55 Blair Road is a renovation and restoration project of a
traditional Singaporean shop house originally built in the Art Deco Style.The house is literally organized into front and back of house. The
front supports living and dining below with bedroom and office above. The back contains kitchen below and support
spaces above. The design hinges on a somewhat surreal courtyard waterscape that
is both serene and vibrant, bridging ideas of the traditional Chinese garden
with modern landscape forms and materials.The central courtyard space provides the principle visual focus,
the water-cooled air, and the dappled light for the interior spaces. The two interior spiral stairs provide this
same function. Like the courtyard tree
they seem to grow organically without weight, the treads lightly wrapping the
central support like a vine. Skylights adorn the stair shaft illuminating these
elements and giving them additional sculptural prominence. It must also be noted that the use of sliding partitions and
“disappearing” facades effectively brings nature into the home. In this way, the sense of living at an oasis
and sleeping amongst the trees is achieved even within this dense residential
condition.While the overall planning is relatively simple, the masterful
deployment of space, light, and materials produces an effect that approaches
the sublime.
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