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Sumit Singhal
Sumit Singhal loves modern architecture. He comes from a family of builders who have built more than 20 projects in the last ten years near Delhi in India. He has recently started writing about the architectural projects that catch his imagination. #6 in Singapore by Studio Wills + ArchitectsDecember 18th, 2017 by Sumit Singhal
Article source: Studio Wills + Architects #6 is an A&A (Additions and Alterations) to an existing pair of semi-detached houses in the eastern part of Singapore. This pair of houses, ‘mirrored’ along a shared party-wall, became stark contrast in scale when one of the pair was rebuilt, dwarfing its other half. This spurred the owner of the other half to rebuild their house.  The unique deployment of readily available ventilation blocks and simple climatic devices such as deep overhangs in #6 resulted in a sculptural quality for the new extension, Image Courtesy © Beton Brut
 As the sun sets, light seeps through from the interior to accentuate the floating planes and perforated ‘boxes’, Image Courtesy © Beton Brut Planning Guidelines allow houses of 2 storeys and an attic with a permissible aggregate height of 13.1 m (4.5+3.6+5). As the guidelines are imposed on all houses within the neighborhood, every house will be of the same height if they are built to what is permissible. The design objective to make the house appear taller than what is permissible thus became the starting point of #6.  Arriving at a long drive-way of the new ‘extension’, a new flight of steps behind a screen wall, leading up to…, Image Courtesy © Beton Brut  Leaving behind the Car Porch and the road, Image Courtesy © Beton Brut The permissible building volume is sliced by large canopies, with floor lines masked behind ‘bands’ of ventilation blocks formed by the amalgamation of clerestory windows and parapet walls in this building material, resulting in a house with multiple stacked volumes. The placement of ventilation blocks of diminishing sizes from the largest modules within the lowest ‘band’ to the smallest modules in the topmost ‘band’, accentuates the building height through false perspectives.  …to the new attic with a view angled to the main thoroughfare and away from its immediate neighbour, Image Courtesy © Beton Brut  One arrives at an elevated high ceiling Patio, Image Courtesy © Beton Brut Ventilation blocks and deep overhangs, formed by large canopies, are common building material and element in this region evolved from a response to the climatic conditions. Their unique deployment in #6, results in a house which also appears like a sculpture rising amongst the ‘Sea of Houses’ in the neighborhood.  ….And provides visual connections, Image Courtesy © Beton Brut  The new ‘peek-a-boo’ screen conceals and reveals the proceeding spaces as one ascends the original staircase, Image Courtesy © Beton Brut  In the Family Area within the original house, one catches a glimpse of the Master Suite (within the new extension) and a new flight of stairs along the party wall, Image Courtesy © Beton Brut  In the Master Suite, a flight of steps leads up to the resting / sleeping zone elevated above its neighbours. Behind the bedhead is the Master Bath and Walk-in Wardrobe, Image Courtesy © Beton Brut  Looking down, one retraces the path that leads up, Image Courtesy © Beton Brut  A new flight of stairs ‘snakes’ up and leads to the top-most floor…, Image Courtesy © Beton Brut  Stepping into the Living and Dining, the existing staircase, with a new ‘peek-a-boo’ screen that rises over the existing atrium, connects the upper levels, Image Courtesy © Beton Brut  Advancing further into the house, a new covered courtyard takes central position…, Image Courtesy © Beton Brut  Lower & Upper 1st Storey Layout Plans, Image Courtesy © Studio Wills + Architects  Lower & Upper 2nd Storey Layout Plans, Image Courtesy © Studio Wills + Architects  Image Courtesy © Studio Wills + Architects  Image Courtesy © Studio Wills + Architects  Image Courtesy © Studio Wills + Architects
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Tags: Singapore Categories: House, Renovation, Residential |
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