Travertine Dream House by Wallflower Architects

ByJon Dykstra Houses

A whole shot of the modern house at daylight.

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

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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.

Two parallel blocks are united by a glass-enclosed bridge to form the structure of the home.
Two parallel blocks are united by a glass-enclosed bridge to form the structure of the home.
Light can enter basement areas thanks to the distance between the two blocks.
Light can enter basement areas thanks to the distance between the two blocks.
To reduce heat input from the glaring afternoon sun, thick travertine walls and substantial overhangs are positioned on the western side.
To reduce heat input from the glaring afternoon sun, thick travertine walls and substantial overhangs are positioned on the western side.
To increase land use intensity without building an obtrusive structure.
To increase land use intensity without building an obtrusive structure.
One level of the four-story house is buried beneath the surface, and the other three are set back from the access road.
One level of the four-story house is buried beneath the surface, and the other three are set back from the access road.
The gardens and water features are dispersed throughout the home to provide as much green and "blue" space as possible.
The gardens and water features are dispersed throughout the home to provide as much green and “blue” space as possible.
On the ground floor, a swimming pool and a fish pond are visible from the living and dining areas.
On the ground floor, a swimming pool and a fish pond are visible from the living and dining areas.
The leisure and guest areas in the basement are open to the sky, and a sunken moss garden courtyard provides ventilation and natural light.
The leisure and guest areas in the basement are open to the sky, and a sunken moss garden courtyard provides ventilation and natural light.
To emphasize the simplicity of the massing and the contrast of transparency and solidity, the detailing is purposefully kept to a minimum and precise.
To emphasize the simplicity of the massing and the contrast of transparency and solidity, the detailing is purposefully kept to a minimum and precise.
Multiple travertine wall layers that represent a flimsy boundary between the outside and the interior are responsible for orchestrating the arriving experience.
Multiple travertine wall layers that represent a flimsy boundary between the outside and the interior are responsible for orchestrating the arriving experience.
To benefit from cross ventilation and daylight naturally occurring in the area, the entry, living areas, and bedrooms are oriented longitudinally.
To benefit from cross ventilation and daylight naturally occurring in the area, the entry, living areas, and bedrooms are oriented longitudinally.
The house is kept cool in the tropical atmosphere, properly ventilated, and bathed in soft daylight thanks to the thin blocks that contain the living area, the thick stone cladding, and the numerous layers of gardens and water bodies.
The house is kept cool in the tropical atmosphere, properly ventilated, and bathed in soft daylight thanks to the thin blocks that contain the living area, the thick stone cladding, and the numerous layers of gardens and water bodies.
There is a place for both private contemplation and family contact thanks to the three-dimensional mix of voids, layers, and solids.
There is a place for both private contemplation and family contact thanks to the three-dimensional mix of voids, layers, and solids.
The third-floor flat roof doubles as a terrace for relaxation and a roof garden.
The third-floor flat roof doubles as a terrace for relaxation and a roof garden.

The client’s brief for this house was simple. Functionally, to maximize usable area and to incorporate greenery.  Aesthetically, use travertine copiously as an architectural finish. Inspired by the Italian urban scape during his travels, so too would travertine express this house.

The house is organized as two parallel blocks connected by a glass-enclosed bridge. The separation between the two blocks allows daylight to stream down to basement spaces. Thick travertine walls and large overhangs are placed on the western side to limit heat gain from the harsh afternoon sun.

The entry, living spaces, and bedrooms are arranged longitudinally to take advantage of natural cross-ventilation and daylight. In order to intensify land use without ending up with an imposing structure, the four-storied house has one level sunk into the ground and the other three set away from the access road. To accommodate as much green and ‘blue’ space as possible, the gardens and water bodies are spread throughout the house.

The living and dining areas on the ground floor face a swimming pool and a fish pond. The basement’s entertainment and guest rooms are open to the sky, with natural light and ventilation coming through a sunken moss garden courtyard. The third-story flat roof is both a recreational deck and a roof garden.

The arrival experience is orchestrated by several layers of travertine wall that suggest a tenuous threshold between the outside and the inside. The detailing is deliberately minimal and precise to enhance the simplicity of the massing and the juxtaposition of solidity and transparency.

The narrow blocks that house the living area, the thick stone cladding, and multiple levels of gardens and water bodies ensure that the house remains cool in the tropical environment, well ventilated and washed in soft daylight. The three-dimensional composition of voids, layers, and solids creates spaces for both quiet reflection and family interaction, something for each mood and moment.

By Jon Dykstra · See their LinkedIn.