Inside a Father and Son's Multi-Generational Masterpiece
Architour's House of a Collector, designed by the Qs of RT+Q Architects, was built for a family and their art
Second-generation architect Jonathan Quek collaborated with his father, TK, as well as TK’s long-time business partner Rene Tan – both founders of RT+Q Architects – to design and build a house that would be home to his parents, his family, and their renowned art collection. Over the weekend, Jonathan opened the house to visitors of Architours, and talked about its design. Here, he shares what you missed at the Architour.
Contemporary in form, the house is tropical/vernacular in form: three blocks surround a pool that functions as a central courtyard, passively cooling the spaces that surround it. Materials include wood trellises and timber flooring from Wood Culture, black lava stone from Eartharts, and homogeneous tiles from Rice. RT+Q Architects worked with builder, Builders Trends, to put everything together.
Jonathan describes the design brief:
“The aim was to have two separate autonomous facilities for a mature couple and a family with young children. Although separate, special places for congregation link the family homes together.”
“The aim was to have two separate autonomous facilities for a mature couple and a family with young children. Although separate, special places for congregation link the family homes together.”
“One enters the property onto a respectable drop off in the centre of the staggered, longitudinal blocks. Vertical timber trellis doors open to reveal a sculpture of a winged man sitting in the centre of a large, covered veranda.”
“This leads to the front doors of the two homes on opposite ends.”
“The largest of the three blocks enjoys a double height living room. A 7-metre high wall has mechanised panels that rise and descend, overlapping one another to showcase a variety of paintings. A mezzanine space hovers over, giving spatial drama. A playful sculpture of a hefty man precariously climbing up a ladder overlooking the double height space.
A collection of sliding hidden panels are deployed to reveal, hide and create spaces. This not only saves space but also conceals the functional wet kitchen, powder and store rooms.”
A collection of sliding hidden panels are deployed to reveal, hide and create spaces. This not only saves space but also conceals the functional wet kitchen, powder and store rooms.”
“A combination of glass, timber planks and oversized lava stone rocks were the main palette of materials for the exterior of the home. Big overhanging roof with aluminium cladding gives it tectonic modernity.”
“TK is an avid art collector. The brief included for the art pieces to be spread throughout the house for enjoyment. To see the pieces is to move through the home, allowing the collection to unfold.”
How did you choose which pieces to highlight, and which part of the house to place them in?
“I think the decisions came organically. The winged man in the front was decided after the house was done, as a statement piece that greets visitors.
The fat man on the ladder was a playful idea as he seems to be climbing over the edge of the mezzanine space.
The hanging crucifix with the water feature was planned for. This in contrast with the naked woman under stair which always stirs up a reaction (good and bad). The little boy in the bay window seemed naughty and a good talking piece.”
How did you choose which pieces to highlight, and which part of the house to place them in?
“I think the decisions came organically. The winged man in the front was decided after the house was done, as a statement piece that greets visitors.
The fat man on the ladder was a playful idea as he seems to be climbing over the edge of the mezzanine space.
The hanging crucifix with the water feature was planned for. This in contrast with the naked woman under stair which always stirs up a reaction (good and bad). The little boy in the bay window seemed naughty and a good talking piece.”
Did you demolish the original bungalow? How did you manage the art and antiques during the building period?
“Yes it’s a new house from scratch. Most of the art was stored at our office. A lot of art stacked everywhere.”
Did your wife and children have any input on the design?
“Not so much in the planning but the interior and styling, yes. Right person for the right job.”
How often does your family entertain? How do you manage privacy/noise when you entertain as separate families?
“About once a month. The house is quite separated (visually and acoustically) when we have our own friends over. All the doors slide open and hide away when we want to have it communal especially during Chinese New Year and Christmas when the extended family is over.”
“Yes it’s a new house from scratch. Most of the art was stored at our office. A lot of art stacked everywhere.”
Did your wife and children have any input on the design?
“Not so much in the planning but the interior and styling, yes. Right person for the right job.”
How often does your family entertain? How do you manage privacy/noise when you entertain as separate families?
“About once a month. The house is quite separated (visually and acoustically) when we have our own friends over. All the doors slide open and hide away when we want to have it communal especially during Chinese New Year and Christmas when the extended family is over.”
Did you future-proof this design and how?
“I think good design should be timeless. I think (and hope) we achieved that.”
What were the challenges of working with your father on a very personal project? Do you and him often collaborated on projects?
“Definitely the closest in this one. At RT+Q, TK leads the contracts and administrative things. So this was the first true collaboration from a design standpoint.
Ironically, it was very easy working with my dad. I guess we understand and believe in the same aesthetics. Finding a common ground and having a listening ear is important for any collaboration.”
TELL US
What did you find most striking about this home? Share in the Comments below.
“I think good design should be timeless. I think (and hope) we achieved that.”
What were the challenges of working with your father on a very personal project? Do you and him often collaborated on projects?
“Definitely the closest in this one. At RT+Q, TK leads the contracts and administrative things. So this was the first true collaboration from a design standpoint.
Ironically, it was very easy working with my dad. I guess we understand and believe in the same aesthetics. Finding a common ground and having a listening ear is important for any collaboration.”
TELL US
What did you find most striking about this home? Share in the Comments below.
Who lives here: 4 adults and 3 young kids – TK and his wife, Jonathan and his wife and children
Location: Stevens Road
Size: Approximately 7,500 square feet (697 square metres)
Construction cost: Approximately $3.5 million
Designers: TK Quek, Rene Tan, Jonathan Quek, Jes Ang