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The design approach is about framing views of the park
By adopting the public park as the backdrop of the house, with series of ‘rectilinear open shells’ that frame views of it, offering different perspectives of the park from various parts of the house.
From sketches, to paper folding, to explore the possible spatial dynamics by dissecting a box.
Displacing the parts into multiple planes of alternating solids and voids.
This was later developed, together with scaled drawings, and with a series of mock-ups made of wood boards.
These shells are stepped away from the street, a gesture to break the scale of the house, to bring daylight in, and to greet the street from a private distant.
Along one axis, the shells are kept thin with steel members as the base structure. On another axis, clear glass panels are used for the front and rear enclosures. These shells are the structure, as well as the walls, floors, ceilings, roofs, and windows of the house. This configuration generates a constantly light-filled space. The glass panels can be opened on both ends for cross-ventilations, whilst gaps between fixed glass panels serve as air-vents.
A bluish tone is selected for the external surfaces of the shells, with the interior whitewashed. As daylight shifts throughout the day, changing hues from the blue walls reflect onto the internal walls, constantly transforming the ambience of the house, and offer a sense of time and space.
The existing single-storey house before reconstruction. The buildings in this neighbourhood are predominantly one to two-storey terrace and semi-detached houses of similar lot sizes and configurations. These houses are of different styles and architectural languages, with a majority having pitched, tiled roofs.
The rear boundary wall of the existing house with a gate access to the public park. This wall was later removed and replaced with steel cables supported by thin frames, with a gate incorporated, to provide visual and physical access to the park.

Serangoon House
Singapore, Singapore

The house is located in a 1950s residential neighbourhood and the site faces a busy street to the front and park to the rear Planning and building regulation guidelines restricted design. Paper folding and mock ups explored spatial dynamics by dissecting a box, alternating solids and voids Displaced shells generate juxtaposed spaces optimising light and ventilation, and, externally, ‘bluish’ coloured shells are stepped with opening glazing on front and rear elevations. Park vistas open on entry through whitewashed interior living spaces. Floors are finished with recycled ‘balau’ timber. The efficient building envelope is protected from staining through a detached steel plate facade, allowing rainwater to flow beneath.

Source: Aga Khan Trust for Culture
Location
Singapore, Singapore
Associated Names
Chang Yong Ter
Singapore
architect/planner
Singapore
Singapore
Singapore
Events
2008
Building Usages
private residence
residential
Terms of use
Contribute
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Serangoon House
Singapore, Singapore
The house is located in a 1950s residential neighbourhood and the site faces a busy street to the front and park to the rear Planning and building regulation guidelines restricted design. Paper folding and mock ups explored spatial dynamics by dissecting a box, alternating solids and voids Displaced shells generate juxtaposed spaces optimising light and ventilation, and, externally, ‘bluish’ coloured shells are stepped with opening glazing on front and rear elevations. Park vistas open on entry through whitewashed interior living spaces. Floors are finished with recycled ‘balau’ timber. The efficient building envelope is protected from staining through a detached steel plate facade, allowing rainwater to flow beneath.

Source: Aga Khan Trust for Culture
Location
Singapore, Singapore
Images & Videos
The design approach is about framing views of the park
IMG47327
architectural drawing
By adopting the public park as the backdrop of the house, with series of ‘rectilinear open shells’ that frame views of it, offering different perspectives of the park from various parts of the house.
IMG47328
architectural drawing
From sketches, to paper folding, to explore the possible spatial dynamics by dissecting a box.
IMG47329
digital photograph
Displacing the parts into multiple planes of alternating solids and voids.
IMG47330
digital photograph
This was later developed, together with scaled drawings, and with a series of mock-ups made of wood boards.
IMG47331
digital photograph
These shells are stepped away from the street, a gesture to break the scale of the house, to bring daylight in, and to greet the street from a private distant.
IMG47332
digital photograph
Along one axis, the shells are kept thin with steel members as the base structure. On another axis, clear glass panels are used for the front and rear enclosures. These shells are the structure, as well as the walls, floors, ceilings, roofs, and windows of the house. This configuration generates a constantly light-filled space. The glass panels can be opened on both ends for cross-ventilations, whilst gaps between fixed glass panels serve as air-vents.
IMG47333
digital photograph
A bluish tone is selected for the external surfaces of the shells, with the interior whitewashed. As daylight shifts throughout the day, changing hues from the blue walls reflect onto the internal walls, constantly transforming the ambience of the house, and offer a sense of time and space.
IMG47334
digital photograph
The existing single-storey house before reconstruction. The buildings in this neighbourhood are predominantly one to two-storey terrace and semi-detached houses of similar lot sizes and configurations. These houses are of different styles and architectural languages, with a majority having pitched, tiled roofs.
IMG47335
digital photograph
View all 10
Associated Names
Chang Yong Ter
Singapore
architect/planner
Singapore
Singapore
Singapore
Events
2008
Building Usages
private residence
residential
Terms of use
Contribute
Need help?
About