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It speaks volumes of the competency of the designers when a project that begins life as a holiday home becomes so dear to the owners that they decide to move in permanently. This was exactly what happened to MASSONEONG when it was commissioned this apartment in Four Seasons Park, a condominium located a stone’s throw from Orchard Road.
Leveraging the generous space spread across 2,874 sq. ft., the duo that make up the practice, Elisa Massone and Vanessa Ong, gave the unit a complete makeover — including reconfiguring the dining and guest room, as well as the kitchen.
100 per cent original
Photo: Studio Periphery
Primarily guiding MASSONEONG was the curvature of the building facade, resulting in a serenade of curved elements that define programmatic spaces through archways, ceilings coves, and built-in cabinetry. These serve to blur the boundaries between the spaces and unify them through movement and fluidity.
“The initial brief was to make this into a holiday home for the young family and their twin children; designed as a retreat away from where they lived in Jakarta, Indonesia,” explains Ong.
The owners were adamant about having a space that is truly unique, fitted with iconic furniture pieces that could even be regarded as artworks. While it sounds like a tall order, it is in fact the type of brief that the pair exalt in having, since it dovetails with their vision of high-end design — their specialty.
Photo: Studio Periphery
Enter the apartment and these immediately jump out. For instance, the Ekstrem by Terje Ekstrøm from Norwegian purveyor Varier is an accent in the living room. Its twisted form hints it is an armchair but also leaves plenty of space for uncertainty as to whether it can be sat on (FYI, yes, you can, and it is in fact very comfortable).
Turn left and another two pieces stand out: a large mirror with a thick, wavy white frame that can be illuminated in pink, set before another sculpture-like chair that looks like it is made of balloons.
Photo: Studio Periphery
The former is the Ultrafragola Mirror by famed Italian designer Ettore Sottsass, while the latter is Dining Chair by Korean artisan, Seungjin Yang, made from a combination of epoxy resin and balloons.
Despite how zany these pieces are, MASSONEONG have managed to integrate them into the home, without turning it into a sensorial carnival — achieved through the careful selection of colours, shapes, and materials.
They were equally mindful of letting in as much daylight as possible — something the unit was desperately in need of. The result is a space that is warm, organic, and welcoming, with soft textures, curved forms and light, neutral tones of beige and taupe.
Photo: Studio Periphery
“The entrance is a bit darker but it works to create a sense of drama, of entering a cosy, moody space before going into the bright living room with its lighter, tone-on-tone furnishings,” says Massone.
On the ceiling of the communal areas, the pair applied a stucco finish — the detail giving an added sense of lightness to the apartment.
Carefully curated catalogue
Special mention goes to the play area flanking the entrance foyer, accessible through an arched doorway — a feature repeated several times throughout the unit.
Open shelves stretch across the longest edge, displaying toys for the owners’ twins to play with, synonymous with the Montessori learning approach that the parents wanted to adhere to. Cut into the middle of it is a charming reading nook.
Adjacent, a stunning wallpaper in black and white of tropical foliage spreads across the wall which MASSONEONG has chosen for its fun, playful elements.
Photo: Studio Periphery
Here, the table and chairs are from ecoBirdy, a brand that uses sustainable materials to manufacture its furniture, while overhead hangs the Cloud pendant light by Frank Gehry from Belux.
Unique pieces feature prominently in the bedrooms, too. The master bedroom has a pair of Bocci pendant lights hanging over the bedside table, while the bedframe is from Poltrona Frau.
Photo: Studio Periphery
In the children’s bedroom, a wallpaper of the African savannah splays across two walls, customised so that the animals are not unduly hidden by the headboard. An arched, recessed section is cut into the third wall, this time containing book shelves.
Photo: Studio Periphery
In the third bedroom, a commissioned painting by Singaporean artist Jamie Teo hangs on one wall. The young, award-winning artist was tasked with capturing part of the sky, since the room only has one window.
“This project is very much reflective of the younger generation of homeowners who are very seasoned and well-versed in design,” says Ong. “To them, it is really about mixing fashion, art, and furniture together.”
The best part? These clients of theirs probably also feel like they are on a permanent holiday.
