Cover The 3,112 sq ft Giant Roof House paints a distinct look in its neighbourhood in Singapore’s east with a “giant” roof that covers the extended portion of the house in front of the existing structure
The 3,112 sq ft Giant Roof House paints a distinct look in its neighbourhood in Singapore’s east with a “giant” roof that covers the extended portion of the house in front of the existing structure
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Apart from its striking architectural gesture, this giant roof solves a multitude of issues for this intermediate terrace house’s reconstruction by Farm
The Giant Roof House presents a striking image that stands out in Singapore’s rather predictable landed housing estates. A tangerine-hued, ribbed-metal surface wraps the entire front facade, curving at the base to shelter the car porch and punctured with four eyelid-like openings. Merging roof and walls, this dominating feature defines the relationship between the inside and outside, and the various sectional connections.
A couple with their three children had purchased this plot in the east. Multidisciplinary studio Farm was engaged to renovate it and expand the footprint of the existing 2,493 sq ft, two-storey house. The abode came with the benefit of an extremely long front garden, but the dearth of light in the interior awoke in the homeowners a desire for an internal courtyard with natural daylight.
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Above The terracotta giant roof cuts a distinct silhouette in the neighbourhood, its bold form setting the house apart from its more conventional surroundings in Singapore’s east
Above Seen from the side, the roof reveals its sculpted openings, partially screened by the tree in front
The terracotta giant roof cuts a distinct silhouette in the neighbourhood, its bold form setting the house apart from its more conventional surroundings in Singapore’s east
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Above The front garden is planted with long, untamed grass, evoking a sense of cultivated wilderness at the threshold of the house
The front garden is planted with long, untamed grass, evoking a sense of cultivated wilderness at the threshold of the house
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The team decided to extend the front of the existing structure, eating into the elongated driveway. “The front of the house was extended by six metres and built up to three stories,” shares Lee Hui Lian; the architect and former associate at Farm worked with director Torrance Goh on the project. Lee now runs her own firm, OMG Atelier, but still collaborates with Farm on projects such as this one. The added square footage on the first storey became the new living room, while the former living area is now a capacious dry kitchen and dining space.
Above The cantilevered edge of the giant roof forms a low carport canopy, punctured with an opening that allows a tree to grow through and cast dappled shade below
The cantilevered edge of the giant roof forms a low carport canopy, punctured with an opening that allows a tree to grow through and cast dappled shade below
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Above A glass entrance door is seamlessly integrated into full-width black steel glazing across the living room façade
Above A tree grows through an opening in the giant roof’s car porch canopy, its foliage rising to shade the balconies above
A glass entrance door is seamlessly integrated into full-width black steel glazing across the living room façade
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Adaptive Reuse
In a reconstruction project, choosing what to keep and remove determines the narrative of the home’s next chapter. Some elements of the existing house were repurposed, such as the original metal gates, and the decorative window and door grilles that were integrated into the fencing. Goh muses that the homeowners keenly retained the stone lions that had been sentries on the front boundary wall. They now mark the threshold between a new stone path and the front step of the new entrance “like garden gnomes”.
Above The view from the dining area and dry kitchen into the new courtyard;
The view from the dining area and dry kitchen into the new courtyard;
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The existing house’s first- and second-floor slabs were mostly retained, except for a void cut into the former to create a courtyard. The new courtyard introduces outdoor elements of sunlight, plants and pebbled flooring. A guestroom and powder room open to this space, with low windows that further bridge the interior and exterior zones.
Above These old metal grilles were repurposed as skylight elements
These old metal grilles were repurposed as skylight elements
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Above, two metal grilles from the former house decorate new skylights, which throw unique shadows onto the walls at various times of the day like a sundial, reminding one of the house’s former life.
Above On the Giant Roof House’s first storey, a seat in the powder room lets one engage with the courtyard
On the Giant Roof House’s first storey, a seat in the powder room lets one engage with the courtyard
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Instead of a typical swing door for the entrance, a glass door is integrated into elongated glazing stretching from party wall to party wall in the living area. The roof, dipping close to the height of the average adult, provides shade and privacy from the street.
