House of Bricks

It might appear monolithic and introverted but beneath the skin of this bungalow designed by ipli Architects lies a compelling tale of celebrating craft.

- LOW SHI PING

There might not be much to see on the outside for this seemingly impenetrable bungalow by ipli Architects, but the devil is in the details (and indoors).

In addition to a solid boundary wall and gate, the outer skin of the building is almost entirely made up of brown exposed brick, which means there is hardly a single pane of glass in sight.

More remarkably, there are precious few openings on all its four sides, so not only are its inhabitants shielded from the eyes of passers-by, but also the neighbours’ too.

Wilder imaginations might associate it with a high-security installation or military black site, despite its location in Orchard, but Yip Yuen Hong, principal of the architectural practice has a much simpler explanation.

“The owners are an elderly couple, who come across as very shy, so I thought to create a very introverted house for them,” he explains.

The decision to not plaster over the bricks is Yip’s way of adding “a twist”, as he is inclined to do with his projects, to make them stand out.

In this case, it also gives the house a handcrafted, artisanal quality. “Even though it is quite massive, because of the brick work, it feels very intimate and warm, with a human scale,” he adds.

CLOSED UP BUT OPEN

Being an introvert does not mean lacking in character and thanks to Yip, the house has it in spades.

Its opaque, monolithic appearance cloaks an interior woven with courtyards, landscaped terraces, a skylight and even a Juliet balcony. Smack in the middle of it is an astounding fair-faced concrete staircase.