Side by side

Just as no two building sites are the same, so every architectural solution is different sometimes traditional concepts are pushed aside in favour of a layout that works on a whole new level.

Such was the case with this house, designed by architect Melanie Francis of Tow Francis in Singapore.

"This was a very sloping corner site," Francis says. "The existing house was to be demolished and the owners preferred to shift the original entry from the busy street to the other quieter road. We also had to work around mature trees on the roadside perimeter of the site."

To achieve these objectives, while also providing the interior space required by a family with five children, the architect came up with a design that essentially splits the house into two parallel volumes linked by a glass bridge.

"Creating two wings brought many advantages," says Francis. "It created a central courtyard where we could position the swimming pool, which is the focal point of both wings. It also enabled us to provide a degree of separation between the parents' and children's accommodation. The master suite is on one side, while the remaining bedrooms are on the other."

Another benefit was the way the design reduced the apparent mass of the house, which is more then 650m².

"The house doesn't look too imposing or overwhelming, despite its large size," says the architect. "The slope of the land also means the house is stepped over many different levels, which helps to reduce the perceived mass. This adds visual interest as well, and helps to define the different living spaces."

Francis says that although the owners wanted a clean-lined, modern house, it needed to reflect a tropical vernacular.

"Many of the contemporary houses built in the neighbourhood are all glass and steel. That wasn't the look they wanted the house needed to feel warm."

For this reason, a natural, textural granite was introduced to the exterior. This forms the columns and a large wall that slices through the entry to the inside. It also reappears on a solid wall beside the pool. Other textural elements include timber battens that form a sunscreen and provide privacy on the top floor of the glazed bridging element at night the bridge looks like a lantern. There is also wood within the house. The flooring in the bridge and bedrooms is Burmese teak.

In keeping with the owners' desire for a tropical ambience, most rooms are positioned to maximise an attractive outlook. More often than not, this is a view of the koi pond or swimming pool beside the main living room. Even the fully glazed stairwell appears suspended above the koi pool.

"Although modern, the house is rather formal in the way it is laid out," Francis says. "The living room is stepped down from the dining room and kitchen, while the ceiling is on the same level. This makes the living room one-and-a-half storeys high, creating a sense of grandeur. High clerestory windows also ensure the room is light filled. With large overhangs and tall windows in every room, the house can be opened up easily and cooled by breezes passing through."

Because the owners love to cook and entertain, there is just one large family kitchen. Francis says this is a highly social space where the whole family comes together for casual meals and snacks.

"The woman owner loves colour, so we introduced a warm pumpkin quartz benchtop and gold-toned mosaic tiles on an accent wall. These are teamed with acrylic cabinets in a subdued soft grey, and a stainless steel splashback."

Story by: Colleen Hawkes