Living in Harmony

This multi-generational home by Meta Studio boasts an innovative facade that wraps an assortment of private and communal zones for its inhabitants

- Luo Jingmei

Housing three generations under one roof, this 9,730sqft house is a symbol of familial unity and love. Located in a sleepy residential neighbourhood, its distinctive, fluid shell encloses three interconnected volumes. The owner of this home, who works in the marine industry, lived abroad for 18 years before returning to Singapore; he has three sons, the eldest of whom is married with two children.

Meta Studio designed the house, which features a striking facade that traces the trapezoidal corner plot. When the sun’s rays hit the surface, the blend of quartz, minerals and mica gives the exterior a subtle shimmer. It was crafted with Dryvit ETICS (External Thermal Insulation Composite System); the firm’s founder and lead architect Adrian Lai chose the durable and lightweight composite material for its ability to mimic stone while having the malleable qualities of concrete. Accentuated by metal flutings, the fluidity of the facade mitigates the large scale of the building.

The two-and-a-half storey house contains two additional internal mezzanine levels, made possible by the Urban Redevelopment Authority’s Envelope Control guidelines. These levels are contained within the monolithic structure.

ELEMENTAL MAGIC

The gardens are an important aspect of the design. “The living, dining and entertainment areas on the first floor were designed as if they were sheltered parts of the garden, immersed in natural light and surrounded by greenery or water,” says Lai. “The goal was to create many different rooms within the house, each always drawing you towards light and greenery.”