Houzz Tours
Houzz Tour: A Mid-Century Bungalow Gets a Modern-Day Revamp
This revitalised family home in Bukit Timah looks to the future, but keeps an eye on the past
Looking at the gracious contemporary lines of this home in an exclusive enclave in western Singapore, one would be hard-pressed to guess that its original structure, built by the owner’s father, is decades-old. “The client, seeking to revitalise his inherited childhood home, wanted to rejuvenate the property but also retain the essence of the original design,” say architects Diego Molina, Maria Arango and Tomas Jarmillo of design firm ONG&ONG. “With the restoration, the client wanted to ensure that the new work would not diminish the intangible meaning and memory associated with his family home.”
Turning right from the lobby/entryway, the visitor is greeted by an expansive space which houses the living and dining areas.
One of the client’s requirements was that all social spaces be naturally ventilated. The ground floor was fitted with fully retractable doors, which when pulled back, create a generous open space wherein the house’s occupants can enjoy the surrounding landscape.
One of the client’s requirements was that all social spaces be naturally ventilated. The ground floor was fitted with fully retractable doors, which when pulled back, create a generous open space wherein the house’s occupants can enjoy the surrounding landscape.
Beige travertine creates a muted, serene backdrop for the dining and living areas, where one can enjoy an equally tranquil view of the water garden on one side and the pool on the other.
“The client was also very insistent that the existing gardens be preserved as much as possible, so very few of the original trees were removed,” says the design team.
“The client was also very insistent that the existing gardens be preserved as much as possible, so very few of the original trees were removed,” says the design team.
The rear of the house looks out onto the pool and back garden. In keeping with the design of the original house, the architects kept the top volume bigger than the first floor, which is recessed. This structural feature also has an added purpose: “Aesthetically, the main volumes of the house appear to be floating on the surface of the pool, as a recess was created at the base of the first floor, making the house’s structure look lighter,” says the design team.
Given Singapore’s climate, ventilation and shading from the intense tropical sun are always priorities, hence the use of a cross-ventilation strategy.
“Louvres in the morning-sun-facing rear facade help to control the internal temperature, while a water feature at the front of the house also helps to cool the surrounding air before it enters the house,” explains the design team. “With this redesign, the quality of temperature and light control within the house was greatly improved.”
“Louvres in the morning-sun-facing rear facade help to control the internal temperature, while a water feature at the front of the house also helps to cool the surrounding air before it enters the house,” explains the design team. “With this redesign, the quality of temperature and light control within the house was greatly improved.”
The impression of lightness is just as apparent from within as it is from without. From the living space, as the viewer looks out on the back garden’s lush greenery, one gets the impression that the house is suspended atop the swimming pool.
At the entrance, the lobby and staircase “form the connection between the new and old sections of the building,” says the design team. The light-filled stairwell – not exempt from the property’s lovely rear views – leads up to the home’s private spaces.
The upper level’s flooring is solid teak, which adds textured warmth to each room, including the family room.
One of the client’s requests for the master bedroom was a special desk, one side of which was built to form the backing of his bed. This partition-cum-head board delineates the work space, yet still lets the owner enjoy views of the garden while he works. Adjustable louvres either provide privacy and shade or open up the room to natural light and ventilation.
It’s apparent that the house’s heritage is very much present in this updated contemporary version. After all, the central design idea, the architects say, was “for the new house to resonate with the ethos of the original family home.”
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What do you like most about this house? Share in the Comments.
Location: Bukit Timah
Size: 572.52 sqm (GFA before renovation); 821.02 sqm (GFA after renovation); 1,923.80 sqm (Site)
Project Duration: approximately three years
The house is a successful blend of both old and new – a harmonious combination of the existing structure with its 1950s look and the new wing which was necessary to accommodate the client’s request for two master bedrooms and four bedrooms. It “faithfully follows the original structure while suitably updating it according to modern tastes and contemporary architectural standards,” says the design team.
Though the original structure sat on an awkward position on the plot, the architects “embraced the site’s existing geometry and distinctive orientation” and simply added an additional volume to fit in the requested bedrooms and ensuite bathrooms.