This Bukit Purmei semi-detached home gets a fresh look by YWA Studio

Aug 25, 2025

Cover Designed by YWA Studio, the semi-detached home’s organic-shaped light well makes a dramatic impression from the ground floor

Designed by YWA Studio, the semi-detached home’s organic-shaped light well makes a dramatic impression from the ground floor

1 / 1

YWA Studio reimagines this semi-detached home in Singapore’s quiet Bukit Purmei neighbourhood as a private retreat with a contemporary look

Tucked away in Singapore’s District 4, this semi-detached house stands discreet yet commanding. With a refreshed design by Tan Yue Wei, founder and principal architect of YWA Studio, the 7,283 sq ft residence departed from its former classical identity to re-emerge with a refined, contemporary spirit.

This project involved a full reconstruction of the property, overseen from start to finish by Tan’s multidisciplinary team, which undertook the architectural and structural works as well as the interior design for the home.

The brief was clear: to ensure privacy from passers-by on the street, embrace a modern design sensibility, and feature a layout that would lend itself to generous entertaining and long-term liveability. The original pitched roof and many parts of the existing structure were removed, opening the interior to air, light and views of the tree canopy at the rear.

Don’t miss: Home tour: A lush semi-detached home in Singapore that celebrates interstitial moments

Above The semi-detached home’s discreet facade openings emit a soft glow at dusk

Above The living room opens up to views of lush greenery at the rear

The semi-detached home’s discreet facade openings emit a soft glow at dusk

1 / 2

Light and Dark

Favouring a mix of Japanese and contemporary influences for the interiors, paired with a darker tonal palette, the homeowners were clear in their preference for minimalist spaces with presence. This rare affinity is evident particularly in areas such as the dry kitchen, entertainment lounge and master suite, which honour these moodier tones while effectively balancing light and dark, layered with texture and softened by timber accents.

Above A feature wall shields the semi-detached home’s living room from view

A feature wall shields the semi-detached home’s living room from view

1 / 1

The result is an interior that feels composed and tactile, defined not by excess, but by restraint. “Contrary to popular belief, the simpler the design, the more attention to detail is actually required,” Tan shares. “Any mistake or error would stand out very prominently.”

The lighting design was also handled with care. Each fixture was intentionally placed with the help of specialists to ensure visual harmony as well as comfort and well-being. Lux levels and colour temperatures were calibrated according to function, adding a layer of invisible precision that quietly supports the home’s atmosphere.

Above This perspective reveals the semi-detached home’s abundance of natural light

This perspective reveals the semi-detached home’s abundance of natural light

1 / 1

A Captivating Solution

Above The semi-detached home’s harmonious interplay of light and dark materials creates a richly layered spatial experience

The semi-detached home’s harmonious interplay of light and dark materials creates a richly layered spatial experience

1 / 1

Reconstructing an existing structure presented a set of technical hurdles. For instance, working around a floor-to-floor height that did not favour ducted air-conditioning—a feature requested by the homeowners—required adaptive thinking. “A great deal of time had to be invested in achieving the best outcome,” the design team notes. “We had to develop the design in tandem with the interior elements.”

Above The semi-detached home’s organic-shaped light well makes a dramatic impression from the ground floor

The semi-detached home’s organic-shaped light well makes a dramatic impression from the ground floor

1 / 1

One of the most significant interventions was the introduction of a central light well, which appears to rotate along the home’s central axis. “Given the nature of the plot, we proposed this central courtyard to break up the mass of the structure and allow natural light and ventilation into the house.”

Initially met with hesitation over the possibility of lost usable space, it became a key feature in the project. With the help of immersive 3D visualisations, the designers were able to convey the experiential value of the light well: how it would choreograph one’s journey through the home and elevate the quality of space, bathed in natural light.

Above This moody bedroom exudes a calm, restful ambience

This moody bedroom exudes a calm, restful ambience

1 / 1

Aligned Vision

From the start, the design journey was guided by clients with a strong visual language of their own. “They had a well-prepared mood board, as well as photos of places they liked the design of,” Tan recalls. This clarity enabled a quick alignment, making the collaborative process smooth and productive.

“The most memorable part of our project journey was when the scaffolding was taken down,” he recalls. “We could truly appreciate the spectacular light well in all its glory—it was breathtaking, even to us!”

Above The walk-in wardrobe is clad in a sumptuous dark material palette

The walk-in wardrobe is clad in a sumptuous dark material palette

1 / 1

While drawings and visualisations can paint a picture, there is no substitute for standing in a completed space, watching the light filter down through the core of the structure and seeing the architecture come alive. This is especially true for a project such as this abode, with a soulful, contemporary presence that belies the wealth of natural light and comfort evident within.