Archifest 2016: Inside studioMilou's House at Holland Park
A house in a garden, a garden in a house – see how a heritage bungalow and a two-storey extension came together within a lush environment
When George and Lysa Goh purchased this 2,000-square metre (21,528 square feet) land in one of Singapore’s exclusive residential areas, they knew that this was exactly where their dream home would be. In the middle of the property was a 1930s single-storey bungalow built of brick masonry with a wooden frame, flat roof tiles and teak flooring that originally belonged to a British civil servant.
To say that the project was a challenge is an understatement. The property presented some predicaments. First was the land’s triangular shape and secondly, the bungalow’s national conservation listing, which meant no additional building could be added to the existing structure, and any new construction had to be carried out at a certain distance. The land on which the house stood was also about two metres below the surrounding street level. The couple consulted various architects for this project, but none of them gave their commitment.
To say that the project was a challenge is an understatement. The property presented some predicaments. First was the land’s triangular shape and secondly, the bungalow’s national conservation listing, which meant no additional building could be added to the existing structure, and any new construction had to be carried out at a certain distance. The land on which the house stood was also about two metres below the surrounding street level. The couple consulted various architects for this project, but none of them gave their commitment.
To overcome the limits imposed by the land’s irregular shape and conservation rules, studioMilou created a design that gives a sense of transparency and fluidity between the old and new structures, and the interior and exterior. At the outer wall of the new structure is a paravent-like wall system consisting of rising screens opening onto a winding walkway and lined with lush foliage that ventures both into the house on one side, and over the neighbouring properties on the other.
“A rectangular pool lines one outer wall of the new house, with water and green-grey tiles softening the visual links between the conservation house and the new structures,” says Milou.
The grey glass-reinforced concrete columns and stainless steel screens also contribute to the play of light and colours, as well as accentuate the impression of a transparent and environmentally-linked architecture.
The grey glass-reinforced concrete columns and stainless steel screens also contribute to the play of light and colours, as well as accentuate the impression of a transparent and environmentally-linked architecture.
An extensive garden pathway surrounds the facade of the new house. “A feeling that the house expands into the garden, and that the garden inhabits the house is accentuated by the closeness of plants to the house’s closed surfaces. Dense foliage caresses the many glass surfaces of the house, and towers to the second-floor spaces,” says the architect.
Inside the house, one can fully appreciate the surrounding foliage through large glass windows. These transparent partitions allow a calming palette of rich greens alongside the stone and polished Burmese teak flooring and walls.
“Another approach common to studioMilou’s work is the restricted use of materials and colours,” says Milou. In the new house, walls and ceilings are kept in pristine white, allowing the Burmese teak to envelop the spaces in warmth.
The spacious music hall allows a peek into the colonial house (the original structure), again emphasising the sense of openness towards the exterior.
Greenery permeates all angles and corners, including the bathrooms. The ever-present plants also serve as a natural screen for these private spaces.
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Houzz at a Glance
Who lives here: George and Lysa Goh, with their family of three generations
Location: Holland Park
Size: Plot size – 2,000 square meters (21,528 square feet)
Project duration: 24 months
Several months after acquiring the land, the couple found the perfect design partner: Jean-Francois Milou, principal architect of studioMilou, which at that time was working on the National Gallery of Singapore. “The client contacted studioMilou on many occasions to request a meeting, which was politely declined due to the firm’s full focus to the National Gallery project. However, the client continued to insist, and one day turned up at the studio with his wife, to see me in person. The perseverance and warmth of the client, his faith in our ability to deliver the project, along with a natural chemistry between us led to an agreement to design the home,” says the architect.
The design brief required 700 square metres (7,535 square feet) of new living spaces, including common areas, a music room, eight bedrooms to accommodate three generations, and a pool. Therefore, it was imperative to have a seamless flow between the existing bungalow, which serves as key reception area and kitchen, and the new extension.