In this Singapore House, Walls Twist and Turn
Ming Architects employed the leitmotif of curves to bring interest, natural light and a sense of lightness into this inter-terrace plot
The internal scheme of this inter-terrace house in Singapore designed by Ming Architects is not unlike a traditional shophouse, where a courtyard with an airwell punctuates the long and narrow plot. Like the vernacular precedent, the gesture introduces daylight and improves the livability and spatial qualities, says founder Tan Cher Ming.
The airwell’s vented skylight dispels heat, cooling the interiors. But more than creating a functional void in the section and plan, Tan has brought beauty to this spot in the home by sculpting hard edges into soft curves. ‘The carving process created sculptural forms left behind, resulting in a curved organic interior across the atrium, bridge and staircase,’ he says.
It helps that the homeowners were open to novel ideas. ‘They wanted something more interesting and atypical than the usual requirements, such as maxing out the livable areas. They were also receptive to us exploring different forms, textures, et cetera,’ says Tan. They had listed a courtyard in their brief with a tree in the space, specifically a Ficus longifolia, which offers a pretty view of a tree canopy from the first-storey bedrooms and attic-level main bedroom.
The ground level is not large but offers many delightful moments: a small garden at the rear framed through full-height glass windows; a sensuous material mix of fair-face off-form concrete party walls, white marble floors and brushed oak timber ceilings; bulbous lamps in the dining space that float like white bubbles in space; and a curving wall that guides one through the home’s length.
Curves are a key motif, beginning from the facade with rounded corners of beams, balconies and balustrades. Along the driveway, a raised planter has its edges chamfered. The dining table and dry kitchen counter on the ground level, the bathroom counters and an open walk-in wardrobe in the main bedroom all express sinuous forms. Throughout, mirrors, lamps and joinery heed the theme.
Within this scheme, varied tactility keeps the curves interesting. The staircase is fabricated from steel plates and perforated metal panels, making it porous for light but also a screen for privacy. These glossy materials contrast with terrazzo tiles on the treads, risers and surrounding walls and barriers. ‘They provide durability, ease of maintenance and natural beauty,’ says Tan.
Walking through, one also notes a dedication to simplicity in the design, but as ever, simplicity can be deceptive. ‘To complement the curved forms, we kept our detailing simple so we could showcase the materials in their most natural yet “complex” forms,’ says Tan. ‘But curves are never straightforward, and some parts could only be created by hand. Fortunately, the homeowner allowed sufficient time to achieve the quality we specified, and we’re happy with the result.’
Text by Luo Jingmei
Images by Studio Periphery
