Room Tour: A Dynamic Space Makes Room for Work and Play
Two zones are seamlessly connected by the warmth of timber flooring
What happens when a couple, who are both architecturally trained, design their own home? In the case of Liew Kok Fong and Christy Ong, an interesting collaboration ensued. “We spent two to three years designing it, while waiting for the five-room flat to be built by the HDB. We debated a lot,” shares Liew, who runs Studio Super Safari. For two people who live and breathe design, such discourse is inevitable. But in the end, what really mattered is that the couple concurred that their home should be a clean and calm sanctuary, and that the main spaces should balance work and play.
From the main entrance, the apartment opens to the studio, which is Liew’s home office. A three-metre long table serves as a desk for him and his colleagues during the work week.
The versatile table also functions as the owners’ dining space. It also transforms into a craft area for the couple (and their friends) who spend their weekends experimenting with leather craftwork, colouring pattern books, paper models, and indoor gardening.
“Some visitors note that there is a Japanese aesthetic to the home,” says Liew. Indeed, the minimalist outlook is brought about by the clean lines, the white walls, the pleated ‘paper’ blinds on the windows, and the timber flooring that runs from the main door to the bedroom. This teak flooring, composed of timber pieces ranging from 60 to 50 centimetres in length, was sourced from Myanmar. “We called this house the “Floor House”, because the timber surface stretches and connects all internal spaces seamlessly,” says Liew.
“Some visitors note that there is a Japanese aesthetic to the home,” says Liew. Indeed, the minimalist outlook is brought about by the clean lines, the white walls, the pleated ‘paper’ blinds on the windows, and the timber flooring that runs from the main door to the bedroom. This teak flooring, composed of timber pieces ranging from 60 to 50 centimetres in length, was sourced from Myanmar. “We called this house the “Floor House”, because the timber surface stretches and connects all internal spaces seamlessly,” says Liew.
While the studio clearly embraces an uncluttered look, it is not devoid of personality. Conversation starters fill the shelves, including the owners’ architectural cardboard models, and designer collectibles from their travels, such as pottery and framed woodblock prints from Japan and Taiwan.
A touch of greenery, in the form of an indoor garden, gives the space a lived-in feel. “The garden has – since the time of the photo shoot – blossomed into a lush green backdrop comprised of various plant species collected on our travels,” says Liew.
A touch of greenery, in the form of an indoor garden, gives the space a lived-in feel. “The garden has – since the time of the photo shoot – blossomed into a lush green backdrop comprised of various plant species collected on our travels,” says Liew.
Next to the work-dining space is the living-cum-TV room, where the play happens. The room, where the owners and their guests can sit comfortably and recline, is set on a platform by Systemind.
To complete the cosy lounge experience, the middle modules can be raised to become a coffee table.
The platform also doubles as a functional grid of storage. Underneath is plenty of space for the owners to put away the bulk of their belongings, from clothes and toiletries to dive gear.
The platform also doubles as a functional grid of storage. Underneath is plenty of space for the owners to put away the bulk of their belongings, from clothes and toiletries to dive gear.
By bringing minimalism and functionality to the fore, the spaces will see more personal touches in the future, and will age and grow with the owners – which was their objective from the very beginning.
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What did you find most striking in this space? Share in the Comments below.
Who lives here: Liew Kok Fong and Christy Ong, who are both architecturally trained
Location: Yishun
Size: Total house area – 1,181 square feet (110 square metres); Living space + studio – 690 square feet (64 square metres)
Project duration: about 4 months
The revamp involved a major alteration in the original floor plan. “We removed all the possible internal walls that was permitted by the authorities, and built new ones. The original bedroom corridor, two smaller bedrooms, and the kitchen wall were demolished and reconfigured into the large work-dining space that opens out to the kitchen, another large living lounge, and a small bedroom at the end of the flat,” says Liew.