The larger space also incorporates the indoor golf simulator that the husband wanted, and opens out to a terrace the family uses for barbecues.
Above These cube-shaped pendants catch the light along the staircase void
These cube-shaped pendants catch the light along the staircase void
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Throughout the home, the dark palette is embellished with a fine selection of lighting fixtures, creating the effect of reflections within cave-like atmospheres. “More than just illumination, the lighting fixtures contribute to the experience, and add delight to each space and journey,” Tan says. Exquisite furniture from Baxter and Minotti offer the final touch of luxury and cosiness, turning this as-built house into a home.
Credits
Photography: Kung Photography and Studio Periphery
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