4 Terrace Houses That Optimise Light and Space With Split Levels
Although a luxury to live in, a terrace is usually poor in lighting, circulation and space – these are the exceptions
One of the quintessential types of dwelling we have in Singapore, a terrace house is part of a row of three of more attached houses. Its long sides and narrow front/rear are the main culprits for its poor lighting, lack of circulation and limited space. Central courtyards and air wells were the traditional solution employed by shophouses (which are also considered terrace houses) to introduce sunlight and ventilation in their inner recesses. From the 1970s, however, many ‘modern’ terraces were developed without this climactic design feature because it was considered unusable space. Thus, the unsavoury reputation of terrace houses as dark, stuffy and space-poor residences.
Thankfully, these architects and designers have devised creative, clever solutions that transformed sad terraces into light-filled, luxurious homes:
Thankfully, these architects and designers have devised creative, clever solutions that transformed sad terraces into light-filled, luxurious homes:
Photo by Fabian Ong
1.
Home: Multi-generational terrace in Siglap
Designers: Formwerkz Architects for the architecture and Studio iF for the interiors
When Berlin Lee and Gwen Tan, two of the four founding partners of Formwerkz Architects and Studio iF, needed more space for their growing family (including two grandmothers), they opted for a terrace house that they could build up from scratch. They wanted “a house for the whole family to have lots of together time, yet have plenty of personal space for each individual,” says Tan.
Photo by Fabian Ong
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Home: Multi-generational terrace in Siglap
Designers: Formwerkz Architects for the architecture and Studio iF for the interiors
When Berlin Lee and Gwen Tan, two of the four founding partners of Formwerkz Architects and Studio iF, needed more space for their growing family (including two grandmothers), they opted for a terrace house that they could build up from scratch. They wanted “a house for the whole family to have lots of together time, yet have plenty of personal space for each individual,” says Tan.
Photo by Fabian Ong
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To provide flexible spaces, as well as introduce natural light and ventilation to the deepest recesses of the house, the four-level intermediate terrace has been designed with the levels stacked at the rear of the house in a staggered layer. Only at the attic level is the front part of the house utilised, to hold the study room. This provides for higher ceilings at the centre of the house – where terrace houses usually are the darkest.
The couple also used movable walls and pocket doors to create the flexible family spaces on the ground floor.
Photo by Fabian Ong
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The couple also used movable walls and pocket doors to create the flexible family spaces on the ground floor.
Photo by Fabian Ong
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2.
Home: Multi-level intermediate terrace in Jalan Chempedak (Ang Mo Kio/Bishan/Thomson)
Designers: Lim Eng Kwee and Bu Shukun of A_Collective Architects
Designed for a family of five, this 337-square-metre (3,627-square-foot) intermediate terrace house employs the open-plan layout on the ground floor for a bright and breezy feel.
Natural lights comes in through full-height glass doors at the front and light well towards the rear of the house.
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Home: Multi-level intermediate terrace in Jalan Chempedak (Ang Mo Kio/Bishan/Thomson)
Designers: Lim Eng Kwee and Bu Shukun of A_Collective Architects
Designed for a family of five, this 337-square-metre (3,627-square-foot) intermediate terrace house employs the open-plan layout on the ground floor for a bright and breezy feel.
Natural lights comes in through full-height glass doors at the front and light well towards the rear of the house.
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The upper floors are staggered in a split-level manner, and connected by a wraparound stairway built within the light well.
“The daylight coming through the light well also provides much ‘breathing’ relief in an otherwise long terrace house, which is often dimly lit in the middle,” says Bu.
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“The daylight coming through the light well also provides much ‘breathing’ relief in an otherwise long terrace house, which is often dimly lit in the middle,” says Bu.
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Photo by Masano Kawana
3.
Home: Terrace house with a basement, two storeys and an attic in the Opera Estate (Siglap/East Coast)
Designer: Warren Liu and Darlene Smyth of architectural practice A D Lab
Architects Warren Liu and Darlene Smyth of A D Lab designed their own terrace house as an environment “where the family can relax as well as entertain comfortably,” says Smyth. They demolished the original single-storey terrace house and built with a basement, two storeys and an attic. Tiered pocket gardens and indoor plants give the house an indoor-outdoor effect, but it is the triple-volume central courtyard that was vital in creating the sense of space and transparency, and which lets in great amounts of natural light.
Photo by Masano Kawana
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Home: Terrace house with a basement, two storeys and an attic in the Opera Estate (Siglap/East Coast)
Designer: Warren Liu and Darlene Smyth of architectural practice A D Lab
Architects Warren Liu and Darlene Smyth of A D Lab designed their own terrace house as an environment “where the family can relax as well as entertain comfortably,” says Smyth. They demolished the original single-storey terrace house and built with a basement, two storeys and an attic. Tiered pocket gardens and indoor plants give the house an indoor-outdoor effect, but it is the triple-volume central courtyard that was vital in creating the sense of space and transparency, and which lets in great amounts of natural light.
Photo by Masano Kawana
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“The centre of the home, which in many inter-terrace houses is a dark and uncomfortable space, is here transformed into a lush internal garden,” says Smyth.
The central courtyard cuts through the front and rear of the house, its staircase connecting the tiered levels with a breezy fluidity. It’s also designed for easy inter-space communication between parents and children, says Smyth.
Photo by Masano Kawana
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The central courtyard cuts through the front and rear of the house, its staircase connecting the tiered levels with a breezy fluidity. It’s also designed for easy inter-space communication between parents and children, says Smyth.
Photo by Masano Kawana
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4.
Home: Three-generation terrace house in Upper Bukit Timah
Designer: Lawrence Puah, Ash Ashiquin and Jenny Phumphida of Akihaus Design Studio
Fitting in four bedrooms, one study/ family room and four bathrooms for a couple with two young children and one mother-in-law was the spatial challenge for this terrace house. Puah’s team reconfigured the 2,920-square-foot (including land area) terrace house, addressing the lack of internal light, and working around split levels, through the use of full-height windows and mirrors in the home.
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Home: Three-generation terrace house in Upper Bukit Timah
Designer: Lawrence Puah, Ash Ashiquin and Jenny Phumphida of Akihaus Design Studio
Fitting in four bedrooms, one study/ family room and four bathrooms for a couple with two young children and one mother-in-law was the spatial challenge for this terrace house. Puah’s team reconfigured the 2,920-square-foot (including land area) terrace house, addressing the lack of internal light, and working around split levels, through the use of full-height windows and mirrors in the home.
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The internal windows promote better airflow, and allow for natural light to reach those internal areas that need it.
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Tell us
Do you or would you live in a terrace house? What do you like about it? Tell us in the Comments below. And don’t forget to save your favourite images, save the story, and join in the conversation.
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See more of this project
Tell us
Do you or would you live in a terrace house? What do you like about it? Tell us in the Comments below. And don’t forget to save your favourite images, save the story, and join in the conversation.
Find a local design professional on Houzz