The Black-and-White House Bears Witness to our History
This iconic archetype dates back to our colonial beginnings, but is now very uniquely Singaporean
A composite of the climate-sensitive indigenous architecture and the mock Tudor or Tudorbethan style – ‘Tropical Mock Tudor’ as author and architecture historian Julian Davison identifies in his book, Black and White: The Singapore House 1898-1941 – the black and white house can be traced as far back as 1898. Built during British colonial rule, it has seen Singapore grow from a colonial outpost to an independent and then first-world nation.
Although built as housing for British civil servants and expats during colonial times, the black-and-whites have stood the test of time, surviving battles (a world war; racial riots) and countless typhoons. Many were used as detention cells for prisoners of war, infirmaries and command posts during World War II.
Different enclaves were built for different British groups, says Jane Iyer, who coordinates black-and-white tours for local legend Geraldene’s Tours. For example, the houses on Mount Pleasant were designed for high-ranking officers of the police force. Today, however, black-and-white enclaves are considered conservation areas, says Iyer. They are owned by the government and rented out usually to corporate or expat tenants.
Because of their conservation status, the exteriors of black-and-white houses have to be preserved. And because of their steep rental rates, few residents will invest in full-on interior renovations. Here are three that worked around these challenges.
Because of their conservation status, the exteriors of black-and-white houses have to be preserved. And because of their steep rental rates, few residents will invest in full-on interior renovations. Here are three that worked around these challenges.
1. Black-and-white outside; full colour inside
Houzz at a Glance
Who lives here: A British designer and her family
Size: 325 square metres (3,500 square feet); total land area is 743 square metres (8,000 square feet)
Scope of work: Interior renovation and decor
Project duration: 8 weeks
Elizabeth Acland of boutique interior design house E & A Interiors infused her home with a lovely mix of British throwback-to-colonial-style and bold contemporary touches.
Houzz at a Glance
Who lives here: A British designer and her family
Size: 325 square metres (3,500 square feet); total land area is 743 square metres (8,000 square feet)
Scope of work: Interior renovation and decor
Project duration: 8 weeks
Elizabeth Acland of boutique interior design house E & A Interiors infused her home with a lovely mix of British throwback-to-colonial-style and bold contemporary touches.
2. A rental-friendly makeover
Houzz at a Glance
Who lives here: A British couple with three children and their two dogs
Location: Berkshire Road
Size: 316 square metres (3400 square feet); total land area is 2,044 square metres (22,000 square feet)
Scope of work: Interior styling
Project duration: Five days, from the first consultation to the day of installation (the entire installation was completed within one afternoon)
Caroline Chin-Geyler, founder and head stylist of Arete Culture had only ten days to transform the interiors of this black-and-white house.
Houzz at a Glance
Who lives here: A British couple with three children and their two dogs
Location: Berkshire Road
Size: 316 square metres (3400 square feet); total land area is 2,044 square metres (22,000 square feet)
Scope of work: Interior styling
Project duration: Five days, from the first consultation to the day of installation (the entire installation was completed within one afternoon)
Caroline Chin-Geyler, founder and head stylist of Arete Culture had only ten days to transform the interiors of this black-and-white house.
3. The mock black-and-white
Houzz at a Glance
Who lives here: David, his wife and two children
Location: Maryland Drive
Size: 1,405 square metres (land area) / 882 square metres (built-up area)
Scope of work: New build
Project duration: About 2.5 years (construction was 15 months)
Architect Aamer Taher of Aamer Architects designed a new structure for the owner who had always dreamed of living in a traditional black-and-white, but couldn’t buy one.
Houzz at a Glance
Who lives here: David, his wife and two children
Location: Maryland Drive
Size: 1,405 square metres (land area) / 882 square metres (built-up area)
Scope of work: New build
Project duration: About 2.5 years (construction was 15 months)
Architect Aamer Taher of Aamer Architects designed a new structure for the owner who had always dreamed of living in a traditional black-and-white, but couldn’t buy one.
Take the Houzz Tour
TELL US
Would you live in a black-and-white house if you could afford it? If not, what Singapore icon would you rather live in? Share in the Comments section.
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Case Study: Restoring a Conservation Shophouse
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TELL US
Would you live in a black-and-white house if you could afford it? If not, what Singapore icon would you rather live in? Share in the Comments section.
MORE
Case Study: Restoring a Conservation Shophouse
Browse Singapore homes
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Note the black half-timber elements on the white plaster facade – a characteristic of the Tudorbethan revival eagerly adapted by architects of the British Public Works Department (PWD) posted here at the time.
Deep verandahs are another key feature of black-and-white bungalows; for the British officers or civil servants and their families living here, passive cooling was a necessity to survive their tropical posting. In addition to deep verandahs, many black-and-white houses had louvred windows or plantation shutters, latticed clerestories and deep eaves.