Houzz Tours
Houzz Tour: This 27-Year Old HDB Flat Finally Sees the Light of Day
The once-dark family home is now flooded with real and illusionary rays of light
For over 20 years, this three-bedroom flat was shrouded in darkness by the covered windows that the owners put up for privacy as well as by the surrounding tall buildings. This same family of four came to Studio Wills + Architects recently as it was time for a dramatic change.
William Ng, the principal architect, together with co-designers Kho Keguang and Wu Shan Yat agreed that the flat was in dire need of a revamp and that it was time to shed some light into the dark interior. Their solution involves brightening the space through a matrix of “light boxes. These “light boxes” are openings in the ceiling with artificial lighting that mimic natural light.
The owner made a request to keep the existing broken marble flooring for sentimental reasons. This “prompted the choice of a cool palette of white and grey to complement the existing flooring,” says Ng. “The surfaces of all cabinets and large sliding panels are adorned with a series of diagonal patterns in the chosen palette, creating illusionary rays of light that seemingly illuminate all the spaces and bind the entire interior as one.”
William Ng, the principal architect, together with co-designers Kho Keguang and Wu Shan Yat agreed that the flat was in dire need of a revamp and that it was time to shed some light into the dark interior. Their solution involves brightening the space through a matrix of “light boxes. These “light boxes” are openings in the ceiling with artificial lighting that mimic natural light.
The owner made a request to keep the existing broken marble flooring for sentimental reasons. This “prompted the choice of a cool palette of white and grey to complement the existing flooring,” says Ng. “The surfaces of all cabinets and large sliding panels are adorned with a series of diagonal patterns in the chosen palette, creating illusionary rays of light that seemingly illuminate all the spaces and bind the entire interior as one.”
To the left of the foyer is the living room, which is one of the few spaces in the flat that enjoys natural daylight. The diagonal on the wall panel is painted on and carefully designed to resemble a ray of light streaming in from the window. Recessed and surface-mounted ceiling lights enhance the tranquil atmosphere. The tone-on-tone treatment visually broadens the space.
Slide the panel open and lo and behold, a study is revealed. The previous study stood oddly within the living and dining space, so the owner requested to have a dedicated space for it. She also wished for a piano nook for her daughter. The team converted the balcony into a now-you-see-it-now-you-don’t concept for the study. The piano nook is right across the study.
Cloudy lounge chair by Mater, Mater stool, Mater Bowl side table and Type 75 floor lamp: all from Inhabitant
Cloudy lounge chair by Mater, Mater stool, Mater Bowl side table and Type 75 floor lamp: all from Inhabitant
“The same shade of grey can present itself very differently on different materials: powder-coating on steel, aluminium, laminate, paint, PVC blinds, fabric trim, veins in the marble or Caesarstone countertop. Whether the surface is vertical or horizontal also matters,” says Ng. A lot of work went to ensure that the right shade of grey was chosen to convey subtlety or richness for each specific space, he adds.
The designers adopted a gradational concept to appoint the different grey hues. “The grey gets darker as it shifts further away from the light source (natural or artificial),” says Ng. The darkest shade of grey was used for deeply recessed spaces, such as the study nook.
Original 1227 Mini Desk Lamp by Anglepoise, and Strato Chair by Maxdesign: Inhabitant. Homogeneous tiles: Rice Fields
Original 1227 Mini Desk Lamp by Anglepoise, and Strato Chair by Maxdesign: Inhabitant. Homogeneous tiles: Rice Fields
At the heart of the home, in the dining space, is a ceiling ‘light box’. This cove lighting casts more illusionary rays of light and gives a sense of depth.
One of the design requirements was for an open-concept kitchen that could be enclosed when needed. The designer responded by removing existing walls and doors. “In its place, a set of pocket sliding glass doors was
introduced to enclose the kitchen when the owners need to cook up a storm,” says Ng. This way, the dining space and kitchen look and feel more connected.
introduced to enclose the kitchen when the owners need to cook up a storm,” says Ng. This way, the dining space and kitchen look and feel more connected.
Daylight that streams in the service yard also reaches the kitchen. Under-cabinet lights not only increase efficiency as the owners prep and cook, but also help brighten up dim corners.
Homogenous tiles: Rice Fields; Countertop and backsplash: Caesarstone
Homogenous tiles: Rice Fields; Countertop and backsplash: Caesarstone
Right across the kitchen is the second bedroom, which is occupied by the owner’s sister.
Like in the communal spaces, a diagonal block is painted across the wardrobe doors to create an illusion of a beam of light, enhancing the existing daylight.
The bed is built into a niche beside the wardrobe. The dark grey hue creates a restful, cocooning effect.
The master bedroom is shared by the mom and the daughter. White and grey doors hide the spacious wardrobe, which is finished in a warm hue.
The absence of bright colours may seem unusual for an all-female home, but the cool palette and the play of light and shade provide a unique softness and motif to this once gloomy home. Ng explains, “One of the brief requirements was an interior which is easy to maintain, and grey, being the colour of dust, is an appropriate choice of colour. We have gathered from experience that dark colours like black are the most difficult to maintain. Grey also fits well into the concept of light and shade.”
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Houzz at a Glance
Who lives here: A mother and her daughter, her own mother and her younger sister
Location: Bishan
Size: 108 square metres (1,163 square feet)
Project duration: 6 months
The foyer gives a preview of the “light box” concept used throughout the home. The mood is quiet and subdued as are the colours.