Cover The sculptural “oculus” staircase is the focal point of the living hall in this Orchard home
The sculptural “oculus” staircase is the focal point of the living hall in this Orchard home
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Designed by K2SD Group, this duplex in Singapore’s Orchard area melds meaning and artistry, resulting in a home sculpted out of oak with a dramatic, double-volume “oculus” staircase
Located right in the heart of Singapore, this modern double-storey apartment instantly caught the eye of its American owner, marking his first abode in the city. A transformation of the generous space—with a built-up area of 3,251 sq ft—was undertaken by architect Kelly Kawahara Cheah, the founder of luxury boutique design practice K2SD Group.
As she walks us through the airy, oak-sculpted residence at 3 Orchard By-The-Park, she reveals more about the design process and her relationship with the marvellous interiors. “The meaning of luxury is evolving,” she shares. “It is no longer just about surface-level glamour, but also about craftsmanship and evoking personality and character.”
Extending complete creative freedom to the architect and her team, the homeowner had just one request: incorporating the warm tones of oak wood into the design. Conceptualising the interiors with this in mind, Cheah pushed the boundaries of material application by sculpting the entire apartment out of oak. The result is both soothing and refined, allowing the dramatic, double-volume “oculus” staircase to stand out and shine as the home’s centrepiece.
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The inviting and luxurious living and dining area
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This staircase—with an artistic silhouette somewhere between curved and angular—replaces the apartment’s original circular stairs, which previously disrupted the flow of the home right in the centre of the living area. The reimagined staircase instead enhances the home’s openness and grandeur, each piece intricately engineered and its base set on a sculpted marble platform, unravelling upwards as a work of art that is simultaneously fully functional.
Orbiting the staircase are the home’s elegant living and dining spaces, the former furnished with a streamlined sofa from Walter Knoll, a modern coffee table from Porada, and a handwoven Persian rug from Jehan Gallery in soft oceanic tones. Overhead, the sculptural Coordinates suspension light from Flos casts a soft glow over the luxurious living space, infusing it gently with an ambience that is warm and inviting.
Moving towards the dining area, the eye is guided by the smoothly curved lines and soft finishes, then finally drawn towards a black-and-white painting from Korean artist Jieun Park’s Wanderlust collection. While not immediately apparent through its abstract style, the painting depicts a scene of Singapore, making it a warm welcome to the city, and another reflection of Cheah’s philosophy of thoughtfully merging architecture and art.
Read more: Home tour: A Singapore super penthouse dressed in shades of plum blossoms
A peek at the study upstairs reveals soothing oak finishes paired with stone walls behind the shelves, as well as an open-concept layout that allows the homeowner to enjoy plenty of natural light and views of the living hall below
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Upstairs, the study was opened up to offer a sweeping view of the grand hall below, lending work-from-home days more visual interest. While most of the study is clad in oak, the shelving is backed by a textured stone wall, the combination of wood and stone grounding the space in line with the owner’s love of nature.
Other spaces on the second floor include the master bedroom, with its custom asymmetrical headboard; an entertainment room characterised by comfort and relaxation, finished with acoustic panelling and a hand-spun bamboo silk-and-wool rug from Jehan Gallery; and a guest room that invites friends and family to feel right at home within warm interiors that continue the home’s approach to sumptuous luxury.
“Curved lines and irregular forms might be challenging to build, but they give the home a sense of movement and flow,” Cheah and her team share of the apartment’s design. “From the ‘oculus’ staircase to the sweeping curves of the headboard in the master bedroom, each detail was carefully thought out to create a space that feels like a living, breathing work of art.”
In case you missed it: Home tour: A serene and inviting apartment infused with textural appeal at The Marq, Singapore
Above Architect and K2SD Group founder Kelly Kawahara Cheah
Architect and K2SD Group founder Kelly Kawahara Cheah
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Credits
Images: Courtesy of K2SD Group
