Forever Home

A couple makes the most of their communal and private spaces to ensure the longevity of their first home together.

- ISABELLE TOW

As a couple looking to build a nest to raise their future family, SH and Alvin counted it a real blessing when they discovered this spacious and quiet resale unit in Tampines. At 1,650 square feet, they found the executive apartment not only well endowed spatially, but its unimpeded view of the open sky and peaceful surroundings distinguished it from the other units they had toured.

In view of their hopes to reside here in the long term, the unpretentious couple desired their home to reflect their personalities and values, instead of dressing it up in a trending style. They relayed their request for an inviting space to Royston Ivan Ho, director of Oblivion Lab, who took on the challenge to create a home that feels like a warm embrace.

Arguably the most important changes to the home were the spatial tweaks to the apartment’s layout. The couple intuitively understood that the adequate provision of both communal and private spaces would affect the longevity of their home’s design, which Royston sought to optimise.

The final layout reflects a functional configuration that makes sense. A newly carved entrance foyer functions as a privacy screen to the living area whilst providing handy storage space. The restored balcony houses meditation sessions close to nature, and the bay window seats in the dining room offer an open view of the sky.