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MCI (P) 083/10/2023. Published by SPH Media Limited, Co. Regn. No. 202120748H. Copyright © 2023 SPH Media Limited. All rights reserved.

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How a team of architects designed a round house in Tanglin Road

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Lifestyle

How a team of architects designed a round house in Tanglin Road

This unique bungalow, which sits on a circular site, features a waterfall, a home theatre, lots of greenery and privacy from its neighbours.

by Tay Suan Chiang  /   August 14, 2022

With over 20 years of experience designing homes, the team at Wallflower Architecture + Design have built on almost every shape and size of land imaginable. Square, rectangular or odd-shaped, big or small, they’ve done it all, maximising the space of the site each time.

So they were more than a little intrigued when a client approached them with an unusual circular site — an architectural rarity in Singapore.

(Related: Luxury Homes: A house featuring an open-air aviary for the owner’s beloved free-roaming parrots)

A round house believed to be the only one of its kind in Singapore

An aerial view of the Tanglin Road C-shaped house and its green roof. PHOTO: RAYDEN ONG PHOTOGRAPHY
An aerial view of the C-shaped house and its green roof. Photo: Rayden Ong Photography

“In all our years of practice, we had never seen anything like it,” says co-founder Robin Tan of the land off Tanglin Road. “The site is a perfect circle from the top. We have checked and believe this is the only one of its kind in Singapore.”

He adds: “Our guess is that the original developer placed a drawing compass in the centre of the map, drew a 15,000 square feet circle and subdivided the adjacent land radiating from this circle.”

After living in the house at Tanglin Road for 30 years, the client faced issues including cracks and leaks.

The pool had also been left unused for years, and the family also felt the need for an elevator. Therefore, they decided to seek the team at Wallflower Architecture + Design to tackle the issues and revamp their house.

Since they were already planning to rebuild the entire house, the family also asked for various new features. These include a waterfall feature, a home theatre, as well as lots of greenery and privacy from its neighbours.  

(Related: This Orchard Road property showcases how a house can be built for the tropics)

https://www.thepeakmagazine.com.sg/gallery/lifestyle/round-house-singapore-circular-site-interior-design/
How a team of architects designed a round house in Tanglin Road
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For the architects, it wasn’t just the shape of the land that was tricky, but also that it slopes down into a valley. But the latter provided them with the perfect location to place the waterfall.

Tan and his team designed a C-shaped house, with a water garden and pool as the courtyard, embracing the unusual shape of the land.

Marc Tey Photography
image

“We subdivided the plot into three parallel zones, instead of in a radial direction. The former allows for more effective use of space, minimising as much curved surfaces as possible, while the latter results in segmented quadrant spaces which require more customised furniture,” says Tan.

When viewed on the floor plan, the house has a front wing, a water garden/courtyard, and a rear wing.

Related: House Tour: A 32-year-old Joo Chiat townhouse’s modern makeover

Marc Tey Photography
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Recreational spaces for the family are found in the basement. These include an 8-seater home theatre, a kids’ play area and a multipurpose hall. Just outside the theatre is a small water garden which lets natural light and air into the basement.

Marc Tey Photography
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The first floor houses the living and dining rooms, separated by the swimming pool. The waterfall is next to the pool, and the water flows 4m down to the basement and into the water garden below.

Marc Tey Photography
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There are 2 spacious bedrooms on the second floor, one in the front wing and the other in the rear. 

Finally, in the attic, there is a bedroom in one wing, while the other wing houses back of house facilities. All 3 bedrooms look out to the pool and the neighbourhood.

Related: House Tour: A Good Class Bungalow that’s built around mature trees on its land

Marc Tey Photography
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The facade of the house is cladded in moveable teak wood screens, that not only provide the rooms with privacy, but sunshading too.

As the plot of the land didn’t allow for lawns, the team incorporated greenery in innovative ways. For example, hanging plants outside the bedrooms add a layer of privacy and soften the facade around the swimming pool.

Marc Tey Photography
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There is greenery on the roof in the form of synthetic turf. This not only softens the roofscape, but is a welcome sight for the neighbours too. “We even had a neighbour thanking us for greening the roof,” says architect Sean Zheng.

The family moved into their new home just before the Covid-19 pandemic broke. “The family’s request for a larger home turned out to be the self-contained sanctuary that was very much needed during the worst period of the pandemic.”

The waterfall feature is the family’s favourite, where seeing and hearing the water fall provide calmness. “They also love how the landscaping and greenery surrounding and draping the house, have matured and grown to become an integral part of the architecture,” says Zheng.

This article was originally published in the Business Times.

Related: House Tour: A courtyard tropical home with an inverted roof in Johor Bahru

Marc Tey Photography
  • TAGS:
  • Architecture
  • House Tour
  • Interior Design
  • Tanglin Road
  • Wallflower Architecture + Design
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MCI (P) 083/10/2023. Published by SPH Media Limited, Co. Regn. No. 202120748H. Copyright © 2023 SPH Media Limited. All rights reserved.