Houzz Tour: Heritage is Artfully Celebrated in a Pre-War Art Deco Flat
This Tiong Bahru apartment is stripped down to partially reveal its solid roots and complement the art collection of its new owners
Chiquit Brammall
28 July 2018
Design journalist and freelance editor. Dollhouse architect. Serial renter.
Built in the 1930s by the Singapore Improvement Trust (SIT), a precursor of the Housing Development Board (HDB), the Art Deco flats of Tiong Bahru are now considered iconic and in-demand property. Since the 2000s the estate has become a creative and arty enclave, so it’s only natural that an art curator and her husband would gravitate to this neighbourhood.
Photos by Food and Shelter Company
Houzz at a Glance
Who lives here: A French-Dutch couple
Location: Tiong Bahru
Size: Approximately 74.3 square metres (800 square feet)
The couple commissioned architecture firm SOLID to transform the worn-out, two-bedroom flat into a space where the wife could enjoy her own art collection as well as host private pop-up art events.
Houzz at a Glance
Who lives here: A French-Dutch couple
Location: Tiong Bahru
Size: Approximately 74.3 square metres (800 square feet)
The couple commissioned architecture firm SOLID to transform the worn-out, two-bedroom flat into a space where the wife could enjoy her own art collection as well as host private pop-up art events.
Together with its sibling interior design company, asolidplan, SOLID proceeded to transform the old apartment into a comfortably contemporary home that celebrated the neighbourhood’s heritage as well as the flat’s new owners’ artworks.
Principal architect Kerhow Wong says: “The existing apartment was pretty much left untouched since the 1960s. After the original owner, who had spent her whole life in the house, passed away, it was sold by her children.”
The design team opened up the second bedroom to create a much larger living and dining space before working on the finishes.
“The majority of the existing floor was covered with linoleum, which was a popular finish back in the day. Due to wear and tear, parts of the linoleum had already cracked and chipped off from the screed floor. Some of the original green-coloured glass panels on the existing mild steel-framed windows were also replaced with green acrylic due to breakages, but majority withstood the test of time,” Wong says.
Principal architect Kerhow Wong says: “The existing apartment was pretty much left untouched since the 1960s. After the original owner, who had spent her whole life in the house, passed away, it was sold by her children.”
The design team opened up the second bedroom to create a much larger living and dining space before working on the finishes.
“The majority of the existing floor was covered with linoleum, which was a popular finish back in the day. Due to wear and tear, parts of the linoleum had already cracked and chipped off from the screed floor. Some of the original green-coloured glass panels on the existing mild steel-framed windows were also replaced with green acrylic due to breakages, but majority withstood the test of time,” Wong says.
The design team painted the walls and ceiling with white emulsion paint, stripped off the linoleum floor finish and replaced it with black cement screed, and exposed some of the concrete and brickwork. To continue the clean, uncluttered look, cabinetry was designed using white solid core laminate from EDL. And for that art gallery lighting, LED track lights were mounted on the exposed beams.
Clear glass replaced the coloured glass and acrylic panels on the windows, “allowing the occupants in the unit to have a closer relationship with the streetscape of Tiong Bahru,” Wong says.
As seen here, the iconic signage of the opposite block is framed by one of the window panels, like an art piece that blends nicely with the decor.
As seen here, the iconic signage of the opposite block is framed by one of the window panels, like an art piece that blends nicely with the decor.
To create a more comfortable bathroom for the new owners, SOLID pushed the kitchen wall in – making it more compact, yet efficient.
Wong says: “We kept the design in the kitchen simple, using matt white solid core laminate for the cabinetry, with a black granite countertop. Black opaque glass was used for the backsplash. The walls are tiled with square glazed ceramic tiles, which were frequently used in older apartments in Singapore.”
“The original floor was tiled with baby blue mosaic, which we felt did not go with the overall design of the unit. We decided to use a simple black-and-white combination, which could also be found in other old units in Tiong Bahru,” Wong says.
Wong says: “We kept the design in the kitchen simple, using matt white solid core laminate for the cabinetry, with a black granite countertop. Black opaque glass was used for the backsplash. The walls are tiled with square glazed ceramic tiles, which were frequently used in older apartments in Singapore.”
“The original floor was tiled with baby blue mosaic, which we felt did not go with the overall design of the unit. We decided to use a simple black-and-white combination, which could also be found in other old units in Tiong Bahru,” Wong says.
Keeping the clean yet raw look cohesive throughout the house, SOLID exposed part of the wall in the bedroom, revealing the brick underneath the plaster. Walls and ceiling are in white emulsion paint.
Full-height mirrored sliding doors on the closet side of the room give the modestly sized bedroom the illusion of having more space.
