Cover A soaring two-storey painting and fortnightly floral arrangement by This Humid House offer a graceful welcome in the black-and-white house’s foyer
A soaring two-storey painting and fortnightly floral arrangement by This Humid House offer a graceful welcome in the black-and-white house’s foyer
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Woods Bagot elegantly reimagines an iconic black-and-white house at 9 Goodwood Hill by fusing colonial heritage with Nanyang nuances
In Singapore’s architectural lexicon, few typologies are as romanticised—or as rigorously preserved—as the black-and-white bungalow. Built in the early 20th century for colonial administrators and military officers, these mock-Tudor structures were adapted to the tropics with wide verandahs, high ceilings, and louvred windows. Today, they stand as stately relics of a bygone era, monuments to British colonial ambition now recontextualised as some of the city’s most coveted luxury properties.
Among them is this storied residence at 9 Goodwood Hill. Set on 66,202 sq ft of land with an estimated gross floor area of 7,421 sq ft, it is nestled in one of the most pristine clusters of 26 conserved bungalows in Singapore. The property, which was leased in a two-year tenure through a competitive public bidding process under the stewardship of the Singapore Land Authority, became the temporary home of a young family whose main residence in Sentosa Cove was undergoing a massive renovation.
In case you missed it: How Singapore’s black-and-white houses became a luxury property
Above A view of the black-and-white house framed by a row of palm trees; the garden is planted with unscented flowers, in keeping with feng shui guidance
A view of the black-and-white house framed by a row of palm trees; the garden is planted with unscented flowers, in keeping with feng shui guidance
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Above Viewed from the pool, the balck-and-white house at 9 Goodwood Hill, built in the early 20th century, rises above a gently sloping lawn
Above A view of the heritage bungalow’s driveway, framed by mature trees
Viewed from the pool, the balck-and-white house at 9 Goodwood Hill, built in the early 20th century, rises above a gently sloping lawn
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“There was something instinctive about it. When I saw 9 Goodwood Hill, I knew it could hold our family’s story,” shares the lady of the house. With only weeks to complete the interior overhaul, the owners turned to Woods Bagot.
Tasked with transforming the colonial shell into a refined sanctuary suitable for a family with a newborn and a toddler, the Singapore arm of the global design studio took on the challenge with calibrated grace and a deep respect for heritage.
“The house already had so much presence,” says Sherry Goh, the interior designer at Woods Bagot who helmed the project. “Our role was to craft a narrative within it—one that respected its heritage while adapting it to a new way of living.”
Above A doorway to the right of the entrance vestibule leads into the salon, which house a one-of-a-kind Steinway piano
A doorway to the right of the entrance vestibule leads into the salon, which house a one-of-a-kind Steinway piano
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Colonial, Recast
The home’s architectural identity was never in question. Its whitewashed facade, pitched roof and deep verandahs immediately evoked Singapore’s colonial past. But the goal was not to preserve the house in amber. “It reminded me of Raffles Hotel,” the homeowner recalls. “That was the feeling I wanted to recreate, but more personal, more lived-in.” She adds: “I didn’t want to live in a museum. The beauty of this house is how gracefully it’s adapted to our daily lives.”
To that end, Goh and her team orchestrated a transformation that balanced reverence with reinvention. The interiors were stripped back and rebuilt in a palette of black, white and gold, a nod to the house’s historical bones, but executed with a distinctly modern edge.
Above A panelled white wall forms a clean backdrop for a pairing of contrasts—an antique chest and a modern sofa
Above A one-of-a-kind Steinway piano presides over the black-and-white house’s salon
A panelled white wall forms a clean backdrop for a pairing of contrasts—an antique chest and a modern sofa
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Oak floorboards, grain-matched and sourced from China, run throughout the main living spaces. A one-of-a-kind Steinway piano stands in the salon, anchoring the colonial-modern sensibility with gravitas. In the dining room, a 4.75m single-slab dining table anchors the space beneath sculptural Moooi chandeliers, while gold-accented Phillip Jeffries wallpaper subtly reinforces the feng shui intentions underpinning the design.
