by Low Shi Ping
This new residential project by Park + Associates for a large extended family is the epitome of tropical multi-generational living. (Photo: Khoo Guo Jie)
Park + Associates has just completed a residential project that might just be considered the epitome of multigenerational living. Working in its favour is a sizable plot measuring 2,454.36sqm. The upward-sloping terrain has a difference of 10m between the lowest and highest points, which gives it a unique layer of complexity. The bungalow houses a quartet of nuclear families and their helpers, totalling approximately 20 people. Each has their own two-storey living quarters, and the house appears divided into four sections when seen from the street.
Credit: On the ground floor is a formal living room that opens out to a swimming pool. (Photo: Khoo Guo Jie)
Christina Thean, Director of Park + Associates, describes the composition as a “scattered arrangement of smaller housing blocks with intermittent pockets of private green spaces for each family, instead of the usual large volume”.
Credit: The main entrance is through the garIn the evening, the upper floors of the bungalow glow like a jewel above the driveway, which is dimly lit to create the feeling of entering a cave. (Photo: Khoo Guo Jie)
With its straight horizontal and vertical lines, accented with wood and glass, and arranged irregularly, it certainly gives that impression. “Yet, you get the sense that varied as they are, they are all still siblings,” she quips.
In addition to the lava stone and grey granite used, a collection of human-sized boulders at the base give the illusion that the upper storeys rest firmly on a solid foundation.
Credit: The main entrance is through the garage, which comfortably fits eight cars. (Photo: Khoo Guo Jie)
The main entrance is through the garage, which comfortably fits eight cars. It is dimly lit to create the feeling of walking through a cave. As soon as the doors open, the eye is immediately drawn to a lushly landscaped indoor courtyard that is not readily apparent from the street.
Credit: The bungalow is composed of smaller housing blocks with intermittent pockets of private green spaces. (Photo: Khoo Guo Jie)
As a result of the way the architecture is designed, it is instinctively obvious that this is the heart of the house, where the entire family can gather for al fresco meals and badminton matches.
“A common corridor, a glimpse to someone’s room, a nook for a private moment, these provide layering to the courtyard experience,” says Thean.
Credit: Seen from the courtyard, the two guest room pavilions cladded in dark grey Accoya wood contrast against the rest of the house. (Photo: Khoo Guo Jie)
The two guest room pavilions opposite the main door are distinctive for their dark grey Accoya wood cladding that contrasts against the rest of the house. These are accessible via a flight of granite slabs and then a timber staircase, evoking the feeling of being in a Balinese resort.
The remaining front and rear sides are occupied by public and private living areas, maintaining a strong sightline to the courtyard.
On the ground floor is a formal living room in the front, a swimming pool behind it, and lava stone walls. In the rear are a formal dining room and the helpers’ quarters.
Private identities
The second floor is reached via only one staircase, deliberately designed to convince the authorities that the owner is unable to sublet with just that single access point. “It took a year of correspondence with them before we came up with this solution that they accepted,” recalls Lam Xin Yee, Architectural Associate at Park + Associates. “We kept at it as our solution was something that the owner really liked.”
Credit: A central corridor connects the four blocks of self-contained living quarters. (Photo: Khoo Guo Jie)
At the top of the stairs, a central corridor connects the four blocks of self-contained living quarters. As the owner wanted to be fair to his sons, all three have the same gross floor area. The two younger sons reside in the front of the house.
The rear of the house has an informal dining room, a dry kitchen and a play area for the grandchildren. Levels three and four have two more double-storey apartments — one for the eldest son and the other, smaller one for the owner and his wife.
Credit: Thanks to glass windows and doors that open natural daylight floods the spaces. (Photo: Khoo Guo Jie)
Thanks to the glass windows and doors that open to let in the breeze, natural daylight floods the spaces.
“It almost feels like a gated community,” says Lam. “What was most important to the owner was that each unit has a living room, kitchenette, master bedroom, and two to three more rooms, depending on the family planning.”
Credit: Each unit has a living room, kitchenette, master suite, and two to three more rooms, depending on the family planning. (Photo: Khoo Guo Jie)
Consequently, each has a unique layout, and since each family has different preferences, each apartment has a different interior design style. As an example, the oldest son’s apartment has the feel of a grand hotel decorated with mirrors, bronze and marble.
“This project has allowed us to interpret what it means to live together as one big family while addressing different lifestyles within a tropical climate,” says Thean.
