by Luo Jingmei
Photo: Derek Swalwell
What makes a house a home? How can structure provide emotion? This intermediate terrace house designed by Park + Associates for a couple with three daughters is a perfect case study.
Unlike many ubiquitous houses in Singapore enslaved to the trappings of an anonymous, Modernist language — think white boxes with plentiful glass — this dwelling is idiosyncratic and unique to the family that lives here.
An origin story
A key protagonist is the red brick facade. It curves in and out, turning a robust material into something as fluid as cloth. “Our clients met while studying at university in the United States. Their personal story gave us a starting point in the design, reflecting the ubiquitous use of facing brick in many universities in the country,” shares Christina Thean, director of the Singaporean firm that eschews formulas to approach each project with originality.
Windows look into the elevated pool, fostering a connection between family members. (Photo: Derek Swalwell)
She complemented the brick with other everyday simple materials such as steel and timber. A conscientious approach to detailing and curated colour palette “brings to life a playful architectural identity and expression both inside and out,” says Thean.
Inside, there are so many beautiful moments that provide delight and comfort. Behind the modestly sized living room, the drama unfolds through a red spiral staircase rising unabashedly in a frozen dance amidst surrounding white walls.
The concrete staircase leading to the children’s study pod is accessed via an outdoor space. (Photo: Derek Swalwell)
Thean shares an anecdote about this element: “The staircase was originally designed to be spray painted black, but when the steel arrived from Malaysia, it was a reddish rust colour — the colour of the primer. That gave us an idea. We debated with the clients if the staircase should be kept to the original black colour as per our original design or left as this red colour. The family, including the kids, voted amongst themselves and came out to favour the red.”
Small decisions, big impact
This was a turning point in her approach to the project. “Little decisions like this throughout the building process made this staircase more special and memorable,” Thean remarks. It set the tone for many other design ideas; the same red shade is applied to joinery handles, while other fun colours and geometries were introduced in (many) parts of the house.
The children’s study pod above the dining area and kitchen is designed with small, cosy niches. (Photo: Derek Swalwell)
On the first storey, the living room leads to the dining room in the rear. “As a family, we spend much time in the kitchen and dining areas. This is a double-storey space, where the children’s study room looks from the mezzanine above. We told the architect at the beginning that we don’t often use the living room, which explains how that is smaller and more like a reception area,” says the wife.
In Make HouSe, the client’s three young daughters played a big part in inspiring a playful spirit for the architecture and interior.
Above the dining, the edges of the study room have curved profiles and windows. “The dining room is a cosy space with views of the daughters’ study pod, where they spend a lot of time. So even if we are not in the same room and doing our things, we can still see each other, which is quite unique,” the wife shares. Just by looking down, her daughters know when it is dinnertime, she muses.
The staircase’s colour pops against the white walls. (Photo: Derek Swalwell)
As the study pod was designed exclusively for the daughters’ use, the design team created somewhat of a “secret entrance”. Describes Thean, “To enter it involves going up to the second level (where their bedrooms are) towards a red concrete ‘drum’ at the end of a corridor, and then down a small spiral staircase. As a result, the parents can see them from the first-storey dining area but cannot reach them.”
Living inspiration
For every house the firm undertakes, it is essential to create spaces that reflect the clients and their personalities, Thean explains. “In Make HouSe (the name christened for the home), the client’s three young daughters played a big part in inspiring a playful spirit for the architecture and interior. The design concept was based on creating fun and dynamic spaces filled with life, movement, and playfulness. We hope that experiences like these, shaped by architecture, facilitate the creation of core memories for the family that form part of their journey in life.”
Little incidents with nature have been orchestrated throughout the house. (Photo: Derek Swalwell)
The family appreciates all these spatial nuances. “We enjoy the visual interactions between the different rooms and spaces. They are not direct, physical interactions with whoever is in the other space. However, we enjoy the subtle and indirect interactions that make us feel closer as a family despite having and being in our private areas,” comments the wife.
Clearly, much thought is put into ensuring the home is also liveable. One example is the front elevation design. “The front façade is composed of double brick walls with a cavity to reduce sound transmissions from the road. We then took this functional response as an opportunity to express the exterior side of the brickwork to create a fluted brick façade. The project was conceived as a ‘play dough’ house, where spaces and key architectural elements result from extrusions. The fluted profiles were a response to this,” Thean expounds.
The creative use of materials is found both outside and inside the house. (Photo: Derek Swalwell)
The house has also shaped the family’s lifestyle habits, as the wife shares. For instance, the pool, carved out on the second storey and elevated for privacy, has been well utilised. “We use the pool quite often, which came as a surprise to all of us. Only my husband wanted it, but now the kids love taking dips. The biggest surprise was their granddad, who now uses the pool at least once — even twice — a day sometimes.”
