Cover Furnished with Roche Bobois Sense sofas and Bubble armchairs, the terrace house’s living area opens fully to the outdoors
Furnished with Roche Bobois Sense sofas and Bubble armchairs, the terrace house’s living area opens fully to the outdoors
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A corner terrace house by HYLA Architects turns raw materials into a serene study of light, colour, and indoor–outdoor fluidity
On a compact corner plot in West Coast Green, a new house by HYLA Architects responds to Singapore’s tropical climate with breathing concrete, filtered light, and an appreciation of the weather’s shifting beauty. Béton Intime, or Intimate Concrete, so the terrace house was named, was conceived for a family of five who wanted a home that balanced privacy with openness. Completed after over three years, the 4,435 sq ft home defines its modest site with an off-form concrete skin that makes the most of its proportions, natural light and the texture of concrete.
Within this monolithic frame, a double-volume living and dining space opens to the pool, while a suspended timber staircase bridges the two levels. Courtyards and screens modulate the boundary between interior and exterior. Concrete may form the structure, but the architecture’s atmosphere is meticulously shaped by reflection, colour and light.
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Above The street-facing elevation shows the terrace house’s concrete shell framed by operable timber screens
Above At the rear, the terrace house reveals its porosity, allowing light, air and greenery to flow through
The street-facing elevation shows the terrace house’s concrete shell framed by operable timber screens
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Crafted Contradictions
“The house is a shell for the display of their art and design collection; it mediates between the inside and the outside,” says principal architect Han Loke Kwang. The clients, passionate about collecting art, posters and design pieces, sought a home that would quietly showcase these items while maintaining visual and spatial flow. Responding to the Urban Development Authority’s reverse setback guidelines, HYLA Architects wrapped the building in a continuous concrete surface that gives the compact site both privacy and coherence.
At its centre, the soaring living area provides a sense of scale rarely found in terrace houses. A mezzanine family room overlooks the void, allowing connection between floors. The pool is incorporated into the concrete volume itself, extending the architecture into the landscape and blurring the distinctions between solid and fluid.
Above The terrace house’s concrete structure casts poetic shadows over the swimming pool
Above Suspended timber treads span a light-filled void, linking levels while framing views down to the courtyard pool below.
The terrace house’s concrete structure casts poetic shadows over the swimming pool
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Layers of Light
Light is the key material here. Perforated concrete screens filter the tropical sun, casting patterns that shift throughout the day. The wife’s studio faces a narrow courtyard, a space for reflection and work framed by filtered daylight. Timber, water and concrete come together in a calm, well-judged combination instead of competing with one another.
Although compact in footprint, the terrace house achieves a sense of generosity through clarity of proportion and spatial layering. Openings are planned to frame views of the outdoors, creating a natural and consistent sense of flow. Lush plantings by Green Forest Landscape soften the edges of the concrete facade and pool terrace, bringing texture and microclimate to the composition.
Above Colourful furniture and timber accents add a playful contrast to the formality of the terrace house’s concrete frame
Colourful furniture and timber accents add a playful contrast to the formality of the terrace house’s concrete frame
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Above Roche Bobois’ Bubble armchairs in vibrant hues gather around the living area, softening the concrete architecture while opening out to the pool beyond
Above By evening, the dining area becomes a quiet workspace, cooled by the poolside breeze and framed by warm timber and soft light
Roche Bobois’ Bubble armchairs in vibrant hues gather around the living area, softening the concrete architecture while opening out to the pool beyond
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Living Colour
In the terrace house’s main living area, the architecture meets its counterpoint in vivid colour and form. Here, the family collaborated with Roche Bobois to furnish the space with Sense sofas in yellow and brown, and the brand’s iconic Bubble armchairs by Sacha Lakic, in lime green and pink. The vibrant colours of the pieces punctuate the otherwise restrained palette, introducing warmth and movement without disrupting the house’s architectural order.
Above Furnished with Roche Bobois Sense sofas and Bubble armchairs, the terrace house’s living area opens fully to the outdoors
Furnished with Roche Bobois Sense sofas and Bubble armchairs, the terrace house’s living area opens fully to the outdoors
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This isn’t HYLA’s first time specifying Roche Bobois furniture. “The beautiful designs, fabrics, and range of materials and colours,” says Han when asked what he values most about working with the brand. “We worked with the client to ensure that the pieces selected and the colours chosen would harmonise with the overall design.” The result is a living environment in which structure and softness co-exist—an assured composition of concrete, light, and colour.
Roche Bobois, 6 Raffles Boulevard #02-11/12 Marina Square. Tel: 6513 1918, roche-bobois.com
Above HYLA Architects founder Han Loke Kwang
HYLA Architects founder Han Loke Kwang
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HYLA Architects
Founded and led by principal architect Han Loke Kwang, HYLA Architects is an award-winning Singapore practice recognised for its refined approach to residential architecture. Known for clarity of form, material precision and spatial depth, the firm’s oeuvre has been recognised by numerous accolades, including the Singapore Institute of Architects Design Awards and the URA Architectural Heritage Awards.
HYLA Architects, 81 Club Street, #02-01. Tel: 6324 2488, hyla.com.sg
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Credits
Photography: Courtesy of HYLA Architects
