Cover Located in Bukit Timah, The Stacked House is a Good Class Bungalow that resembles an interlocking composition of volumes
Located in Bukit Timah, The Stacked House is a Good Class Bungalow that resembles an interlocking composition of volumes
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Conceived as an elegant sequence of volumes in sync with the terrain, this Good Class Bungalow in Bukit Timah reveals its spaces gradually, like a story being told
Located within the leafy calm of the Swiss Club enclave, this striking Good Class Bungalow does not reveal itself all at once. Instead, each space leads to the next in a practiced choreography, revealing a new perspective on the terrain.
Designed by DS Architects’ Koh Choon Ngee and Teo Ying Feng, The Stacked House accommodates an active, multigenerational family: the owner, who works in finance, lives here with her immediate family and her in-laws. Yet, despite its scale—five ensuite bedrooms, two guest suites, a gym with an extended terrace, a massage room, entertainment areas, a swimming pool and a tennis court—the house feels composed rather than overwhelmingly sprawling.
The project resembles an interlocking composition of volumes, and the idea for the structure was born from the peculiarities of the site: a Z-shaped parcel of land marked by shifts in terrain.
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Above Located on the first floor, the pool welcomes guests as they enter
the home
Located on the first floor, the pool welcomes guests as they enter the home
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From the street, the facade reads as a series of crisp rectilinear forms layered one above another. A screen wall spanning the second storey down to the basement hints at the spatial drama within, concealing a vertical void that threads the house together.
The arrival sequence begins beside the swimming pool, which is partially screened from view. Step through the main entrance, and you’ll find yourself in an intimate hall that doubles as a poolside bar. One can imagine guests lingering here with a drink in hand while waiting for the others to arrive. It is both foyer and social prelude, setting the tone before the house opens itself further.
Above Timber panels line the cosy holding area that doubles as a pool bar
Timber panels line the cosy holding area that doubles as a pool bar
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The swimming pool also happens to be one of the features DS Architects is most proud of. “While we utilised tried-and-true features, and the finesse that goes into creating a seamless structure may not be apparent visually, a lot of coordination and thought went into the process,” explains Koh.
Ahead, a multi-volume space draws the eye downwards. Within it sits the staircase, framed by an outdoor landscape feature that punctures the centre of the home. The route upstairs remains hidden behind another portal, ensuring that private family areas remain out of sight unless one is invited within.
Above The well-appointed entertainment hall
The well-appointed entertainment hall
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Descending the staircase, the basement unfolds into a vast entertainment hall, its glass facade spanning the width of the building. Beyond it, the tennis lawn extends the view outwards, giving the room a sense of openness.
Above A view of the main living and dining areas, as well as the dry kitchen, located in the basement away from prying eyes
A view of the main living and dining areas, as well as the dry kitchen, located in the basement away from prying eyes
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Here, the house finds its social heart. At one end, a bar anchors gatherings late into the evening, while at the other, a sculptural dry kitchen becomes both stage and backdrop for hosting. The working kitchen is tucked away from view, ensuring the public spaces retain their sense of calm.
Hidden around the edges are more intimate spaces, such as a guest suite and rooms for study. Despite the bustle of activity the house is designed to accommodate, moments of retreat remain plentiful thanks to careful planning.
Above Arabescato Orobico marble is used to visually demarcate the public and semi-public areas, such as the bar with a generous wine fridge and the living room
Arabescato Orobico marble is used to visually demarcate the public and semi-public areas, such as the bar with a generous wine fridge and the living room
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The decision to place the social spaces in the basement may seem counterintuitive to outsiders, but the logic quickly becomes apparent. As the road at the front of the property is busy, entertaining at street level would compromise on privacy as well as tranquillity. At the rear, however, the land steps down towards a wide drainage reserve, opening up to a vista that the architects were eager to capture. By embedding the communal areas into the terrain, the house gains shelter as well as views.
Above The lush tennis court helps to visually extend the already expansive living and dining areas even further
The lush tennis court helps to visually extend the already expansive living and dining areas even further
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The swimming pool above plays a crucial role in this arrangement. Suspended over part of the entertainment hall, it shades the west-facing glass facade while cooling the spaces below. The entire frontage of the building is supported by only two visible columns, allowing the hall beneath to remain largely visually uninterrupted.
Above Private areas such as the bedrooms are clad in warm walnut to introduce a sense of intimacy
Private areas such as the bedrooms are clad in warm walnut to introduce a sense of intimacy
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A lift beside the courtyard leads to the second storey, where the architecture grows introspective as panels of warm walnut guide the corridor towards the bedrooms.
The master suite lies at one end. Full-width glazing on both sides allow breezes to pass through, while timber panelling lends the room a refined, hotel-like calm. Along the same floor are the children’s bedrooms and a landing that functions as a small hideaway or a place to pause before climbing to the attic, which is dedicated to wellness and recreation.
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Above The facade of The Stacked House
The facade of The Stacked House
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The gym opens, through wide sliding doors, onto an outdoor exercise terrace. At the far end, a tucked-away television room doubles as a spare guest space when needed.
Materials throughout the home subtly reinforce the architectural hierarchy. In the public and semi-public areas, dramatic slabs of Arabescato Orobico marble anchor the walls, their swirling veins lending the spaces a sense of gravitas. Upstairs, walnut panelling introduces warmth and intimacy, echoing the layered logic of the house’s stacked volumes.
Above The social heart of The Stacked House is nestled in the basement, which opens up to the tennis lawn
The social heart of The Stacked House is nestled in the basement, which opens up to the tennis lawn
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Despite having a built-up space of 10,000 sq ft to work with, designing a residence of this complexity required ingenuity. To DS Architects, the project represented the culmination of a longstanding relationship with the client, with this being the fourth home they have designed for her extended family.
“We incorporated the owner’s aesthetic preference, refined it into a linguistically readable architectural concept, and used relevant architectural tools to complement the design as a liveable home,” notes Koh.
The house took three and a half years to complete, its construction complicated by the disruptions of the pandemic and the sudden shortage of skilled craftsmen. But it is clear that the collective effort from the team paid off, and the result is a house designed not merely to be seen, but to be lived in for years to come.
Credits
Photography: Finbarr Fallon
Based in Singapore, Engracia Ang is an experienced writer specialising in home and living content.
