This Singapore Home Epitomises Quiet Reflection
A highly intentional intervention by design studio Authors has transformed this modest HDB apartment in Singapore into a space that celebrates the calm passing of time
One word that crops up frequently when designer Kang Rong Au describes this Singapore home is ‘quiet’. From his initial encounters with the homeowners to the overall result, a sense of calm and understatement pervades the project.
‘They weren’t looking for trend or spectacle, but for a home that holds space for their values: authenticity, introspection and a reverence for both the past and the potential of what’s to come,’ says Au, whose firm Authors reimagined the interiors of the modest HDB property in Punggol. ‘Their days unfold slowly and they share a love for art, culture and thoughtful living. Every object they own, every routine they follow, is intended not for show but for resonance.’
The couple envisioned a home that was both open and intimate, with emotional depth rather than visual opulence, says the designer. ‘They were drawn to elemental materials, honest textures, and a design language that allows light and proportion to shape the mood.’ The design approach eschews the enclosed style that’s become popular in the city, using the city-fringe location as a breathing space. Au selected materials and techniques that honour the utilitarian, drawing on a modernist post-independence design legacy of ‘honesty, elemental expression and responsiveness to climate’. Structurally, the main manifestation of this approach was removing walls to create a flexible, multifunctional interior.
Raw finishes and honest detailing predominate, as does a palette of concrete, wood and steel. ‘The palette favours materials that age with quiet dignity and deepen in character over time,’ notes Au: cement screed flows from interior to exterior, grounding the space; sepia-toned cabinetry introduces warmth and subtle contrast, responding to shifting natural light throughout the day; and textural richness plays a central role. ‘Each surface is designed to invite touch, to evolve with use and to register the passing of time in quiet, beautiful ways,’ explains Au.
Similarly, the artworks and furnishings were selected deliberately, with the intention of creating ‘an evolving collection of objects and gestures, each piece carrying a story, a memory or a moment of joy,’ as Au says. Bespoke works are also woven in subtly, such as the bedroom’s full-height birch feature wall that conceals storage while softening the interior with its clean lines and tactile finish. In the bathroom, envisioned as a miniature onsen retreat, a lower ceiling and cove lighting evoke a sense of stillness and intimacy, creating an immersive, almost ritualistic space.
But for all of these deeply intentional interventions, the designer’s favourite element is not part of the build. ‘Perhaps the most moving moment happens in the light,’ he says. ‘There’s a particular time of day, just before dusk, when sunlight filters through the bamboo blinds and falls softly over the textured walls and cabinets. The entire space seems to exhale. That choreography of light and texture, against such a restrained backdrop, always reminds us why we designed it this way. It’s quiet, but deeply moving.’
Text by Philip Annetta
Images by Marcus Lim
