The owners of this corner terrace house in Upper Serangoon Road thought that their request for a bigger bedroom was fairly simple, until they learned that in order to achieve it they would have to create an additional floor. With a major reconstruction on the cards, both client and their architect Matthew Lai of MU Architects decided that they might as well redesign the entire house.

The most exciting part of the house has to be the attic, which is totally devoted to the couple’s private space. The new bedroom is now more than twice the size of the old, and has its own sitting area. Brick walls give it a rustic look.

Photos by MU Architects

Their bathroom was made larger and is fitted with a jacuzzi. Though the shower area comes with full height glass windows on one side, the fast growing row of plants act as a privacy screen that keeps peeping Toms at bay.

Wanting the living room to make a visual impact on visitors, the recessed section of the room wall was lined with copper-plated mosaic tiles, and adorned with large artworks. The couple turned their house into a smart home, so everything from the blinds, entertainment systems and security can be controlled from their phones.

The introduction of a skylight makes the home brighter, and the owners’ wish for a kitchen island was fulfilled in the dry kitchen.

Matthew made the home future-proof by incorporating wheelchair-friendly design such as spacious access to all the rooms and even installed a lift.

The dry kitchen looks out into a shaded outdoor terrace, where the couple enjoy having their coffee.

Seen from outside, it is easy to see why the home is nicknamed The Black Box House. The black box floating above the house is built from a series of fins on the attic that provide sun shading and privacy, while adding flair to the external façade.