Inventive Small-Space Solutions On the Up in Singapore
In the glittering residential towers of Singapore, innovative and space-savvy ideas prove the sky's the limit
Susan Redman
29 June 2015
Houzz Australia Editorial Staff; writer, author, dreamer.
In the small city-state of Singapore, everyone agrees that the only way is up. It’s been calculated that 85 per cent of the population of 5 million live in high-rise social housing. Built on only 660 square kilometres, the thousands of towers in Singapore compete for space but also for endorsement, with each new one built being more extravagantly appointed than the next. Despite the height of these modern monuments, most of the apartments within are relatively compact. The challenge is to maximise space by creating cleverly designed, ultra-functional living quarters. Singaporean architects and interior designers are especially well-versed in coming up with brilliant solutions to make the most of limited space. See some of their inventive ideas below.
1. Built-in banquettes
This brightly coloured award-winning apartment is part of a vanguard of new Singaporean homes that are being furnished with vivid design elements over more traditional minimalist aesthetics. But the special feature here is the fact that the whole lounge suite has been built into a curvaceous banquette, eliminating the need for living room furniture. Designed and styled by Design Intervention, the rest of the apartment is just as stunning, which is why last year (2014) it was voted ‘Best Home’ by Singapore Tatler Homes and was a finalist in Singapore’s Design and Architecture Awards. Take a look here.
This brightly coloured award-winning apartment is part of a vanguard of new Singaporean homes that are being furnished with vivid design elements over more traditional minimalist aesthetics. But the special feature here is the fact that the whole lounge suite has been built into a curvaceous banquette, eliminating the need for living room furniture. Designed and styled by Design Intervention, the rest of the apartment is just as stunning, which is why last year (2014) it was voted ‘Best Home’ by Singapore Tatler Homes and was a finalist in Singapore’s Design and Architecture Awards. Take a look here.
2. Sunken bath with a view
Many modern apartment towers now feature internal parks and trailing garden walls in a bid to entice city buyers looking for a more ecologically sympathetic residential estate to live in. In this apartment in the ParkRoyal Pickering Singapore, the bathroom looks out onto a lush garden. This luxurious recliner bath from Apaiser is made from a dark hand-finished stone composite marble.
Many modern apartment towers now feature internal parks and trailing garden walls in a bid to entice city buyers looking for a more ecologically sympathetic residential estate to live in. In this apartment in the ParkRoyal Pickering Singapore, the bathroom looks out onto a lush garden. This luxurious recliner bath from Apaiser is made from a dark hand-finished stone composite marble.
3. Elevated bed for a narrow space
Extra square meterage may be at a costly premium in the boutique high-rise apartments of Singapore, but the designers of interior architecture practice 0932 Design Consultants haven’t let that hamper their efforts to squeeze in a double bed into this small apartment. Their novel solution to demarcate the bedroom from an adjoining living area is to raise the bed on a timber dais, which is just a little wider than the bed. The two ‘rooms’ are separated by a divider that contains a bookshelf and a television screen that can be swivelled around (in the picture here you can see the back of the television). A track on the ceiling indicates where white curtains have been hung to create additional privacy when required.
See more of this project
Extra square meterage may be at a costly premium in the boutique high-rise apartments of Singapore, but the designers of interior architecture practice 0932 Design Consultants haven’t let that hamper their efforts to squeeze in a double bed into this small apartment. Their novel solution to demarcate the bedroom from an adjoining living area is to raise the bed on a timber dais, which is just a little wider than the bed. The two ‘rooms’ are separated by a divider that contains a bookshelf and a television screen that can be swivelled around (in the picture here you can see the back of the television). A track on the ceiling indicates where white curtains have been hung to create additional privacy when required.
See more of this project
4. High benchtop dining table
Towering above the streets of Singapore, this glossy high-rise apartment called the Floridian and styled by Linear ID has a dining setting that allows guests to get a high-rise perspective of the apartment and its panoramic city views. A benchtop table not only suits this purpose well but takes up very little floor space – always a bonus in high-rise apartment living.
Towering above the streets of Singapore, this glossy high-rise apartment called the Floridian and styled by Linear ID has a dining setting that allows guests to get a high-rise perspective of the apartment and its panoramic city views. A benchtop table not only suits this purpose well but takes up very little floor space – always a bonus in high-rise apartment living.
5. Faux dado treatment
How do you create a homely statement in an all-white-walled apartment? Create a faux dado. Well, that was one of the tricks used by interior designers Versaform to bring a sense of informal warmth into this home. Traditionally a dado is panelling that covers the lower part of the wall, originally conceived to disguise the part of the wall most likely to stain or be subject to rising damp. A rail was also placed at the top to provide the wall protection from furniture, particularly the backs of chairs. Here the treatment is presented as a modern-day take – a simple painted strip surrounds the room – but still, it’s a great idea to replicate in any apartment that might suffer from austerity, or in this case, the blandness of white walls.
