Cover The red-finished furniture pieces at the centre of Good Class Bungalow’s second-floor living room create a striking contrast against the black wall
The red-finished furniture pieces at the centre of Good Class Bungalow’s second-floor living room create a striking contrast against the black wall
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Quarters Architects and Hall Interiors transform this Bukit Timah Good Class Bungalow into a sanctuary for family life and an extraordinary collection of birdcages, art and contemporary chinoiserie
The idea of flight and freedom anchors the design of this Good Class Bungalow in Bukit Timah: a home that balances openness and refuge in equal measure. Quarters Architects translated these tenets into a liveable yet inspiring abode christened the Skyveil House.
The 5,597 sq ft residence belongs to a pair of doctors, and the wife’s hobby has resulted in a rare collection of intricately made little housing structures crafted of wood, containing painted porcelain drink containers and silver-plated handles. She also gravitates towards contemporary chinoiserie pieces and the elegance of Asian design traditions.
In case you missed it: How Banyan Group chief architect Ho Kwon Cjan designed his Good Class Bungalow around a rain tree
Above The exterior view of the Bukit Timah Good Class Bungalow, christened Skyveil House, showcases its namesake “veil”, whose form was inspired by birdcages
The exterior view of the Bukit Timah Good Class Bungalow, christened Skyveil House, showcases its namesake “veil”, whose form was inspired by birdcages
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Above By the blue pool, the timber-screened façade stands in the background, its details echoing the home’s Asian heritage
Above Along the pool’s edge, the side of the house unfolds in layers of timber and shadow, offering a softer, more intimate read of its heritage-inflected design
By the blue pool, the timber-screened façade stands in the background, its details echoing the home’s Asian heritage
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“The architecture was inspired by the idea of bird watching, and the privacy afforded by timber bird blind structures that allow enthusiasts to enjoy bird watching and nature while remaining hidden from sight,” explains Felicia Toh, who co-founded Quarters Architects with Kenneth Koh; architectural designer Frances Lai also contributed to this project.
The house is a large box wrapped in a functional skin of accoya timber screens at the front that shields the home from the rays of the western sun.
Above Timber detailing serves as a cultural homage and adds eye-catching accents to the Good Class Bungalow’s facade
Timber detailing serves as a cultural homage and adds eye-catching accents to the Good Class Bungalow’s facade
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A Curved Arrival
The two-storey house is a reconstruction project, with the first storey’s original structure retained. It sits on a triangular plot that slopes lower towards the rear, with the sharp point facing the entrance gate. The architects softened this edge with a series of curves in the elevation.
“The entrance sequence was choreographed as a walk in the park; one descends from the entrance gate past lush planters and a single tree in a pebbled planter accented by a circular skylight,” Toh explains. The trajectory continues down some steps towards the front door, sheltered by a curved canopy.
Above The site’s gentle slope unfolds into landscaped steps that usher guests towards the main entrance
The site’s gentle slope unfolds into landscaped steps that usher guests towards the main entrance
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Above A circular opening in the second-storey balcony facilitates the growth of a pine tree on the ground floor
Above A well-curated tableau set in front of an architectural screen, comprising a Santa & Cole Cestita table lamp, 101 Copenhagen Kabin Lamella ceramic vase and Fritz Hansen Ikeru vase atop a geometric sideboard
A circular opening in the second-storey balcony facilitates the growth of a pine tree on the ground floor
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One enters the house into a foyer that distributes the master bedroom suite to one side, and the son’s bedroom to the other. The living and dining areas are on the second level, positioned in a free plan around the staircase.
This “floating” staircase is anchored to a stoic wall in silver travertine. At noonday, the sun’s rays filter down through a skylight, and this stone wall becomes a canvas emblazoned with white shards of sunlight.
Above One enters the house into a spacious foyer dotted by the owners’ furniture collection
One enters the house into a spacious foyer dotted by the owners’ furniture collection
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Above displayed beneath the staircase, the furniture and homewares with curvy details soften the architectural lines of the house
Above Detail of the stairs, featuring dark-washed timber that still flaunts its grains
displayed beneath the staircase, the furniture and homewares with curvy details soften the architectural lines of the house
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Living with Art and Flight
“As the first storey’s structure was retained, the lower ceiling height of the original premises was more suited to cosy bedrooms, while the new high-volume living spaces on the second storey feel more expansive and welcoming,” says Toh, adding that the upper level was designed like an art gallery.
Above The light-toned timber facade provides a dynamic counterpoint to the dark finishes of the Good Class Bungalow’s interior
The light-toned timber facade provides a dynamic counterpoint to the dark finishes of the Good Class Bungalow’s interior
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Above Displayed atop coffee table, this birdcage paints a poetic shadowplay as the day progresses
Above A corner that flaunts the harmonious combination of architectural finish and furniture pieces, enriched by the shadow cast by the birdcage-inspired facade
Displayed atop coffee table, this birdcage paints a poetic shadowplay as the day progresses
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It is, in actual fact, a personal gallery, and not just because of the artworks on the walls. The wife’s beloved birdcages are each perched upon a designer chair—an Utzon stool from Fritz Hansen here; a Neri & Hu Common Comrades stool from Moooi there—lining the front window. One cannot help but pause at each one to take in the delicate details of the construction of the birdcages.