Above The black curving trellis and steel-framed glazing create a cohesive architectural language, softening the boundary between inside and out while lending the home a subtle glasshouse quality
Above The scalloped trellis detailing continues into the handrail design, carrying a rhythmic motif through the home’s vertical circulation
The black curving trellis and steel-framed glazing create a cohesive architectural language, softening the boundary between inside and out while lending the home a subtle glasshouse quality
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“The house was designed to feel like a humble single-storey dwelling. As such, the car porch [canopy] extends quite low, accentuating the intimate experience of moving through the garden before entering the living room,” explains Goh.
Above A brick-finished kitchen island grounds the dry kitchen, introducing material tactility against the home’s terracotta-toned palette
Above A bedside vignette pairs a sculptural lamp with a brick finish backdrop above the bedhead
A brick-finished kitchen island grounds the dry kitchen, introducing material tactility against the home’s terracotta-toned palette
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Open House
A distinct shade of terracotta-peach colours the first storey’s common areas, defying the favoured “neutral” palette of typical Singaporean homes. “The red micro-cement floor and the sandy pink undertones of the house create a sense of quiet and calm, almost like a temple,” Lee describes.
In the courtyard, a new staircase rises up to the second storey, flanked by decorative handrails that pay homage to the old home’s metal grilles. These add a whimsical rhythm to the house’s vertical movement for the young children who share the second storey, where an open study area overlooks the first storey. Greenhouse-like glazing in the two younger children’s bedrooms adds natural light and playfulness to the interior architecture.
Above The new powder room on the first storey enjoys natural light from the courtyard
The new powder room on the first storey enjoys natural light from the courtyard
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Across the courtyard, the eldest child has his bedroom en-suite on the old house’s second storey. A new staircase joins the second and third storey housing the owners’ private space. Here, Lee has shaped a corridor that leads them towards the front of their room, lined with plants before entering the sleeping zone. This transition zone provides a mental pause.
Above The eldest son’s bedroom on the second storey looks across to his siblings’ wing
Above The house’s old door and window grilles inspired the design of these new staircase handrails
The eldest son’s bedroom on the second storey looks across to his siblings’ wing
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Playing with Forms
The giant roof is detailed to connect all three storeys at the front with a small gap through the section. This gesture is subtle, but lets the domestic sounds and glimpses so important to family life and communication pass through from the house’s bottom to top. For example, from the balcony that the two younger children share, they can call out to guests and their parents coming home in the car porch below.
Above The view from the staircase landing to the shared study area and the bedrooms of the two younger children on the second storey
The view from the staircase landing to the shared study area and the bedrooms of the two younger children on the second storey
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Above The balcony shared by the two younger children overlooks the car porch while their parents’ balcony overlooks it from above
Above A small balcony in front of the master bedroom, sheltered from street view by the giant roof
The balcony shared by the two younger children overlooks the car porch while their parents’ balcony overlooks it from above
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This roof reads as a simple element, but there were challenges in getting the angle and curve right. Goh elaborates: “There were initial construction challenges in bending the metal roof with its interlocking seams, which required several rounds of trial and error with the contractor.”
Above The restful master bedroom features a neutral colour palette
The restful master bedroom features a neutral colour palette
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Above A peek into the shower area reveals glossy white tiles in crisp contrast to the surrounding terracotta tones
Above A glimpse of the bathroom reveals pale brick finishes that lend softness and texture to the compact space
A peek into the shower area reveals glossy white tiles in crisp contrast to the surrounding terracotta tones
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But pushing past these obstacles birthed new ideas. “The roof also functions as a secondary skin, allowing for controlled lighting and views,” Lee comments. To the children, growing up in the Giant Roof House definitely provides many unique memories.
Above A moody view of the Giant Roof House on a rainy afternoon, its ribbed metal surface deepening in tone under the overcast sky
A moody view of the Giant Roof House on a rainy afternoon, its ribbed metal surface deepening in tone under the overcast sky
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Credits
Photography: Ong Chan Hao
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