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Elok House is located off the popular shopping belt of Orchard Road (photo) in Singapore.
View of the house from the street called Jalan Elok. ‘Elok’ is taken from a Malay name meaning beauty.
A visitor enters the house through the kitchen space and is greeted by a series of slender tree trunks that penetrate through the landscape deck above. Beyond the open kitchen, the lush green living space emerges, resembling the setting of a tropical rainforest.
A framed view of the living room from the dining table. The backdrop is a feature waterfall, transformed from an existing retaining wall.
The ground floor culminates at the living room with a landscaped backdrop. The existing rear retaining wall has been transformed into a feature waterfall.
View from the living room towards the front.
It feels outdoor at the living room, with the green backdrop illuminated by the afternoon sun.
“The whole house has a feeling of spaciousness and lightness. The high ceiling, atrium, planters, large rooms and relationship of rooms to each other conspires to give an airy feeling, though physically none of the spaces are very far from each other due to the actual land size. Each living space has views to open spaces giving a feeling of airiness, but they are separated with the use of the atrium, planters and difference in heights leading to a feeling of privacy.” - Richard Wong (Owner)
“Natural light constantly streams in the house as the architect has utilised the east-west orientation of the house. We can tell the time of the day depending on how the sunlight comes through the spaces. On the other hand it remains cool because of the green walls and pond, and the spaces are amply cross-ventilated.” -- Richard Wong (Owner)
The central light well is a modern interpretation of a traditional shophouse feature.

Elok House
Singapore

Aiming to provide a new form of urban living that feels close to nature and engages with the tropical climate, this terraced house reconstruction was conceived as a three-dimensional landscaped installation, with living spaces inserted as floating platforms. A central courtyard, two green-walled light/ventilation wells and an open front and rear optimise access to daylight, cross-ventilation and views. The entrance is into the kitchen area, where trees penetrate the ceiling to the storey above. Rainwater cascades down the pebble-clad back wall to a U-shaped pool around the lounge. Plants and water elements throughout allow passive cooling. Electrically operated steel trellises on rollers provide shading for the roof terrace.


Source: Aga Khan Trust for Culture

Location
Singapore
Associated Names
Chang Yong Ter
Singapore
architect/planner
Singapore
Singapore
Singapore
place
Events
Completed 2007
Building Usages
private residence
residential
Terms of use
Contribute
Need help?
About
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Elok House
Singapore

Aiming to provide a new form of urban living that feels close to nature and engages with the tropical climate, this terraced house reconstruction was conceived as a three-dimensional landscaped installation, with living spaces inserted as floating platforms. A central courtyard, two green-walled light/ventilation wells and an open front and rear optimise access to daylight, cross-ventilation and views. The entrance is into the kitchen area, where trees penetrate the ceiling to the storey above. Rainwater cascades down the pebble-clad back wall to a U-shaped pool around the lounge. Plants and water elements throughout allow passive cooling. Electrically operated steel trellises on rollers provide shading for the roof terrace.


Source: Aga Khan Trust for Culture

Location
Singapore
Images & Videos
Elok House is located off the popular shopping belt of Orchard Road (photo) in Singapore.
IMG48452
digital photograph
View of the house from the street called Jalan Elok. ‘Elok’ is taken from a Malay name meaning beauty.
IMG48453
digital photograph
A visitor enters the house through the kitchen space and is greeted by a series of slender tree trunks that penetrate through the landscape deck above. Beyond the open kitchen, the lush green living space emerges, resembling the setting of a tropical rainforest.
IMG48454
digital photograph
A framed view of the living room from the dining table. The backdrop is a feature waterfall, transformed from an existing retaining wall.
IMG48455
digital photograph
The ground floor culminates at the living room with a landscaped backdrop. The existing rear retaining wall has been transformed into a feature waterfall.
IMG48456
digital photograph
View from the living room towards the front.
IMG48457
digital photograph
It feels outdoor at the living room, with the green backdrop illuminated by the afternoon sun.
IMG48458
digital photograph
“The whole house has a feeling of spaciousness and lightness. The high ceiling, atrium, planters, large rooms and relationship of rooms to each other conspires to give an airy feeling, though physically none of the spaces are very far from each other due to the actual land size. Each living space has views to open spaces giving a feeling of airiness, but they are separated with the use of the atrium, planters and difference in heights leading to a feeling of privacy.” - Richard Wong (Owner)
IMG48459
digital photograph
“Natural light constantly streams in the house as the architect has utilised the east-west orientation of the house. We can tell the time of the day depending on how the sunlight comes through the spaces. On the other hand it remains cool because of the green walls and pond, and the spaces are amply cross-ventilated.” -- Richard Wong (Owner)
IMG48460
digital photograph
View all 10
Associated Names
Chang Yong Ter
Singapore
architect/planner
Singapore
Singapore
Singapore
place
Events
Completed 2007
Building Usages
private residence
residential
Terms of use
Contribute
Need help?
About