Houzz Tour: A Minimalist Home in Singapore Connects With Nature
With an interior water feature and leafy views at every turn, this modern house epitomizes indoor-outdoor living
The four-month-long renovation of this two-story semidetached house in Singapore sought to give it a new lease on life. “After living here for 20 years, the client came to us to do a major revamp. With the children all grown up and the family’s lifestyle changed, the house needed to be updated to match their current needs,” says Kelvin Lim of interior design studio Atelier Here.
“The owner is a retiree living here with her husband and their two children, who are both young adults. She devotes much of her time to volunteering at her church and hosts prayer sessions at home,” Lim says.
It was, therefore, important for the owners to have spaces that are openly connected and that can accommodate numerous guests.
Find a designer for your home renovation
It was, therefore, important for the owners to have spaces that are openly connected and that can accommodate numerous guests.
Find a designer for your home renovation
Upon entering through the main door, guests see the hallway, with its family altar. Daylight flows through this pristine and quiet area, which is screened from the rest of the house by a 26-foot-long bookcase.
A tree and the bronze domed altar provide a spatial and spiritual anchor for the long, linear room.
A water trough also adds to the serenity, reflecting the light and bringing the sound of trickling water throughout the house.
A tree and the bronze domed altar provide a spatial and spiritual anchor for the long, linear room.
A water trough also adds to the serenity, reflecting the light and bringing the sound of trickling water throughout the house.
Beyond the bookcase is a double-height living area. “The grid-patterned white sun screen pixelates the park foliage into moving glimpses of greenery,” Lim says.
“Illuminated by daylight from the side garden, filtered light from the front and the skylight above, the nature of this space changes as the natural light it receives subtly shifts throughout the day.”
The screen, similar in function to a clerestory window, is supplemented by a wall of glass panels.
“Illuminated by daylight from the side garden, filtered light from the front and the skylight above, the nature of this space changes as the natural light it receives subtly shifts throughout the day.”
The screen, similar in function to a clerestory window, is supplemented by a wall of glass panels.
The staircase stands in the middle of the living area, but its glass balustrades prevent it from being a visual distraction. Rather, the staircase complements the other glass panels that surround the space to create an airy living and entertaining zone.
Modern, streamlined and neutral-toned furnishings and fixtures play up the height of the space and the predominantly off-white interior surfaces. The clean palette extends to the kitchen beyond, which also serves as a social hub.
Get tips for choosing a ceiling fan that will work in your space
Get tips for choosing a ceiling fan that will work in your space
The bookshelf partitions are designed to mimic the gridded sections of the house’s facade.
A couple of steps from the living room and right beside the kitchen is the dining room. “Facing a green wall, it’s designed as a nook within the side garden, to blur the distinction between indoor and outdoor dining with the glass doors open,” Lim says.
Browse dining furniture
Browse dining furniture
A wooden deck wraps around the living and dining spaces, further creating a visual link to the outdoors.
The designer situated the study on the bridge atrium on the second floor. The balcony cantilevers above the carport, as if bringing the park into the interior.
“The canopies of rain trees frame the intimate study, providing a seemingly private view of the lush greenery beyond,” Lim says.
“The canopies of rain trees frame the intimate study, providing a seemingly private view of the lush greenery beyond,” Lim says.
“Colors and textures are kept to a minimum in a palette that’s intentionally restrained. A suspended planter provides the sole visual focus, with its opening into the sky,” Lim says.
The second story and gable roof are new additions, enabling the house to literally stand out from among its neighbors.
The daughter’s bedroom is on this floor and faces the park in front of the house.
The daughter’s bedroom is on this floor and faces the park in front of the house.
This level is also designed with the family’s entertaining lifestyle in mind, with a light-filled living space.
The living space extends to the roof deck. It provides more room for large gatherings and gives a spectacular view of the neighborhood and the hill beyond.
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Who lives here: A couple in their 50s and their two adult children
Location: Ang Mo Kio, Singapore
Size: 3,767 square feet (350 square meters)
Designer: Kelvin Lim of Atelier Here
The home’s main asset is its superb location, tucked between a park at the front and a forested hill at the rear. With the full support of the owners, Lim designed the house to bring in expansive views of the surrounding greenery. The living spaces flow into one another to suit the family’s active social life.