Cover See how Studio Sharne created a light-filled bungalow that embraces sustainability and greenery
See how Studio Sharne created a light-filled bungalow that embraces sustainability and greenery
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Designer Sharne Sulaiman of Studio Sharne crafts a family bungalow into a sanctuary in which sunlight, greenery and timeless design converge
In Sembawang Springs, a house rises quietly yet confidently—it is a home that seems to inhale and exhale along with the rhythm of its surroundings.
Designed by Studio Sharne’s founder Sharne Sulaiman for his family, the 7,800 sq ft bungalow, dubbed the White House, is a living canvas on which space, light and greenery dance. From the soaring central atrium to the lush garden, every corner has been orchestrated to evoke calm and a sense of wonder.
Floor-to-ceiling glazing dissolves the boundary between interior and sky. A spatial continuum threads the house together: the family moves through it as if through a gallery, where each turn reveals a moment of pause, a framed view of foliage, a glimmer of sunlight or a cherished piece of furniture restored for the occasion.
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The Garden Above
Above The 7,800 sq ft White House stands quietly amid lush foliage
The 7,800 sq ft White House stands quietly amid lush foliage
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Perhaps the most arresting feature of the home is the sky garden. More than decoration, it functions as an ecological engine where native plants cluster densely, attracting birds, butterflies and pollinators. An automatic irrigation system springs to life only in the driest months, conserving water without compromising the lushness of the canopy. Together, the lush greenery works to cool the home, negating the need for energy-guzzling air-conditioning.
Monsoon windows and ventilation gaps allow air to breeze through the home, while reinterpreted eaves provide shade and shelter. Otherwise wasted rainwater is channelled to a reflection pool, cascading gracefully in its final moments before returning to the water cycle. Here, the boundaries between architecture and nature blur, creating a living environment that feels at once curated and effortless.
Materiality as Poetics
Above This cosy nook is adorned with a Normann Copenhagen Norm 12 pendant light and Samsung Serif TV
This cosy nook is adorned with a Normann Copenhagen Norm 12 pendant light and Samsung Serif TV
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Every surface in the White House speaks of intent. Throughout the abode, a muted palette inspired by Le Corbusier’s Les Couleurs colour system provides a calm backdrop for the family’s collection of postmodern furniture.
Building materials were sourced from around the region to minimise the household’s carbon footprint; they also feature the added benefit of suiting Singapore’s tropical and humid climate. For example, balau timber pieces, which are termite-resistant, warm the interior while stainless steel punctuates spaces with a subtle gleam.
Above The double-volume ceiling lends drama to the dining space
The double-volume ceiling lends drama to the dining space
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Most of the family’s furniture collection stands in the central atrium where they are displayed almost like art, accentuating the sense of spatial theatre while offering intimate corners for conversation and reflection. “The pieces of furniture brought from our previous home are over 30 years old, but given a new lease of life through reupholstery and refurbishment,” recalls Sharne fondly.
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Spatial Continuum
Above Full-height glass pivot doors merge the outdoor areas with the interior
Full-height glass pivot doors merge the outdoor areas with the interior
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Privacy and expansiveness coexist seamlessly here, whether via the walls that conceal or reveal, or the full-height windows that meld the indoors and outdoors. But beyond mere aesthetics, the open plan also allows spaces to adapt to changing needs. Accessibility has been thoughtfully integrated, with barrier-free pathways, a platform lift and elderly-friendly bathrooms ensuring the home can be enjoyed across generations.
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Above The outdoor terrace utilises termite-resistant balau wood on the pivot screens
The outdoor terrace utilises termite-resistant balau wood on the pivot screens
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The third-storey master pavilion is a study in openness and a point of pride. The bedroom, study, terrace, walk-in wardrobe and bathroom flow into one another in a seamless sequence that is punctuated only by pivot screens.
Sustainability in Practice
Above This bedroom is replete with biophilic goodness thanks to its sizeable window
This bedroom is replete with biophilic goodness thanks to its sizeable window
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While elegance dominates, sustainability is subtly embedded in every design decision. Solar panels supply electricity back to the grid, solar-tube water heaters harness free energy, and the house is oriented and ventilated to reduce cooling loads. Rainwater is collected and recycled, native vegetation lowers temperatures, and materials were selected for their longevity and ecological responsibility.
“By offsetting the consumed utilities with the electricity sold back to the grid, the utilities bill is reduced to almost $0. The house could be said to be net positive, forgiving the building’s embodied carbon,” quips Sharne.
Above Cosentino Sensa Orinoco granite countertops make a luxurious statement in the kitchen
Cosentino Sensa Orinoco granite countertops make a luxurious statement in the kitchen
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Even the functional spaces reflect care and precision. Kitchens are configured to balance operational needs with spatial fluidity, while the workshop provides a dedicated area for crafting, repair and creativity. These spaces are not hidden behind closed doors; they are essential components of a broader narrative in which daily life and architecture intersect seamlessly.
Above The master bathroom looks out to verdant vegetation, which provides privacy while allowing natural light to stream in
The master bathroom looks out to verdant vegetation, which provides privacy while allowing natural light to stream in
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The White House is a dwelling that moves with its inhabitants, responding to the rhythms of family life and the subtleties of the tropical climate. In Sharne’s vision, architecture becomes an invisible companion that structures daily routines without imposing on them, frames moments of intimacy, and allows nature to penetrate every corner. The result is a residence that feels both timeless and immediate—a welcoming sanctuary in which design, ecology and family life come together in a quiet, considered dialogue.
Studio Sharne
Above Studio Sharne founder Sharne Sulaiman
Studio Sharne founder Sharne Sulaiman
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Founded in 2023, Studio Sharne is a cross-disciplinary design atelier that creates spatial solutions to unique challenges. Driving principles enrich the human experience while benefiting the community and environment. Rigorous projects are crafted and delivered with the utmost attention to detail.
Tel: 9857 0208, studiosharne.com
Credits
Images: Courtesy of Studio Sharne
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