Geomancy was central to the spatial planning. Mirrors, sourced from W. Atelier, were placed strategically to reflect energy and expand space. In the garden, tiered landscaping and twin rows of trees elicit a sense of enclosure and calm.
Above A layered view of the kitchen reveals the many nuanced details that weave old-world charm with contemporary function
Above The lady of the house enjoys a quiet moment in the kitchen, where vintage motifs and modern comforts meet
A layered view of the kitchen reveals the many nuanced details that weave old-world charm with contemporary function
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Rows of bamboo plants, planted on the slope-facing side of the house, were selected on the advice of a feng shui master for their ability to soften incoming energy, though this was deliberately restrained to preserve visual subtlety.
Throughout, the team wove in Nanyang references with restraint. Custom joinery recalls Chinese latticework; a rattan mirror and playful barber pole light in the sunroom lend tropical informality.
Above The elegant dining room features oversized transparent pendants that feel light despite their scale, complemented by floral arrangements from This Humid House—refreshed every fortnight to keep the space feeling alive
Above Display shelves showcasing a curated collection of teapots hint at the client’s passion for tea
The elegant dining room features oversized transparent pendants that feel light despite their scale, complemented by floral arrangements from This Humid House—refreshed every fortnight to keep the space feeling alive
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Above The generous outdoor seating area overlooks lush greenery, offering a tranquil spot for relaxation and entertaining
The generous outdoor seating area overlooks lush greenery, offering a tranquil spot for relaxation and entertaining
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Spaces for Life
While the ground floor establishes a mood of heritage elegance, it is upstairs that the black-and-white house fully reveals itself as a living, breathing family home. The layout had to accommodate the household’s many rhythms—young children, pets, live-in help, hybrid work, guests and personal rituals—without compromising on the overarching design language.
The master suite is anchored by a sunken platform bed from Living Divani and wrapped in custom gridded panelling that hints at traditional Chinese motifs. New Zealand wool carpets lend a muted softness underfoot, contrasting with the original timber floors, which were carefully sanded and restored elsewhere in the home.
Above The bedroom walls feature recessed niches in warm finishes, designed to showcase the homeowner’s curated collectibles
The bedroom walls feature recessed niches in warm finishes, designed to showcase the homeowner’s curated collectibles
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Above A view from the bedroom into the walk-in wardrobe reveals a seamless continuity of white and warm wood finishes
Above A cosy seating corner sits beside a wall niche with display shelves, offering a quiet spot for rest and reflection
A view from the bedroom into the walk-in wardrobe reveals a seamless continuity of white and warm wood finishes
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The adjoining children’s rooms are whimsical yet timeless, dressed in soft green and blue that are serendipitously aligned with feng shui guidance long before the consultant was brought in. A shared study area, furnished with Dekton-topped desks, bridges the twin requirements of function and form.
A more relaxed mood pervades the separate guest pavilion, where earthy tones and a four-poster bed create a resort-like atmosphere. The floating Toto bathtub forms the centrepiece of the designated spa zone, complete with strewn pebbles inspired by Balinese villas. Another separate pavilion on the property accommodates a driver’s and helpers’ quarters.
Above A connecting room offers caregivers a sunlit space to sit in while keeping watch
A connecting room offers caregivers a sunlit space to sit in while keeping watch
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Above The black-and-white house’s nursery features soft materials and a soothing colour palette, with a mesmerising ceiling light that mimics a constellation-filled sky
Above A view into the nursery’s bathroom framed by walls adorned with black-and-white wallpaper featuring hand-drawn safari illustrations
The black-and-white house’s nursery features soft materials and a soothing colour palette, with a mesmerising ceiling light that mimics a constellation-filled sky
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Above A low-slung bed and cushioned walls allow the toddler to crawl around and explore the surroundings safely
A low-slung bed and cushioned walls allow the toddler to crawl around and explore the surroundings safely
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Elsewhere in the black-and-white house, formerly underutilised areas were recast with intent. The sunroom houses a barber chair and the rattan mirror beneath the whimsical barber pole light, while the outdoor verandah—framed by zip track blinds and woven carpets from Living DNA—can morph into an indoor entertaining space at a moment’s notice.
