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Project #4: Case Study for a Sustainable, Multi-Generational Home
Flexibility in spatial planning and passive design strategies were key to achieving a Green Mark for this family home
Chiquit Brammall
11 December 2019
Design journalist and freelance editor. Dollhouse architect. Serial renter.
Photos by Finbarr Fallon and Albert Lim KS
Several challenges faced architects William Ng, Kho Keguang and Wu Shan Yat of Studio Wills + Architects when they were commissioned by the developer, Capitaland Singapore, to design this bungalow. This was to be the second of two landmark houses among identical, semi-detached houses in the development. Studio Wills + Architects also designed the first, called Project #3, as the apex in the string of identical blocks.
Secondly, this house was to be on a triangular plot of land.
More importantly, two households or families – presumably a nuclear family and extended family – were intended to share this bungalow. “The schedule of accommodation was a standard six bedrooms (including master and junior master), living, dining, kitchens (dry & wet/Asian), entertainment room, family room and ancillary areas,” Ng says.
Additionally, as with all new builds in Singapore, this house had to follow Green Mark guidelines set by the Building and Construction Authority (BCA).
Secondly, this house was to be on a triangular plot of land.
More importantly, two households or families – presumably a nuclear family and extended family – were intended to share this bungalow. “The schedule of accommodation was a standard six bedrooms (including master and junior master), living, dining, kitchens (dry & wet/Asian), entertainment room, family room and ancillary areas,” Ng says.
Additionally, as with all new builds in Singapore, this house had to follow Green Mark guidelines set by the Building and Construction Authority (BCA).
To address the triangular plot of land whilst maximising the amount of buildable space – and without creating the typical flat-iron shape – Ng’s team fragmented the spaces into a flower-like pattern. This also allowed for passive design strategies to be implemented. Ng says that the design achieved BCA Green Mark Certification through a focus primarily on passive design strategies such as:
- Optimal Window/ Wall Ratio
- Extensive Shading Device (motorised external blinds)
- Effective Cross-ventilation
- Ample Daylight.
The two households/families enjoy private and communal spaces. For an older household, grandparents for example, the basement would be ideal. It is self-contained, with a kitchen, dining and living area, and has easy access to the car park.
Even at basement level, a pocket garden is provided, so this household still has its refreshing green spots.
On the first storey is the communal spaces – shared kitchen, dining, living and entertainment areas – plus a guest bedroom for the nuclear household/family.
Having these private and communal spaces, which Ng identifies as ‘Autonomous Spatial Design’ is the key to sustainability. “By incorporating flexibility in the organisation of spaces and equipping the house with a comfortable equation of communality and privacy, it enables individuals – even complete strangers – to co-exist/ live harmoniously. As such, the house could be organised over the life of the building and as the family composition changes over time (elders pass away, juniors grow up, get married and form their own nuclear family and yet choose to stay with their elders),” he says.
Having these private and communal spaces, which Ng identifies as ‘Autonomous Spatial Design’ is the key to sustainability. “By incorporating flexibility in the organisation of spaces and equipping the house with a comfortable equation of communality and privacy, it enables individuals – even complete strangers – to co-exist/ live harmoniously. As such, the house could be organised over the life of the building and as the family composition changes over time (elders pass away, juniors grow up, get married and form their own nuclear family and yet choose to stay with their elders),” he says.
A lap pool borders one side of this communal space, and it culminates in a dip pool with a mock infinity edge. The water helps to keep the house cool as well.
Because this house is intended to be used by several generations, the materials have to be durable. The architects used Lubana marble for living, dining and bathroom floors, engineered oak timber flooring for the bedrooms, entertainment and family room, homogeneous tiles for the floors of the kitchen and ancillary/ support areas, Balau timber for external decking and granolithic floors for the external areas.
Because this house is intended to be used by several generations, the materials have to be durable. The architects used Lubana marble for living, dining and bathroom floors, engineered oak timber flooring for the bedrooms, entertainment and family room, homogeneous tiles for the floors of the kitchen and ancillary/ support areas, Balau timber for external decking and granolithic floors for the external areas.
Bedrooms for the nuclear family are on the second storey, and a third storey also has another guest bedroom.
While Studio Wills + Architects worked with the developer, Ng says that the homeowners moved in without extensive fitting-out to the interiors, sticking to what was designed.
“The material palette is generally muted and understated resulting in a house interior as ‘blank canvas’ for the owners to personalise the interior spaces. More importantly, it is the Autonomous Spatial Design that enables its owners to organise/ reorganise the spaces to suit their lifestyle, family
composition over the course of the building life,” Ng says
See more of this project
Tell us
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“The material palette is generally muted and understated resulting in a house interior as ‘blank canvas’ for the owners to personalise the interior spaces. More importantly, it is the Autonomous Spatial Design that enables its owners to organise/ reorganise the spaces to suit their lifestyle, family
composition over the course of the building life,” Ng says
See more of this project
Tell us
Like this landmark house? Tell us in the Comments below. And don’t forget to save your favourite images, save the story, and join in the conversation..
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