To mitigate the privacy of this elevated level, the architects have made some of the windows translucent. They opened up clear views at strategic parts, such as at a corner facing a neighbour’s garden, borrowing the view of the tall, mature trees.
Above The red-finished furniture pieces at the centre of the living room create a striking contrast against the black wall in this Good Class Bungalow
The red-finished furniture pieces at the centre of the living room create a striking contrast against the black wall in this Good Class Bungalow
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Above One of the birdcages from the lady of the house’s collection lends a distinct personality to the space
Above The Bukit Timah Good Class Bingalow’s living room features a harmonious ensemble of furniture that pays tribute to Chinese heritage
One of the birdcages from the lady of the house’s collection lends a distinct personality to the space
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Tranquil Grounding
The master suite, together with the study area, looks out to the new swimming pool. Being located on the ground floor, it feels at one with the garden.
Above Pale wood trimmings contrast beautifully with the dark-stained finishes in the master bedroom
Pale wood trimmings contrast beautifully with the dark-stained finishes in the master bedroom
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Above A dark-finish stool offers a striking contrast to the pale wood joinery in this corner
Above This study with a view features the Folks 2-Tier Primary desk by Nathan Yong
A dark-finish stool offers a striking contrast to the pale wood joinery in this corner
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As the wife loves to spend time in quiet contemplation with a cup of tea, the architects created a tearoom that looks out to the garden. Here, long bands of windows provide good eye-level height for displaying the owner’s collection of well-pruned mini bonsai plants.
Above A well-curated interior of the tea room peeks through sliding doors articulated with timber detailing inspired by birdcages
A well-curated interior of the tea room peeks through sliding doors articulated with timber detailing inspired by birdcages
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There are many well-considered details in the house that combine utility and beauty. For instance, the powder room on the second storey looks out to an odd-shaped pebble garden, created from a leftover sliver of canopy that traces the irregular house shape.
Another aesthetic detail is the screens. The design of the external screens echoes the internal timber-veneer panels that conceal the serviced spaces. On the first storey, the doors to the bedrooms blend in with these panels; on the second storey, they act as a pleasant backdrop and also hide the doors to the kitchen and the powder room.
Above The Good Class Bungalow’s dining area exudes an unmistakably Asian sensibility with an equally modern bearing
The Good Class Bungalow’s dining area exudes an unmistakably Asian sensibility with an equally modern bearing
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Above Viewed from the living area, the warm-toned dining rooms stands out agaisnt pale surfaces that frame it
Above A thoughtfully composed corner featuring Poltrona Frau’s cosy Archibald armchair, the sculptural Yamagiwa Taliesin 4 table lamp designed by starchitect Frank Lloyd Wright and the Sky side table from HC28;
Viewed from the living area, the warm-toned dining rooms stands out agaisnt pale surfaces that frame it
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An Urban-Resort Poise
The house presents a cohesive scheme, with the architecture and interior, and large and minute parts all harmonising. The furniture and furnishings fill the voids, corners and surfaces with shape, structure and texture.
Design firm Hall Interiors, led by director Randoll Lee and assisted by interior designer Lee Jie Loon, lent a keen eye. Influenced by the symbiosis of the inside with the landscaping due to the house’s inverted layout, Lee conceived an “urban-meets-resort” scheme.
Above The Taliesin 2 floor lamp from Yamagiwa, another Frank Lloyd Wright creation, is paired with the half-back Discipline sofa from Stellar Works in this moody corner
The Taliesin 2 floor lamp from Yamagiwa, another Frank Lloyd Wright creation, is paired with the half-back Discipline sofa from Stellar Works in this moody corner
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Above The intricacies of this vignette are unified by its components’ harmonious timber finishes
Above A close-up detail of the Good Class Bungalow’s wall, beautifully articulated with contrasting wood finishes
The intricacies of this vignette are unified by its components’ harmonious timber finishes
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Autoban box sofas with wooden frames echo the facade’s screened-timber motif. Red accents introduce warmth—also the owner’s favourite colour—while black-painted walls and furniture add depth and definition.
Lighting plays an equally vital role in setting the mood. Lantern-like Cestita Bateria lamps from Santa & Cole grace the foyer, while a trio of oversized Nelson Saucer Bubble pendants from Herman Miller lends quiet drama to the dry kitchen.
There are countless vignettes like this throughout, making the entire dwelling feel like a treasure box waiting to be discovered.
Above As evening falls, the interiors of the Good Class Bungalow take on a gentle glow, echoing the home’s muse: the quiet elegance of a birdcage
As evening falls, the interiors of the Good Class Bungalow take on a gentle glow, echoing the home’s muse: the quiet elegance of a birdcage
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Above A depth adjacent to the wardrobe has been transformed into a multipurpose surface
Above The master bathroom, featuring his-and-hers sinks, continues the same material palette
A depth adjacent to the wardrobe has been transformed into a multipurpose surface
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Above Come evening, the poolside shimmers with a soft radiance, a nod to the birdcage motif that informs the home’s character
Come evening, the poolside shimmers with a soft radiance, a nod to the birdcage motif that informs the home’s character
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Credits
Photography: Studio Periphery
