PUSHING BOUNDARIES
d+a|Issue 113
A steep slope and an irregularly-shaped plot in a residential neighbourhood provides A D Lab with an opportunity to explore a less predictable silhouette.
DAVEN WU
PUSHING BOUNDARIES

Most of Singapore’s original hills have long been levelled, reducing the island’s once curvaceous topography to a relatively staid flatness.

From an architectural perspective, this has resulted in designs that tend to stretch in horizontal linear axes, with predictable variations in the elevations.

All this explains why the site on which the Namly Hillside Villa is built proved – initially, anyway – to be such a headscratcher for A D Lab.

Set on the border between normal mixed housing and Good Class Bungalows, the cul de sac plot is shaped like an irregular triangle anchored by a very steep topography which, in turn, creates an unusual height disparity of 17m between the bottom of the slope and its apex.

THINKING OUTSIDE THE BOX

The first challenge, says lead architect Warren Liu, was to negotiate what was essentially a 17m high slope.

The solution was to demolish 90 percent of the existing house, while keeping the retaining structures, an engineering sleight of hand that significantly cut the project cost.

Additionally, there were a lot of grey areas, especially in establishing the boundary of the building envelope, Liu says, explaining that the site has a 12m height envelope control with an 8.5m spring-off line for the house’s attic level.

The difficulty lay in defining the point to calculate the 12m from, since the site contours and gradient were irregular, resulting in complex discussions with the building authorities.

“We went through many iterations to see how we could manage the different levels of the house, while ensuring the spaces circulate. We did not want to have long corridors or odd residue, unusable spaces, a problem that normally doesn’t arise when you have a flat site.”

Diese Geschichte stammt aus der Issue 113-Ausgabe von d+a.

Starten Sie Ihre 7-tägige kostenlose Testversion von Magzter GOLD, um auf Tausende kuratierte Premium-Storys sowie über 8.000 Zeitschriften und Zeitungen zuzugreifen.

Diese Geschichte stammt aus der Issue 113-Ausgabe von d+a.

Starten Sie Ihre 7-tägige kostenlose Testversion von Magzter GOLD, um auf Tausende kuratierte Premium-Storys sowie über 8.000 Zeitschriften und Zeitungen zuzugreifen.

WEITERE ARTIKEL AUS D+AAlle anzeigen
The Natural Balance
d+a

The Natural Balance

Inspired by the serene beauty of dewdrops, the Antao Collection by Villeroy & Boch transforms bathrooms into wellness sanctuaries, combining sustainability with timeless elegance.

time-read
2 Minuten  |
Issue 134
Inspiring Creativity And Exploration
d+a

Inspiring Creativity And Exploration

The new Hafary House at Lavender reflects the brand’s vibrancy and innovation, as well as provide an inspiring and engaging space for customers.

time-read
2 Minuten  |
Issue 134
Home Is Where The Heart Is
d+a

Home Is Where The Heart Is

A vacation house is reimagined for a multi-generational family to gather for holidays in the bucolic setting of Yongjia in Zhejiang, China.

time-read
4 Minuten  |
Issue 134
balancing act: nature and humanity
d+a

balancing act: nature and humanity

In this inspiration-led series, we asked Jay Liu and Alex Liu, co-founders of Right Angle Studio, to dream up a unique interior concept using mainly items from Space Furniture.

time-read
2 Minuten  |
Issue 134
rethinking, remaking, reframing
d+a

rethinking, remaking, reframing

Aoki Akio, the founder of DESIGNART TOKYO discusses the importance and legacy of Tokyo's eminent art and design event, particularly for young creatives.

time-read
5 Minuten  |
Issue 134
rebuilding communities
d+a

rebuilding communities

Shift2024, the much-anticipated conference returns with a stellar line-up of prolific architects making their mark in Asian urban design.

time-read
7 Minuten  |
Issue 134
unparalleled italian craftsmanship
d+a

unparalleled italian craftsmanship

Filippo Arnaboldi, Chief Executive Officer of Frette, tells us how this luxury lifestyle Italian brand is moving forward with times yet not forgetting about its existing legacy.

time-read
4 Minuten  |
Issue 134
where the mountain meets the sea
d+a

where the mountain meets the sea

This bespoke hillside residence features modern design elements, natural touches, and panoramic ocean views.

time-read
3 Minuten  |
Issue 134
tailored for the curious explorer
d+a

tailored for the curious explorer

The new Alma House at the New Bahru enclave reflects the collaborative spirit of a school environment.

time-read
3 Minuten  |
Issue 134
tranquil sanctuary
d+a

tranquil sanctuary

The recently launched Banyan Tree Higashiyama Kyoto, designed by Kengo Kuma, fuses traditional Japanese architecture with modern elegance.

time-read
4 Minuten  |
Issue 134