two slices of concrete

Project/ Status:
Residential (New Erection), Completed

Location:
Coldstream Avenue, Singapore

With a land stretching four times deeper than its width, the home owners were initially concerned that the house will be made up of a monotonous string of rooms and elongated dark corridors. This prompted the design search for a playful mix of spaces that are well-ventilated and evenly lit.

In response to the house’s narrow footprint, spatial vastness is emphasized instead by the adoption of a high ceiling and double-volume dining area. In areas of the house that are tucked deepest within, an open-sky indoor garden is placed alongside it for natural daylight to filter through. A tapering rear void further separates the house into two wings, allowing vertical visual connections while doubling as a light shaft.

In areas where this volumetric play is not possible, the design chooses to showcase the proximity of the building enclosures by turning it into a feature unifying element. Two slices of off-form concrete walls run along the length of the house – serving as double-sided decorative skin and structural frame for the upper storeys. The adoption of this grey timber textured surface aims to provide a playful juxtaposition to the muted oak and monochromatic palette of the interior.

With a vertical green garden corner, private home library and an outdoor roof terrace, the design of the house ultimately aims to invite the home owners to spend a little more time together at home – be it in the company of family or friends.

Photography: Fabian Ong