A photo of the garden house.

Location: Bukit Timah, Singapore
Square footage: 13,900 sqft

About Studio

Wallflower was founded by Tan Chai Chong Robin and Cecil Chee, bringing together a combined experience of commercial projects and residential developments. Established in 1999, Wallflower Pte Ltd & Wallflower Architecture + Design have undertaken a wide spectrum of work, ranging from commercial and residential projects, and have received numerous awards for excellence in design, having been also widely featured in local and international publications. Wallflower was quickly recognized by Singapore’s Ministry of Information, Communication, and the Arts, as one of Singapore’s key industry players in design.

A picture of a modern, opulent, tropical family home.
A picture of a modern, opulent, tropical family home.
The house is flanked by neighboring residences on all sides and is situated on an L-shaped lot with a modest frontage.
The house is flanked by neighboring residences on all sides and is situated on an L-shaped lot with a modest frontage.
The majority of the land is hidden from view from the entry, further in and on a little hill.
The majority of the land is hidden from view from the entry, further in, and on a little hill.
By utilizing the special site, a third of the home was incorporated into the rising land profile, successfully concealing this mass.
By utilizing the special site, a third of the home was incorporated into the rising land profile, successfully concealing this mass.
A granite cave entrance that leads to a "underground" lobby welcomes guests to the home.
A granite cave entrance that leads to an “underground” lobby welcomes guests to the home.
The actual ground floor was located one level higher. It provided more privacy from the entrance road and created a terrace that resembled a plateau for the remaining living areas and gardens.
The actual ground floor was located one level higher. It provided more privacy from the entrance road and created a terrace that resembled a plateau for the remaining living areas and gardens.
The above-ground architectural composition is conceptually composed of two rectangular travertine blocks resting on thin pilotis.
The above-ground architectural composition is conceptually composed of two rectangular travertine blocks resting on thin pilotis.
An enclosed bridge floating above the ground plane connects the blocks at the second story.
An enclosed bridge floating above the ground plane connects the blocks at the second story.
The ground plain architecture could then be open and transparent without compromising the owner's privacy because it appeared secure from the outside.
The ground-plain architecture could then be open and transparent without compromising the owner’s privacy because it appeared secure from the outside.
Visitors ascend to the living room using a prominent spiral staircase made of steel and glass.
Visitors ascend to the living room using a prominent spiral staircase made of steel and glass.
The design is based on fundamental architectural concepts such as orientation, thermal mass, sun-screening, and natural ventilation.
The design is based on fundamental architectural concepts such as orientation, thermal mass, sun-screening, and natural ventilation.
It is a home intended for tropical climates, using modern materials and cutting-edge design.
It is a home intended for tropical climates, using modern materials and cutting-edge design.
Separating the living and dining areas, and surrounding them with gardens and swimming pools.
Separating the living and dining areas, and surrounding them with gardens and swimming pools.
This ground level, or "plateau," was intended to be a location that merged the indoors and outdoors, the soft and hard landscapes.
This ground level, or “plateau,” was intended to be a location that merged the indoors and outdoors, the soft and hard landscapes.
Cross ventilation is intended to occur on every floor.
Cross ventilation is intended to occur on every floor.
The primary design tenet is that winds should be supported and unrestricted.
The primary design tenet is that winds should be supported and unrestricted.
An extremely private enclosure is created by densely sown trees along the perimeter.
An extremely private enclosure is created by densely sown trees along the perimeter.
Instead of multiple spaces with predetermined borders and specific functions, it was to be one space with various programs.
Instead of multiple spaces with predetermined borders and specific functions, it was to be one space with various programs.
For relaxation, there is a sauna inside the home.
For relaxation, there is a sauna inside the home.
A large sunken garden courtyard with open sky access leads out of a lobby with wooden slats.
A large sunken garden courtyard with open sky access leads out of a lobby with wooden slats.
Skylights add to the experience by illuminating it throughout the day with varying shafts of light.
Skylights add to the experience by illuminating it throughout the day with varying shafts of light.
The furniture in the interior is made of glass, wood, and concrete.
The furniture in the interior is made of glass, wood, and concrete.
The elevated bedroom blocks are passively cooled above ground by travertine stone cladding, air voids, layers of brickwork, roof gardens, and pergolas.
The elevated bedroom blocks are passively cooled above ground by travertine stone cladding, air voids, layers of brickwork, roof gardens, and pergolas.
A well-lit bathroom created by daytime infiltration of natural light.
A well-lit bathroom created by daytime infiltration of natural light.
The elegance of the home is completed by a corridor on the second level that has hardwood flooring and glass walls.
The elegance of the home is completed by a corridor on the second level that has hardwood flooring and glass walls.
The composition is completed with an outdoor living deck and roof garden that is usefully spacious enough for social gatherings and parties.
The composition is completed with an outdoor living deck and a roof garden that is usefully spacious enough for social gatherings and parties.
The terrace is situated in such a way that you may enjoy views of a lovely landscape.
The terrace is situated in such a way that you may enjoy views of a lovely landscape.
The house, with its lushness, vibrancy, and beauty hidden in a secret garden, recreates what it is to quietly enjoy living in the tropics.
The house, with its lushness, vibrancy, and beauty hidden in a secret garden, recreates what it is to quietly enjoy living in the tropics.
The pool is a feature of the house that adds to its beauty.
The pool is a feature of the house that adds to its beauty.
Overall, the design is quite ecological and the vegetation matches the structure.
Overall, the design is quite ecological and the vegetation matches the structure.

