Cover With its breezy spaces and easy access to the outdoors, the home is a rejuvenating haven for the family
With its breezy spaces and easy access to the outdoors, the home is a rejuvenating haven for the family
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Sleek, roomy spaces bring a refreshing sensibility to this elegant detached house in Singapore’s District 11, a family home designed with communal bonding and fuss-free upkeep in mind
In the gathering dusk, a warm glow spills forth from the entrance of the single-storey detached house; from afar, it appears just like a welcoming sanctuary beckoning weary travellers seeking a place of refuge for the night after a long, hard day on the road. Its sizeable frontage and mid-century modern build envelope a series of open, flowing spaces within, which are characterised by clean, simple lines and an honest use of materials. The overall effect is effortless, invigorating, and a veracious testament to the maxim that less is indeed more.
This breezy, 4,510 sq ft abode in Singapore’s District 11 was crafted for a family of five, led by a homeowner-couple in their mid-50s. The owners desired an open, airy dwelling that would be their own personal hideaway from the stressors of modern life. “They wanted a simple, understated style and a sunny feel, underpinned by a mid-century modern design aesthetic,” says Sarah Tham, founder and design director of Cube Associate Design, who had also worked with the owners on their previous semi-detached house over a decade ago.
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Above A patch of rainforest forms an organic backdrop to the living area
A patch of rainforest forms an organic backdrop to the living area
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“Their kids had also grown up, so they needed a bigger space to accommodate the change in their lifestyles, along with privacy and personal space requirements,” she adds. “Essentially, we worked to create a minimal house with maximum space; a low maintenance design with easy-to-manage garden and outdoor spaces.”
Standing on a 12,077 sq ft plot, the four-bedroom house incorporates two wings and is characterised by a conscious integration with nature. Expansive glazing and large sliding doors open up the interior spaces and bring the outdoors in. Tham reveals that she drew upon influences from one of her favourite architects, Frank Lloyd Wright, in fashioning a home that harmonised with its inhabitants and the surrounding environment.
A compressed C-shaped plan helps merge the communal zone with the outdoors. “It lets the spaces flow naturally into each other and offer unhindered views of the exterior, with the floor-to-ceiling glass doors opening to a patio for extra living and dining space,” explains Tham.
The outdoor pool is a popular spot for recreation on weekends
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The front porch space was redesigned to accommodate a minimum of six cars, with the existing frontage and main gate also expanded; a separate side gate was added for easy access. As the house stands on a sloping site, with the level of the external road located much higher, the entrance was backfilled to achieve a more gradual slope and more even flat land for the car-parking area.
The use of shear walls does away with the need for bulky support columns and beams and aids in achieving the desired open-plan layout. Oriented along a northwest-southeast axis, the structure’s two wings are joined by a glass linkway framed in black steel for a clear visual connection, which also lends a modern edge.
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A solid white hue adorns much of the exterior of the house, augmented by pops of contrasting colours in the form of grey steel roofing and cladding, and a bright blue main door. A blue-tiled pool and the verdant shrubbery of the main garden bring visual and sensory respite on sweltering afternoons, with the main living area opening up to these features.
Above The living room is a well-composed tableau of soothing colours and textures
Above The main door’s cobalt shade mirrors the blue tones of the pool outside
The living room is a well-composed tableau of soothing colours and textures
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The main entrance stands right in the centre of the plot, with a hidden walk-in shoe room sited nearby to keep messy footwear out of sight. The fully glazed southeast side offers scenic views of a rainforest-like space and also lets a generous amount of natural light into the living and communal areas, as well as the bedrooms.
The left wing is the main structure of the property, housing the formal living area, dining area, dry and wet kitchens, attic family space, and bedrooms. In the living area, a plush sofa in beige is jazzed up with dramatic burnt-orange accent cushions. A large dining table seats up to ten individuals, while the open-concept dry kitchen with a solid teak-panelled ceiling and large island counter doubles as an informal dining zone. A Dekton surface in a honed finish ensures ease of maintenance and durability for the countertop.
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Above The occupants of each bedroom wake up to their own little patch of greenery
The occupants of each bedroom wake up to their own little patch of greenery
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Skylights in the dry kitchen and internal corridor ensure an adequate degree of natural illumination; as the dry kitchen faces the neighbouring house’s 1.8m high retaining wall, there is a slight compromise in the amount of natural light entering this zone. In the common areas, the floor was laid with self-levelling concrete finished in epoxy paint for a simple aesthetic vibe that also reiterates the flow and linkage of the individual spaces.
The attic loft is the hobby room, where the family spend many enjoyable hours bonding while reading or listening to music. The bedrooms comprise three junior suites and a master bedroom with a walk-in wardrobe; each room sports its own petite patch of garden. The bedroom floors utilise natural teak strips for a cosy, earthy feel. In the bathroom, a natural stone wall lends a rustic vibe.
Above These parquet stair treads are a beautiful complement to the white-painted galvanised steel railing
Above The walk-in wine cellar houses an extensive selection of spirits
These parquet stair treads are a beautiful complement to the white-painted galvanised steel railing
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Conversely, the right wing incorporates an outhouse that serves as a second living room; it can also be converted to function as a guest room when required. Throughout the home, the individual spaces are all linked via moveable walls or clear glass panes. A key feature of the house is a walk-in wine cellar that occupies the space under the staircase: the perfect spot to store precious vintages away from the detrimental effects of direct sunlight. With the ability to house up to 500 bottles, this space boasts sleek lines, a teak wood floor and shelves in a light oak veneer finish that were designed to accommodate bottles and cases of various sizes.
Although the design and planning stage of the home kicked off in November 2020, the project only came to a successful conclusion in June 2023 due to various delays brought about by the pandemic. Regardless, the entire exercise proved deeply fulfilling, with the result comprising an unfussy yet attractive and snug home with well-appointed spaces that segue effortlessly. “The client was very pleased, as the layout provides lots of opportunities for family interaction,” concludes Tham.
The house eschews unnecessary ornamentation for sleek mid-century modern lines
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Credits
Photography: Tim Nolan
