The client lives in a housing initiative that incorporates both the contemporary and the historical, combining ubiquitous high-rise living with a façade of traditional houses in one of Singapore’s protected conservation neighbourhoods. Located on the highest floor of the conserved shophouses, the studio is small but offers the possibility of expanding vertically into the attic.
An elevated platform is introduced to not only access the available space, but also create a double-heighted volume that lends a more generous feel to the apartment and provide an expanse upon which the client, an art enthusiast, can showcase her collections. Situated on a historic site in ultra-modern Singapore, this project presents a context filled with parallels and incongruities.
As such, a series of conscious juxtapositions guide the organisation and design of the dwelling. Departing from the historical sensibilities of the site, industrial and contemporary elements are accorded to the materials: discernible fixing details on the staircase and visible concrete beams have been retained, whilst the classic, dark bathroom stands in stark contrast to the brightly coloured accents that highlight the living spaces.
Furthermore, usable space is liberated from functional and storage zones through the placement of coherent stripes that serve to cleanly demarcate the technical from the tranquil. Cabinetry is introduced along the perimeter of the passageway leading to the staircase, concealing the kitchen and bathroom behind elements incorporated into the ensemble of customised cabinetry.
An additional innovation is the flexible folding door that concludes the continuous lines of the woodworks: placed in front of the stairs, the door can be drawn to separate the attic space from the technical zone. Through these tactical segregations and calculated clashes, a present-day home is embedded within a nostalgic fragment of Singapore’s landscape..