Maximised Adaptability

Designed to provide ultimate flexibility, this two-storey apartment shifts seamlessly from a cosy home with three bedrooms to a stylish single-bedroom, art gallery-like penthouse for a couple and their dog

- ASIH JENIE

Space Penthouse apartment
Location Thomson Road
Reno period 12 months
Home to A couple and their dog
Reno budget $200K

Located along the rows of shophouses on Thomson Road, this two-storey penthouse apartment had three bedrooms and multiple awkward corners in its original, compartmentalised layout. Working in the spatial design and communications fields, the couple chose the area because it was their childhood hangout spot, picturing their home as an oasis of serenity and calmness.

They prioritised having a space to relax and unwind with their three-year-old Shetland Sheepdog after a long day, as well as being able to house and display their ever-growing toy and art print collections.

Enlisted to help them translate this vision to reality was the design team behind Craftsmen Studio. “The brief was to create a space with calming, earthy tones, to maximise natural lighting and to allow the space to be configurable and spacious, adapting to their changing lifestyle needs,” shares studio principal Tristan Wu.

He approached the design by opening up the floor plan, replacing solid walls with folding and sliding doors and partitions to increase spatial flexibility, plus imbuing them with a slew of clever design elements that make the most of the apartment’s footprint.

The design did away with the wall separating the guest room and the living-dining space, creating one seamless open area. In its place are new sliding and bi-fold doors, which can carve out a temporary guest room when needed.