Dated ‘60s house renovated into a modern family home that embraces the great outdoors

Situated along the meandering path of Coronation Road, this site has all the right ingredients for a nature-loving household. A long plot lined with lush greenery and a comfortable distance from neighbouring houses, Quod Architects designed a structure that is open to the environment yet private enough to be a home – a stark contrast to the previous two-storey, semi-detached constructed in the ‘60s with an enclosed space featuring low ceiling and scant windows.

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Lived in by a family of five comprising a couple and their three children who are young adults, the renovation was meant to accommodate their present and future needs. With a “houses within a house” concept, Quod Architects retained the existing basement, first and second storey and added a third. The basement and first floor house communal facilities such as living and dining areas while the upper two floors are designated as private zones.

Occupied by the parents, the new floor features a master bedroom, semi-outdoor terrace and outdoor rear garden. The second floor, entirely for the children, is directly accessible via an exterior spiral staircase that grants a level of autonomy and independence. However, the stairway is more than just a transitory space. “A journey through it feels like you are moving outdoors, blurring the boundaries between inside and outside,” said Samantha Chang, an architect at Quod Architects.

“We conceptualised a house that gives the residents the feeling of being outdoors, when they are in fact, sheltered at home,” added Chang. Open to the outside where possible, the house invites natural elements: air, light and sound to paint the space, creating a meditative quality no matter where one is hanging out.

Abating the harsh afternoon Western sun and keeping heavy rain out, the architects implemented vertical sun-shading fins and large roof overhangs at the family areas. The open facade of the house also encourages the flow of wind for cooling purposes.

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Maximising cross-ventilation, the dining area features a double volume height alongside a grand staircase that leads from the ground floor living room to the upper floors. “The grand staircase is not just circulation space, but also a gathering space where people can sit and socialise when there are large gatherings,” said Chang.

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Throughout the house, the architects opted for a palette of Chengal wood, oxidised iron, concrete finishes and natural marble accents to complete the outdoor concept. The walls inside are finished with materials typically used outside. Natural timber, pebble-wash and rough textured paint finish, enhance durability and imbue the house with a sense of tropical ruggedness.

Finally, a 12-metre-tall tree was planted, stretching from the ground floor car porch to the second storey. From the family area on the second storey, the crown of the tree is visible, as if the inhabitants are living amongst the treetop. “The interior spaces blends with the outdoor for an experience of living, uniquely suited to an artistic and free-spirited family,” concludes Chang.