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It was through many house-hunting trips that the couple finally secured this dream home. The husband and wife were looking for a site that had a special character, and in this case, they found a multi-tier site that slopes up from the front of the house. The 12,197-square-feet home sits on approximately 10,649 square feet of land. They were both keen to allow the development of a future basement where the slope naturally begins. The home's highest point is at the road level; therefore, making it largely unblocked by neighbors.
INTERIORS
Hunkered-Down Resort
by Joseph Lim
Photography by Bai Jiwen
14 Feb 2022
Photography by Bai Jiwen
14 Feb 2022
A couple desired a home that channelled the look of a bunker for its exterior, but with a modern, sophisticated vibe inside for family gatherings.
Located in the leafy environment of Bukit Timah, this five-bedroom bungalow cuts a striking figure in the neighbourhood. The expansive home is owned by a couple who are both retired from the healthcare and finance industry, respectively.
- ON A DESIGN PURSUIT
- CONVEYING A BUNKER FEEL
- MAKING ANY MEAL AN OCCASION
- SOLVING SPATIAL ROADBLOCKS
On A Design Pursuit
After purchasing of the home, the couple looked for an architect to realize their dreams. They got to know of Czarl Architects through a newspaper feature of the architectural transformation of Wat Ananda Metyarama Thai Buddhist temple located in Bukit Merah.
The brief to principal architect Carl Lim was this: An easy to maintain, multi-generation home that is elegant and functional. In terms of aesthetics, it had to be modern with an emphasis on the texture of natural materials. The homeowner also wanted the architect to create a building with an inner sanctuary, much like how it would appear as a fortified bunker from the exterior. The man of the house wanted something very "masculine", evident in some of the brutalist architectural expressions in the schematic mood pictures he had initially shown the architects.
(Related: PORTFOLIO Inside 2021)
- ON A DESIGN PURSUIT
- CONVEYING A BUNKER FEEL
- MAKING ANY MEAL AN OCCASION
- SOLVING SPATIAL ROADBLOCKS
Conveying A Bunker Feel
The Brutalist-feel of the home’s façade expresses a very masculine look. The bungalow sits on a slope where one accesses the entrance foyer via a staircase.
Guests who arrive at the entrance foyer will gawk at the design of this space. Multiple window grilles have been repurposed to create a stunning design feature, which gives it a hallowed feel. In fact, the entrance foyer is more than just a spot to greet guests; its adjacent lounge area opens up to the surroundings for the owners or guests to partake in the lush vistas.
What's more interesting is how this lounge area is connected to the formal living space via a water feature. Guests and homeowners have to saunter over a large concrete slab to get over the shimmering water body.
Once you get to the formal living space, you're instantly wowed by the curation of fine furnishings, furniture, and lighting from European brands. The signature piece is the Arco floor lamp designed by Achille Castiglioni for Flos. This iconic luminaire, with its arc metal stem holding a globular metal shade, clearly adds panache to this relaxing space. The pops of colour from the mustard leather armchairs also add zing to this space.
- ON A DESIGN PURSUIT
- CONVEYING A BUNKER FEEL
- MAKING ANY MEAL AN OCCASION
- SOLVING SPATIAL ROADBLOCKS
Making Any Meal An Occasion
When it comes to meals, the luxurious round dining table in the dining room, offering a 270-degree view of greenery, makes it an occasion every time. The sliding doors open out to let in air and sunlight. The highlight of the home has to be the main spiral staircase, which provides access to all floors. The sinuous charm of this staircase is made more fanciful with the poetic display of glass light pendants, which add a luxurious touch.
One of the spaces that the homeowner adores is the view of the pool from the main staircase on the second floor. A purposeful skylight affords a palm tree to take root and spread its fronds. Meanwhile, the indoor lap pool allows for moments of privacy via movable lattice screens. There's also a gymnasium to keep themselves in the pink of health and an entertainment room to enjoy movies with friends on weekends.
- ON A DESIGN PURSUIT
- CONVEYING A BUNKER FEEL
- MAKING ANY MEAL AN OCCASION
- SOLVING SPATIAL ROADBLOCKS
Solving Spatial Roadblocks
In realising the couple's wishes, the architects had to tackle architectural challenges along the way. The home's unique topography consisting of a large retaining wall was not an easy task to design liveable spaces. Also, the challenge of giving the best view to every room and bathroom, while addressing heat from the western sun and maintaining privacy, were problems to contend with.
Interestingly, the house is organised into a loose cluster of dwelling units positioned around a series of courtyards or outdoor spaces much like a little village. On the outside, the edges of the “village” cluster are defined by an attic elevated landscape deck or a second storey elevated pool which shields the dwelling units.
As the owner is gifted with green fingers, putting the swimming pool on the second floor would free up precious ground floor space for gardening. Also, the elevated landscape deck helps to shield the private sanctuary of the homeowner. The master bedroom and study were pushed into the background behind the landscape which is designed to weave around the entire perimeter of the attic and bind the whole attic cluster of dwelling units into a cohesive form.
With the ensuing pandemic, the project took 28 months to complete. But with grit and perseverance, the architects were able to push ahead with the project despite the roadblocks, such as labor shortage. At the end of the day, the homeowner was very satisfied with the project. He said, "I couldn't ask for more. My home is now a place for me to retreat and enjoy my swimming, Tai Chi, and yoga. Now, I hardly go out on weekends!"
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