Full-height mirrored sliding doors on the closet side of the room give the modestly sized bedroom the illusion of having more space.
The placement of the bed highlights the brickwork, so it looks as if it’s a tactile extension of the timber headboard.
“All the exposed bricks are original bricks that were used to build the SIT flat back in the 1930s,” Wong says. “The original plaster was carefully chipped off to expose the original brickwork. After chipping off the original plaster, the brand of the bricks used in the past was exposed, a delightful surprise.”
“All the exposed bricks are original bricks that were used to build the SIT flat back in the 1930s,” Wong says. “The original plaster was carefully chipped off to expose the original brickwork. After chipping off the original plaster, the brand of the bricks used in the past was exposed, a delightful surprise.”
A timber panel wraps from behind the bed around the bookcase to the bank of windows and balcony door. The bookshelves are clad in matt white solid core laminate from EDL, with solid teak cabinet doors that connect to the timber panel, which adds honeyed warmth to the neutral palette of the simply furnished rooms. The books, as well as some art pieces, add little pops of colour.
The louvred concrete clerestory windows were sealed with clear Perspex to keep the cool air contained within the flat, while allowing natural light into the home.
The louvred concrete clerestory windows were sealed with clear Perspex to keep the cool air contained within the flat, while allowing natural light into the home.
Wong says: “The timber panel actually started out from the window side. As part of the design requirement from the client, we were asked to incorporate a folding desk in the bedroom.”
“As the space for the bedroom was quite tight, the only possible location for that was by the window. Instead of having just a stand-alone flip-up table, we decided to incorporate the flip-up as part of a timber panel design that wraps the whole room as a starting point in relation to the existing window. This also allows us to conceal some electrical wiring for the wall-mounted light fittings,” he says.
“As the space for the bedroom was quite tight, the only possible location for that was by the window. Instead of having just a stand-alone flip-up table, we decided to incorporate the flip-up as part of a timber panel design that wraps the whole room as a starting point in relation to the existing window. This also allows us to conceal some electrical wiring for the wall-mounted light fittings,” he says.
SOLID retained the original grillwork at the stair landing of the walk-up apartment.
Contractor: Craftsmen Design & Construction
See more of this project
TELL US
What do you like about this home? Do share in the Comments section!
Contractor: Craftsmen Design & Construction
See more of this project
TELL US
What do you like about this home? Do share in the Comments section!
Related Stories
Houzz Tours
Houzz Tour: Executive Flat Opens up to Sun, Breeze and Friends
The easy, breezy ambience was also designed for the owner to be able to do her photography work at home
Full Story
Houzz Tours
Houzz Tour: Tampines Maisonette Gets a Scandi-Style Makeover
The favourite Singapore style is more polished and grown-up with a minimalist twist in this family home
Full Story
Houzz Tours
Houzz Tour: Big Improvements in a Small 4-Room BTO Flat
By Disa Tan
A family of five didn't have to sacrifice living large thanks to unexpected storage solutions and room configurations
Full Story
Houzz Tours
Houzz Tour: Colour and Character Come to This BTO Flat
The result is a beautiful union of new and 'old'
Full Story
Houzz Tours
Houzz Tour: A Singapore-Japanese Family's Cross-Cultural BTO Flat
This Punggol flat is designed with the Japanese way of life in mind to help its owners adjust to their new home
Full Story
Houzz Tours
Houzz Tour: Clever Space Planning Makes This Flat's Simple Style Super
Its Scandinavian style and clean lines show off meticulously executed design details that add character to this flat
Full Story
Houzz Tours
Houzz Tour: Past and Present Converge with a Modern Asian Theme
With many to please, this home took its cues from the family's heritage and collection of vintage items
Full Story
Houzz Tours
Houzz Tour: The Details in this Flat Stand Tall
Customised and creative elements make all the difference in a newlywed couple's contemporary abode
Full Story
Houzz Tours
Houzz Tour: Rustic Meets Luxury in This 5-Room Flat
Dark and textured finishes transform this apartment to a surprisingly cosy abode
Full Story
Houzz Tours
Houzz Tour: Pastel-Pretty Flat Recalls a Fun Postmodern Aesthetic
The owners wanted something unconventional for their 5-room HDB – and the designers delivered with a flourish
Full Story
Great story Chiquit, and amazing work, SOLID architects!
Some of us are lucky to have heirloom homes!
I can only dream of my grandmother's place at Kim Pong Road at Tiong Bahru was like.
Thank goodness for Lee Kip Lin, via Mr Lai Chee Kien's wonderful book "Through the Lens of Lee Kip Lin" my family now have an image of Kim Pong road before it's destruction.
Thank you Eliot for your comment. We do have an affinity for the apartments in this area. In fact, we have 2 more projects under construction around the same area. Do keep a look out for them!