Home In Singapore's Metropolis Uses Origami to Draw Great Air And Lighting

The requirement was to create a house that would preserve a certain amount of seclusion for the owner while also being exposed to greenery, ventilation, and natural light, as most typical small landed residences in Singapore are street-fronting and densely packed together with adjacent houses. The new home was separated from its adjoining semi-detached house to allow for additional air and illumination, which was made possible by the enormous site size.

The 6500 ft² Perforated House by AR43 Architects, located on Singapore's northern outskirts, exemplifies a quiet haven in the middle of a bustling metropolis.

The home was designed as an elevated box constructed of solid off-form concrete with several pockets of green space weaved throughout. Perforations were also employed as an architectural technique to manage the degree of seclusion, light, and ventilation throughout the dwelling.

The more private rooms were programmed to be elevated above ground level, and the green spaces serve as a barrier between the inside and outside, sheltering the interior spaces from street noise and pedestrians. The internal areas open up to the surrounding nature, blurring the line between inside and out and allowing for plenty of natural light and airflow. Vertically tilted sunshades were purposely intended to allow morning light to pass in while blocking views from surrounding houses in locations where additional seclusion is necessary.

The living room's open layout represents the owners' warm hospitality and way of life, ensuring that they have the flexibility and space to accommodate visitors on a regular basis. A excellent flow of inside-out and outside-in areas allows visitors to engage in larger groups in a seamless atmosphere, while pockets of quieter corners give much-needed intimacy among close friends.

The owner, a retired engineer, spends much of his free time playing a variety of musical instruments, and he has a few legendary items in his own collection. An acoustically constructed music studio was developed to satisfy the client's love of music and want for a good exhibition place for his instruments. It was intended to allow for concerts and jamming sessions without disturbing the neighbors.

The rooftop open area was created by splicing a standard roof form into an origami shape, extending the garden space from the family lounge to the attic level. The owner may have an afternoon tea while taking in the spectacular sunset view of the whole estate from this tranquil hideaway beneath the roof.

Photographs by Studio Periphery.