Home tour: a long story told in pockets of spaces in this Upper Changi detached house

The living room sets the tone. Originally conceived as a long, open volume by the developer, the space was reworked and broken up through a series of tinted mirrored archways. These frames do not divide the space in a conventional sense. Rather, they create thresholds that guide movement and perception. As one walks through this area, sightlines shift, reflections extend the space, then compress it. The effect is subtle but cumulative, and what might have been a singular gesture becomes a sequence.

This deliberately fragmented approach carries through the rest of the house. The plan spans the basement, two main floors and an attic, covering about 6,500 sq ft. Each level has its own rhythm. The basement is practical but not purely utilitarian, housing a carpark alongside a library, reading room, home theatre and laundry room. The first floor is the social core, with living and dining areas, wet and dry kitchens and a music room, as well as the helper’s room.

Upstairs, the second floor accommodates the family’s private quarters, including a master suite and rooms for the children and elderly parent. A gallery space outside the master bedroom displays collectibles, adding a quieter, more personal layer to circulation.

Meanwhile, the attic serves as a functional departure from the rest of the house. Conceived as a hobby sanctuary and gaming room, it takes on the character of a loft. Here, the family retreats rather than receives; the attic is informal, designed for gaming, relaxation and time with friends.

If the spatial strategy is about layering, then the technical work lies in making those layers possible. Ceiling design became the project’s most demanding aspect. In the master bedroom, the original provision was a flat ceiling at 3.1 metres high, concealing structural reinforced concrete beams as well as mechanical and plumbing services. Metaphor Studio chose to challenge that limitation. By recalibrating and rerouting the mechanical and plumbing elements, the team successfully raised the ceiling height to 3.8 metres. This small yet significant gain changed the room’s proportions, allowing for a more sculpted ceiling that draws the eye upwards.

A similar intervention defines the attic. Initially capped at 3 metres to allow heat from the roof to dissipate, the original space frankly felt compressed. The designers hence explored alternative methods and materials before arriving at a solution that raised the ceiling to a lofty 4.2 metres. Lighting was integrated into the new structure, reinforcing the loft-like atmosphere, and as a result, the attic became one of the most distinctive parts of the house—not because of ornamentation, but because of vertical volume.

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These structural moves required a degree of coordination that goes beyond surface design. The client, who was based overseas during the project, brought Metaphor Studio into the construction process after the base structural work had been completed. This proved to be a turning point. By aligning the interior proposal with ongoing construction, the team avoided costly reworking later on. Metaphor Studio also took on quality control for elements such as the waterproofing, insulation, and detailing of the doors and windows. “Although construction project management was tedious and demanding, it was absolutely worthwhile because it allowed us to gain better clarity on many hidden details of the house,” says Goh.

The material choices reinforce the overall restraint in the project. Stained walnut veneers, marble and tinted mirrors form the core palette. There is a consistency to how these materials are used. The mirrors, for instance, do more than reflect; they are calibrated in tone and proportion so they extend space without becoming intrusive. The wood brings warmth, but is kept controlled. Marble appears where it matters, anchoring key areas without dominating them.

What stands out is not any single feature, but how decisions accumulate. The house builds its identity through a series of adjustments, each one measured against the brief. Even the most technically complex interventions, such as the ceiling works, were resolved in a way that feels natural to the space.

The final effect is one of clarity. For the occupants, the house meets the practical demands of their lifestyle. It accommodates large gatherings while allowing smaller groups to form naturally within the same space. It provides private areas that feel distinct from the social zones. And most importantly, it supports different generations living under one roof without forcing them into a single pattern of use.

And for Metaphor Studio, the project reflects a way of working that extends beyond aesthetics. Attention to detail is often cited as a value, but here it takes on a more concrete meaning. It involves engaging with the hidden systems of a building, understanding how they shape space, and adjusting them where necessary.

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