Living In Harmony

A chance find by the owners, this house designed by RT+Q Architects turned out to be the perfect home for their close-knit family

- Luo Jingmei

Some people build their dream home, while others find it by chance. “When we visited this place, we immediately liked its modern Asian aesthetic. The moment we stepped in, I told my husband that it felt like an RT+Q house,” says the wife, on viewing a near-completed Good Class Bungalow for sale. It was indeed designed by RT+Q Architects, verified through a chat with Jonathan Quek, who is a friend of the couple and an associate director at the firm.

RT+Q Architects, which was founded by TK Quek and Rene Tan in 2003, is known for its meticulously designed houses. The couple would have engaged the design firm even if they were to construct their own house, so this discovery was indeed serendipitous. They were looking for a bigger home after welcoming a fourth child to their brood. “We like the feel of the house. It has a practical design while maintaining an alluring aesthetic. It has enough room for our children, and a suite for visiting grandparents from overseas,” says the wife, who hails from the Philippines. Her husband is from Hawaii, and they have lived in Singapore for 13 years. The 20m-long lap pool is especially ideal for their young children.

The property’s design was governed by the Vitruvian principles of firmitas, utilitas and venustas (“strength, utility and beauty” in Latin), shares Rene Tan, co-founder and director of RT+Q Architects, who worked with design executive Lee Dong Suk on this project. Hence the expansive roof that protects the walls and interiors from the rain and sun, sizeable rooms, and well-proportioned volumes with teak wood and stone accents. Metal-edged profiles give the roof a look of lightness, while pivoting aluminium screens let the breezes in but keep out prying eyes.