The Secret Garden House is situated in the good-class bungalow area of Bukit Timah. The owner’s brief was to have a luxurious, tropical, contemporary family home. Being the owners of a construction company and building it themselves, would also showcase their professional capabilities.

The house sits on an L-shaped site with a narrow and unassuming frontage; On all sides, it is surrounded by neighboring homes. Further, in and on a slight rise, the bulk of the land is not visible from the entrance. Most local home buyers would regard the uneven terrain, narrow frontage, and lack of prominence as a disadvantage.

The architect saw an opportunity in using the terrain to camouflage the bulk of a large house, and the lushness of a secret garden to screen it from prying eyes. As the spatial and functional requirements were substantial, the architect positioned over a third of the house into the rising land profile, effectively hiding this mass by leveraging on the unique site. The perceived ground floor was set one level above.

It allowed for greater privacy from the entrance road and a ‘plateau’-like terrace to compose the rest of the living spaces and gardens. Visitors are welcomed into the house via a granite cave entrance leading to an ‘underground’ lobby. The prominence of a steel and glass spiral staircase leads visitors up to the living room.

The owners liked the idea of detaching the living and dining spaces and surrounding these with pools and gardens. This ‘plateau’ ground level was planned to be a space that blended indoor and outdoor, soft-scape and hard-scape. It was to be one space, with several programs, rather than many spaces with determined boundaries and fixed functions.

Trees planted heavily around the perimeter form a very private enclosure. Visually secure from the outside, the ground plain architecture could then be open and transparent without the owner’s privacy being compromised. Conceptually, the above-ground architectural composition is of two rectangular travertine blocks sitting on slender pilotis.

The blocks are connected to the second floor by an enclosed bridge floating above the ground plane. A ribbon window cuts around the travertine stone façade. Adjustable vertical timber louvers lined strategically along this band of windows shield the glazing and regulate how much sunlight reaches the interior, as well as ensure privacy when required.

An outdoor living deck and roof garden top off the composition, and is usefully spacious enough for social gatherings and parties. The deck’s facing is angled to enjoy views of scenic Bukit Timah Hill, the highest point in Singapore. Basic architectural principles of orientation, thermal mass, sun-screening, and natural ventilation are fundamental to the design.

It is a house designed for the tropics, expressed by modern materials and contemporary aesthetics. Every floor is designed to be cross-ventilated. Primary to the design ethos is that breezes are to be encouraged and unhindered.

In the basement, air flows through the large cave-like garage opening, through the timber slatted lobby, and exits via a sizable sunken garden courtyard at the rear that is open to the sky. Above ground, the lifted bedroom blocks are kept passively cool by layers of masonry, air cavities, travertine stone cladding, roof gardens, and pergolas.

Windows cut heat entry via low-emission glass and timber sunscreens filter the strong tropical sunlight, and transform it into a pattern of light and shadows that play into the interior spaces. Skylights further animate the experience in the course of the day through ever-shifting shafts of light. When the situation necessitates, the entire home can be closed off to tropical rain storms or the haze from pollutive burning.

The environment engifts you when there is respect and collaboration with both its strengths and weaknesses. In spite of being on an intensely urbanized island with one of the highest population densities in the world, the house recaptures what it is to privately enjoy living in the tropics, with its lushness, vibrancy, and beauty ensconced in a secret garden.

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