See more of this project
How do you create a homely statement in an all-white-walled apartment? Create a faux dado. Well, that was one of the tricks used by interior designers Versaform to bring a sense of informal warmth into this home. Traditionally a dado is panelling that covers the lower part of the wall, originally conceived to disguise the part of the wall most likely to stain or be subject to rising damp. A rail was also placed at the top to provide the wall protection from furniture, particularly the backs of chairs. Here the treatment is presented as a modern-day take – a simple painted strip surrounds the room – but still, it’s a great idea to replicate in any apartment that might suffer from austerity, or in this case, the blandness of white walls.
See more of this project
6. Glass box bathroom
Looking a little like the latest display at an architects’ design fair, rather than part of the renovation of a Singaporean apartment, this glass box bathroom is actually an unconventional transformation of a master bedroom ensuite, thanks to Singapore multi-disciplinary design office Architology. The timber flooring enhances the gleam of the glass and white-tiled box, rendering it a jewel-like feature in this funky and fashionable unit.
See more of this project
Looking a little like the latest display at an architects’ design fair, rather than part of the renovation of a Singaporean apartment, this glass box bathroom is actually an unconventional transformation of a master bedroom ensuite, thanks to Singapore multi-disciplinary design office Architology. The timber flooring enhances the gleam of the glass and white-tiled box, rendering it a jewel-like feature in this funky and fashionable unit.
See more of this project
7. Screened entry
In order to generate a little privacy for the owners of this Singaporean apartment, interior designers from Versaform created a mini entryway by erecting a simple floor-to-ceiling screen in front of the door. Constructed from narrow vertical posts, the screen also cleverly doubles as a bike rack. For close-up details, see more of this project here.
More screen ideas
In order to generate a little privacy for the owners of this Singaporean apartment, interior designers from Versaform created a mini entryway by erecting a simple floor-to-ceiling screen in front of the door. Constructed from narrow vertical posts, the screen also cleverly doubles as a bike rack. For close-up details, see more of this project here.
More screen ideas
8. Bed and study pod
The platform bed is a concept that is fairly common in most Asian cultures, but combining it with a study pod to create a bed nook is nothing short of genius. Designed by Rezt N Relax Interior, the bed-cum-study combination also cuts down on valuable floor space and, by only providing a part-partition to the bedroom, allows any natural light from the window to penetrate deeper into the apartment.
The platform bed is a concept that is fairly common in most Asian cultures, but combining it with a study pod to create a bed nook is nothing short of genius. Designed by Rezt N Relax Interior, the bed-cum-study combination also cuts down on valuable floor space and, by only providing a part-partition to the bedroom, allows any natural light from the window to penetrate deeper into the apartment.
9. High office
A narrow hall or sunroom can be made to work hard by converting it to an office or study. A well-crafted desk can be built in to save space, and this will rule out the need for purchasing bulky furniture that may not fit the slim confines. Ask your interior designer to locate it up against a window with a view (even if it is just to look at other high-risers) and this will give you a sense of openness as well as provide you with plenty of natural light to work by.
See more of this project
A narrow hall or sunroom can be made to work hard by converting it to an office or study. A well-crafted desk can be built in to save space, and this will rule out the need for purchasing bulky furniture that may not fit the slim confines. Ask your interior designer to locate it up against a window with a view (even if it is just to look at other high-risers) and this will give you a sense of openness as well as provide you with plenty of natural light to work by.
See more of this project
10. Open hallway
Not quite follow the yellow brick road, but this white pathway is certainly an interesting way to create a hallway without walls. Helping to demarcate spaces, such as the dining and lounge rooms, the path-cum-hall also leads the resident to other rooms in the Architology-designed apartment, such as the bedroom or bathroom.
See more of this project
Not quite follow the yellow brick road, but this white pathway is certainly an interesting way to create a hallway without walls. Helping to demarcate spaces, such as the dining and lounge rooms, the path-cum-hall also leads the resident to other rooms in the Architology-designed apartment, such as the bedroom or bathroom.
See more of this project
11. Continuous living
Apartments often suffer from having long narrow spaces that are difficult to furnish. An answer to that dilemma lies in this smartly decorated Singaporean apartment by designer Jonathan Poh. It has long, low built-in joinery along one wall, eliminating the need for a variety of furniture, including an entertainment unit, storage cabinet or a console, freeing up space for must-have pieces such as a couch and dining table.
TELL US
Which of the ideas in these high-rise apartments do you like best and why? Share your thoughts in the Comments.
MORE
17 Clever Design and Decorating Tricks for Compact Apartments
10 Styling Tricks to Create Big Impact When Selling a Small Apartment
10 Things to Look Out for in a New Rental Apartment
Apartments often suffer from having long narrow spaces that are difficult to furnish. An answer to that dilemma lies in this smartly decorated Singaporean apartment by designer Jonathan Poh. It has long, low built-in joinery along one wall, eliminating the need for a variety of furniture, including an entertainment unit, storage cabinet or a console, freeing up space for must-have pieces such as a couch and dining table.
TELL US
Which of the ideas in these high-rise apartments do you like best and why? Share your thoughts in the Comments.
MORE
17 Clever Design and Decorating Tricks for Compact Apartments
10 Styling Tricks to Create Big Impact When Selling a Small Apartment
10 Things to Look Out for in a New Rental Apartment
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