Heart Of The Home

An existing sunken living area has been conceptualised as an amphitheatre-like space where family and friends can gather. LYNN TAN delves into how it all comes together.

- Lynn Tan

One of the reasons why many families choose to live in a single-floor apartment over a multi-storey landed home is because having everything on one level is more conducive for family bonding. Spacious apartments like this 3,300 sq ft unit are especially sought-after because the large floor area makes it feel like a landed home, but with everything on one floor. This, along with location and views, were the reasons why this couple, both investment professionals in their 40s, decided to purchase this property.

A unique feature of this almost-40-year-old development is the living room, which is placed three steps lower than the rest of the interior. While this poses certain constraints in terms of layout and circulation, it also presents exciting design opportunities.

Terrence Quah, director of Architology, recognised the potential to create an amphitheatre-like living area as the heart of the home. “This complements the family-centric brief and the clients’ lifestyle. Everyone, including the kids, has their own private spaces, but this is where they can come together to spend time as a family,” he says.