In 2018, Caroline Lim published a picture book titled Wonderland - Through Caroline's Looking Glass. Illustrated by Lim herself, the tome is a management guidebook inspired by British author Lewis Carroll's beloved Alice's Adventures in Wonderland; it's written as an allegory to share her experiences in human resource garnered over 30 years from working in multiple international and local companies. A talented illustrator, Lim's pencil and watercolour drawings brought a personal touch to the pages.
Her own home in central Singapore could be seen as her vision of wonderland; Lim stays in a 6,135 sq ft detached house with her husband and son. Art meets domesticity in the spatial trajectory from the front door into all the nooks, passageways, rooms and garden.
In 2017, Lim engaged architect Edmund Ng, who runs his eponymous firm, to expand the home's footprint and renovate its interiors. Lim became acquainted with the architect through his wife Jazz Chong, who is a family friend and owns local gallery Ode to Art. "Caroline has a deep appreciation for fine arts, and her husband, of vintage cars. They wanted to house their collections in a sleek and sophisticated home, and to be daring in the use of Caroline's favourite colour, black," says Ng.
Her preferred colour palette would alter the building's architecture completely. Its former iteration was a white structure featuring faux classical elements on the facade, coupled with French windows and a terracotta-tiled pitched roof. Its facade, now the shade of charcoal, is stoic and mysterious. A dark box with apertures of tinted glass articulated within extruded concrete frames, the house's new look is in keeping with its owner's love of striking artworks with bold narratives.
"The brief was for a reconstruction to build the house to its maximum-allowable height of three-and-a-half storeys," shares the architect.
Denne historien er fra August - September 2022-utgaven av Tatler Homes Singapore.
Start din 7-dagers gratis prøveperiode på Magzter GOLD for å få tilgang til tusenvis av utvalgte premiumhistorier og 9000+ magasiner og aviser.
Allerede abonnent ? Logg på
Denne historien er fra August - September 2022-utgaven av Tatler Homes Singapore.
Start din 7-dagers gratis prøveperiode på Magzter GOLD for å få tilgang til tusenvis av utvalgte premiumhistorier og 9000+ magasiner og aviser.
Allerede abonnent? Logg på
An Eve for Design
Danielle Ma, founder of interior design studio Maer Atelier, shares how she draws inspiration from expressive artworks and weaves authenticity into her tailored interiors
LIGHT AND GRACE
The Mediterranean-influenced home of Haus Atelier's founders celebrates the passing of time, nature, and authentic family living
Mark of Excellence
The winners of the SIA Architectural Design Awards 2024 displayed much ingenuity in crafting spaces that seamlessly meld modernity with history and tradition.
Timeless Transformation
Another Level blended luxurious design, modern sophistication and practical functionality in expanding the footprint of this landed home
Stately Beauty
Designworx Interior Consultant crafts an interior worthy of this grand bungalow, done up in the style of an English manor
COLONIAL SPLENDOUR
The legacy of colonial buildings in Singapore is one of elegance and tropical adaptability that filters into its luxury housing market
Designing Gamechangers
Aeon, an original brand by homegrown lighting company Sol Luminaire, excels in creating designer fixtures specially tailored to Singaporean homes
Artisanal Mastery
Discover the timeless beauty and sustainable craftsmanship of Riviere Rugs, which melds luxury and tradition in exquisite handwoven creations for discerning homeowners
Curves Ahead
King Living clinched two prestigious Red Dot Design Awards this year for its 1977 sofa collection, an affirmation of the Australian firm's dedication to design and innovation through the years.
Swiss Excellence
V-Zug CEO Peter Spirig discusses the brand's Ill-year dedication to sustainability and innovation in kitchen appliances