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Historically, The Interlace has been a divisive condominium project by the Office for Metropolitan Architecture (OMA). With cuboids stacked on top of each other, it is either regarded as an architectural must-visit in Singapore or a dry dock with shipping containers lined with windows piled higgledy-piggledy.
The owner of one of its penthouses is obviously part of the former group.
Occupying two storeys in a 12-level block, his apartment (3,800 sq ft) has, on one side, a full perspective of the development in all its layered glory. In stark contrast, the opposite side looks straight out to the verdant canopy of Labrador Nature Reserve in the distance. With the artistic touch of DM Interior Design Managing Director Wang Linfeng, the apartment is now a space that smoothly transitions between the two contrasting vistas.
A new beginning
Credit: The apartment was stripped of most of its previous fittings, except its parquet flooring and the walls of its three bedroom.
The owner is an entrepreneur with a family of four, including an infant daughter and a primary school-aged son. Along with a luxurious home that could accommodate everyone comfortably, he also requested a darker colour scheme.
To achieve these aims, Wang gutted the apartment and stripped it of most of its previous fittings. Only the parquet flooring and the walls of the three bedrooms were retained. “We preferred to start afresh,” says Wang.
Underfoot, he used large-format Italian marble tiles, curtains, and wall coverings as a foundation, and complemented them with lavish, beautifully detailed accents, lending the space an upscale feel.
Credit: Along with a luxurious home that accommodates everyone comfortably, the owner requested a darker colour scheme.
Visitors are wowed by a 2.8-m feature wall that runs the length of the dining area just beyond the foyer after walking through the rather unobtrusive front door. Its whorls of grey and white are flecked with gold and resemble a contemporary Chinese ink painting. It is actually made up of three slabs of Italian marble that have been bookmatched.
Rather than have a plain white ceiling above the dining table, Wang recessed it and installed stainless steel treated with a texture that mimics how clear water looks on a breezy, sunny day. A crystal pendant light hangs from it, enhancing both the ceiling and wall features.
Credit: Two bedrooms belong to the children, including a white and pink confection featuring a bunk bed with a slide.
The recessed ceiling is repeated in the living room, but on a larger scale, creating a silvery cloud effect using corrugated metal panels.
“Feng shui is important to the owner, so we put all the elements in the dining and living room,” explains Wang.
The living room also includes a fancy contraption under the TV that resembles a fireplace, complete with dancing orange flames, but is an air sanitiser and aroma diffuser.
Interstitial spaces with functional purpose
Credit: Even the corridors have been transformed with dramatic points of interest.
A corridor connects the living spaces to the rooms. This is a rarely-highlighted part of a home, but Wang created several points of interest.
The first is a built-in, full-height display shelf backed by an alabaster stone surface that resembles the veining of the marble on the floor. It provides a dramatic backdrop to the sculptures when lit.
A cosy corner has been set up on the left with a high-tech massage chair and another recessed ceiling, this time covered with black plaster with pinpricks of LED lights. Relaxing or reading under a starry night sky is the desired effect.
Credit: Carved out from the walk-in wardrobe is a full-length bag storage- and-display feature for the missus’ collection.
In the corridor, Wang used fluted panelling to create a unique effect and contrast with the other smooth, painted walls. Some also function as doors to storage cupboards. “Camouflaging them is always a good idea — although the owner tells me he sometimes has trouble finding them!”
One storage area that has not been concealed is the walk-in wardrobe, which includes a section with see-through doors that displays all the handbags belonging to the owner’s wife. Tucked inside the master bedroom, it includes a vanity counter carved out of a space previously occupied by the living room.
The bedhead in the master deserves special mention with its midnight-blue velvet covering, framed by gold and cut through with diagonal lines on the sides, inspired by the facets of a diamond.
Wonderland for the kids
Credit: Two bedrooms belong to the children, including a white and pink confection featuring a bunk bed with a slide.
Two bedrooms belong to the children. The first is a white and pink confection, featuring a bunk bed with a slide.
On the ceiling Wang points to the white pinpricks illuminating LED lights. “They’re meant to inspire the daughter to dream about reaching for the stars,” he quips.
With its gaming-inspired design, the second bedroom is clearly for the son. Bold straight lines have been carved into part of the ceiling and bedhead, which can be lit in any colour with special effects like pulses and flashes.
Credit: The balcony offers a view of The Interlace’s layered architecture.
“The technology is not new,” says Wang. “But few designers know how to use it to enhance a space.”
The recessed lighting softens the work area covered in dove grey laminates, creating a more relaxing study experience.
The major plus points of the penthouse are the balconies in each bedroom and the deck outside the living room, which has a pond. All the outdoor areas, including the roof terrace, are lavishly landscaped as well.
Credit: The garden stairway.
A spiral staircase connects the two, with unique glass cubes covering small solar-powered outdoor lights every few steps. Head up to the pavilion and discover a barbeque pit and ample seating facing Labrador Nature Reserve.
Wang shares that he focused most of his attention on the interiors. With his keen eye for detail, he has designed a plush, liveable home that serves as a bridge between the hardscapes and softscapes on each side of the unit.
He reveals, “I was told that the previous owners could not believe the transformation we had achieved. It had a lot more potential than they realised.”