Throughout, the design accommodates everyday rituals: tea ceremonies hosted by the homeowner’s husband, family gatherings, or quiet afternoons supervised by a regal, long-haired cat who has made the house her domain.
Above A vintage barber chair and ornate mirror add a sense of charm and whimsy to the sunroom
Above The owner’s personal knick-knacks—such as this antique grandfather clock and gilded figurines placed atop the cupboard in the tea room—reflect a blend of sentiment, heritage, and feng shui principles
A vintage barber chair and ornate mirror add a sense of charm and whimsy to the sunroom
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A devoted tea connoisseur, the husband has turned the upstairs living lounge into a dedicated tea room. Antique desks and drawers hold his prized collection of aged Pu’er and Ban Zhang teas, along with meticulously maintained utensils. Even the water used for brewing is a specific bottled product, chosen for its mineral balance to enhance the flavour of the tea.
Sharing the space are Miami, the aforementioned majestic black cat, and McDull, a small black dog—both have staked out their favourite low chair as a lookout perch.
Above The black-and-white house’s upstairs lounge doubles as a tea room and meeting space, complete with antique tables and collected objects
The black-and-white house’s upstairs lounge doubles as a tea room and meeting space, complete with antique tables and collected objects
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Quiet Complexity
“We didn’t have the luxury of time, so we relied on clarity. Every decision had to hold its weight,” says Goh. Beneath the home’s elegance lies a tightly choreographed feat of design logistics and structural adaptation.
Given the black-and-white house’s conservation status, no changes could be made to its original doors, windows or layout; every intervention had to be surgically precise. One of the most complex tasks was reinforcing the newly defined archway situated between the living and dining rooms, which required the insertion of a concealed steel beam to support the altered flow.
Acoustic treatments were added to the ceilings to resolve the house’s original issues with sound reverberation, while a discreet drainage system was installed to manage runoff on the sloped land. The landscaping itself—lush but ordered—had to satisfy both feng shui prescriptions and tropical resilience.
Above A close-up detail of the curving ceiling articulation highlights the craftsmanship and structural finesse
Above A close-up detail reveals the meeting of materials, adding depth and richness to the black-and-white house’s tactile palette
A close-up detail of the curving ceiling articulation highlights the craftsmanship and structural finesse
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Above The staircase is encased in a glazed curtain wall that folds away to open or enclose the space as needed. Above it, a curving false ceiling was engineered to integrate seamlessly with the conserved structure
The staircase is encased in a glazed curtain wall that folds away to open or enclose the space as needed. Above it, a curving false ceiling was engineered to integrate seamlessly with the conserved structure
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Perhaps most remarkably, all of this was achieved in just under four months thanks to the teamwork of Goh, site coordinator Pey Haw and main interior design contractor Surface ID.
With the homeowner overseas caring for a newborn, the design team liaised closely with her assistants, who managed the on-site decisions, material selection and contractor coordination. Despite supply-chain delays and a high degree of customisation, the result is a black-and-white house turned into a home that feels resolved and thoroughly considered, entirely in step with its storied architectural shell.
This sheltered outdoor seating area overlooks the black-and-white house’s verdant grounds, offering a well-appointed spot for leisure time
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Credits
Photography: Edmon Leong
Topics
Jakarta-born, Bandung-raised and Singapore-based, Asih Jenie trained in Visual Communication Design at Bandung Institute of Technology and Architecture at Parahyangan Catholic University. She brings both rigour and heart to design journalism, infused with a distinct Southeast Asian voice.
As a child, she doodled on the edges of her schoolbooks and never outgrew her fascination with all things well-made and well-told. Her 15-year career spans editorial roles and bylines in Singapore, Indonesia, Hong Kong and Australia, across spatial design titles such as Dwell Asia, Cubes, Design Anthology, Habitus Living, and Home & Decor.
After a brief stint in public relations, she returned to publishing in 2023 to lead Tatler Homes Singapore, where she continues to tell stories about how we shape the spaces that shape us.
