IT TAKES A VILLAGE

RT+Q Architects and Ommo Design craft a bungalow for a multigenerational family with plenty of care and some quirks lovingly called the Village House

- Luo Jingmei

At first glance, there are many disadvantages to this house's plot: it is positioned at a junction and it has I wedge shape, with two sides fronting two roads. But the homeowner picked the right collaborators-RT+Q Architects has the magical ability to conjure up homes that thrive because of their inherent quirks, and Ommo Design brings intimacy and character to interiors.

This was also to be a multigenerational family abode for the homeowner, his two grown sons and their young families. Rene Tan, who leads RT+Q Architects with TK Quek, conceived a courtyard scheme in which three blocks surround a central void, turning the home inwards for privacy. It is simple, but no less delightful and nuanced due to the high level of detailing and various interesting expressions.

CONSIDERED COMPOSITION

One example of such an expression is the impactful arrival sequence. One passes through a portal of timber screens into a foyer that distributes the programming. To the left is the wing for the homeowner and the elder son-each has their own level-and to the right is the younger son's block. The sparkling expanse of the swimming pool right at this doorstep, capped by a crisp clubhouse cube at the end filled with colourful art, makes one pause.