The Perforated House, situated in northern Singapore, serves as an inspiring example of how architecture can craft an urban retreat that embodies privacy, connectivity with nature, and striking aesthetics. Unlike the typical small terraced houses in Singapore that face the street and are closely positioned to neighboring homes, the objective here was to design a residence that maintains a certain level of seclusion while embracing vegetation, airflow, and natural light. This new dwelling was deliberately separated from its neighboring semi-detached house - owing to the plot's generous size - to facilitate enhanced airflow and light access.

The house was conceptualized as an elevated concrete structure with numerous voids within the interior spaces for vegetation. These perforations' design language was consistently applied throughout the house as an architectural mechanism to manage privacy, light, and ventilation levels.

Functionally, the more private areas were elevated above ground level, while green spaces acted as buffers between the interior and exterior, shielding indoor spaces from street noise and passersby. The internal spaces seamlessly extend towards the surrounding greenery, blurring the boundaries between inside and outside, thereby welcoming natural light and ventilation. For areas requiring heightened privacy, vertically inclined brises were intentionally incorporated to filter morning light while limiting views from adjacent houses.

The open-plan layout of the living area reflects a warm sense of hospitality and the owner's lifestyle, offering flexibility and spatial extension for frequent guest hosting. A seamless flow from indoor to outdoor spaces creates an ideal environment for guests to engage in larger gatherings, while quieter nooks provide intimacy for close friends.

In the owner's daily routine as a retired engineer, much time is devoted to playing various musical instruments and displaying iconic pieces from their personal collection. To meet the client's affinity for showcasing these iconic musical instruments, an acoustically designed studio was constructed to facilitate performances and improvisation sessions without causing disturbance to neighbors.

Similar to origami, the open roof space was crafted from a conventional form, extending the garden space from the living room to the attic level. This serene rooftop retreat is where the owner can enjoy afternoon tea while soaking in panoramic views of the sunset across their property.

Architects: AR43 Architects
Area: 6500 ft²
Year: 2021
Photographs: Studio Periphery - http://www.studioperiphery.com
Manufacturers: Geberit, Hansgrohe, Duravit, DB Acoustic, Egner Building Technologies, Kawajun, Koizumi Lighting Singapore, Lital Materials & Contracts Engineers, Marquis HQO, Polystone, Rice Fields, Schindler AS, Toto
Location: Singapore

0:00 - Perforated House
2:25 - Living Room
3:35 - Studio
4:27 - Drawings

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