Sliding doors between these three spaces allowed for ease of movement and for a flexible interplay of functions. Through repeated use, each of these spaces has even acquired its own association with a particular social moment of the day.

Sim shares that “the owners may have breakfast at the dry kitchen countertop, teatime might be at the outdoor timber decking with a view of the sea, and dinner will definitely be in the dining room.”

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The choice of furniture reflects the overall concern for creating a warm, family environment. The Gamma Arredamenti sofa and the Bontempi Casa Linda dining chairs in red leather may exude grandeur and stylish modernity, but they also offer comfort and versatility.

As for the prominent round dining table, it was indispensable since the shape symbolises reunion (团圆 in Chinese). 

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MATERIAL CULTURE

A sense of opulence comes through due to the preponderance of natural materials. The burnished glow, sinuous veins, and grains of rock and wood bring out the luxuriousness of this residence.

The selection of wooden materials played a big part in defining the various spaces of the house. Maple sycamore veneers were used for some bedroom walls. The flooring for the rooms, however, consists of Burmese walnut, which has a darker solidity of colour and texture. Durability was a concern for the verandah, so the flooring here had to be Belian hardwood.

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Two focal points of the house highlight the use of timber. First, the staircase’s Asia walnut treading has a calm, sumptuous quality accentuated by the risers’ black titanium finish and lit-up handrails.

Second, the imposing main entrance door was custom-made, using book-matched walnut burl veneer sheets and matched with gold titanium-finish stainless steel door handles.

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No less effective is the use of marble and quartzite. Sim explains that marble was a good fit for the social areas and bathrooms because marble is “the simplest way to give the setting a sophisticated touch and subtle beauty.”

Drama is provided by the Patagonia quartzite dry kitchen countertop. This gorgeously craggy centrepiece is so eye-catching enthuses Sim because it “performs well with a backlit effect and has a translucent unsurpassed colouration texture.”

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A SHORE THING

The majestic expanse of the seascape serves not just as a backdrop but as an intrinsic element of the home.

Unsurprisingly, according to Sim says, the rooftop bar lounge has emerged as a favourite area. He explains that it is a hangout for the owners to wind down for a drink with friends and family. In addition, there is a big balcony beside the lounge where the kids can run around and play.

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The design of the building itself takes advantage of the fresh breezes and clear luminosity of the coastal setting. Thus, the four master bedrooms all open out onto the verandah for natural ventilation.

There are also several floor-to-ceiling windows to profit from the play of light. At night, the clean modernist structure twinkles and glows when it is illuminated, lighting the way home to this family abode.

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