A Fresh Start

THE OWNER’S CHILDHOOD HOME BECOMES THE SITE FOR A NEW HOUSE THAT ACCOMMODATES THE NEEDS OF HIS MULTI-GENERATIONAL FAMILY

- Lynn Zan

For homeowner Tan Ying Chien, this semi-detached house in Tanjong Katong holds a special place in his heart. “My parents bought this property when I was 15, so this was where I grew up, got married and had my three kids,” he reminisces. When his father passed away and he took over the managing of the household, he felt that it was timely to either renovate or to rebuild the house to meet the needs of his family.

Ying Chien, who is the chief plastic surgeon at SW1 Clinic, was initially more inclined towards an Addition and Alteration (A&A) project due to sentimental reasons. However, among the various schemes that architecture firm RT+Q presented to him, it was the new-build proposal that left the deepest impression, so he decided to demolish the old house and build a new one in its place.

HYBRID INFLUENCE

The house comprises three rectangular massing blocks arranged in a C-shape around a courtyard to create inward-looking views and enhance privacy. “For us, it was an opportunity to explore a hybrid between a Chinese courtyard house and a Roman villa,” explains Rene Tan, director of RT+Q. “The old house was a box that was dark and humid, especially in the middle, so the courtyard manages to address the issues of light and ventilation,” says Ying Chien.

There is a very clear hierarchy between the three blocks. The one upfront runs parallel to the street, giving the home a prominent frontage. The new roof over the car porch takes its cue from the old house, which was a mirror image of its neighbour, but with a twist. “It was a case of putting the wrong thing in the right place,” says Rene. “The porch needed a roof and we thought it was a good idea to turn that roof into a swimming pool.”