Location   Bukit Timah, Singapore

Surface area   6,264 square feet

Photographs   © Albert Lim

	Landscape integration
	Natural ventilation   Passive cooling: pool as a cooling pond   Natural daylight   High insulation by the pond

This concept reverses the layout and stylized norms of the local residential style. Hidden from the road, the enclave in which the house sits is surrounded by a thick green screen of mature trees with a characteristic breeze that blows across the site. The owner wanted a contemporary home in which a constant cool temperature was paramount — a way of enjoying the contrast with the lush tropical environment.

In order to fully appreciate the varied natural environment, and to maximize the visual depth and distance, a light, transparent structure houses the main living room and study as a separate unit on the second floor. A dark reflecting pool surrounds this shape and increases the feeling of serene seclusion and privacy. The pool is also designed to provide heat insulation to the dining room, bedrooms, and the other family living spaces located beneath the solar heated area.

On the lower level, water also plays a prominent role in the project. The living and service areas align perfectly with a long strip of light and air, which run parallel to a long continuous koi pond, which in turn contributes to the micro cooling of this part of the house.

Second floor

First floor

  1.  Pond

  2.  Skylight

  3.  Hall

  4.  Powder room

  5.  Living room

  6.  Outdoor deck

  7.  Void

  8.  Flat roof

  9.  Driveway

10.  Carport

11.  Spiral stairs

12.  Dining room

13.  Bedroom

14.  Bathrooms

15.  Master bedroom

16.  Master bathroom

17.  Family room

18.  Passageway

19.  Kitchen

20.  Store room

21.  Maid’s bathroom

22.  Maid’s bedroom

23.  Yard

24.  Air condenser

25.  Planter

Longitudinal section

  1.  Driveway

  2.  Carport

  3.  Spiral stairs

  4.  Dining room

  5.  Bedrooms

  6.  Master bedroom

  7.  Family room

  8.  Outdoor deck

  9.  Pond

10.  Hall

11.  Powder room

12.  Living room

Elevation

 The main entryway features an oculus above the upper pool, where sunlight is filtered and cooled in the water. Needless to say, water is the protagonist in this home.