RUSTIC ROMANCE
Combining elements of the old and new, IN-EXPAT X UPSTAIRS_ creates a home that harks back to the owner’s childhood in a seaside town in Southern France
HOMEOWNERS OFTEN REQUEST FOR ABODES IN A
style that they like or one that evokes fond memories— such as a Mediterranean theme that reminds them of their honeymoon, or a retro look that takes them back in time. This homeowner grew up along the beaches of Southern France, so he wanted an abode in Singapore for himself and his nine-year-old-son that would evoke the nostalgia of whitewashed bricks and rustic timber from his childhood.
The potential of the brickwork on the exterior facade of this three-and-a-half storey townhouse at Watten Estate Road was what appealed to the owner and convinced him to purchase the property. “While the property carries some beach house elements with a hint of romanticism, we wanted to avoid an overly thematic concept with our contemporar y approach,” says Dennis Cheok, creative director of In-expat x Upstairs _, which saw the project to completion with its builder par tner, In-expat.
While the property carries beach house elements with a hint of romanticism, an overly thematic concept is avoided through the use of contemporary materials and f inishes
The seamless spatial flow between the living room, dining room and patio area on the first storey addresses the brief for more open spaces. The raw palette of exposed brick walls, recycled sun-bleached timber patio decking and solid ash timber ceiling joists is juxtaposed with contemporar y polished finishes, as well as furniture and lighting pieces from Fritz Hansen, Zanotta and Delightfull. This monochromatic scheme is layered with myriad textures, ranging from the smoothness of the white engineered timber flooring , and the rough sur face of the exposed white brick wall, to the white canvas Wendelbo sofa, which add an interesting dimension to the white tapestry.
Uncovering The Past
The challenge for Cheok was to look beyond the existing conditions inherited from renovations carried out by the previous owners. “The key was to visualise the interior sans these pre-existing works in order to create a home that meets the client’s requirements,” he says. He likens his design intervention to an archaeological undertaking, stripping away layers of plasterwork and flooring to reveal the original materials and finishes, including the vivid Peranakan kitchen floor tiles and brick walls that his team uncovered. The history of the home gradually came together like pieces of a puzzle and the story of its past unfolded with each discovery. These elements were carefully restored and integrated into the new interior.
Contemplative Spaces
As the 2,255sqft house had many tight recesses and alcoves with different levels, the owner expressed concerns over how to make these spaces work. “By rationalising the layout and making sense of these nooks and crannies, we managed to weave them into the overall design and transform them into meaning ful and functional spaces,” Cheok explains. One such example is the master bedroom, where Cheok turned an alcove into an elevated platform for sleeping. Set against an all-white backdrop punctuated by solid ash timber ceiling joists, the ef fect is almost monastic and it heightens the mundane act of rest and rela xation into a ritualistic experience. Another interesting feature in the master bedroom is the freestanding clawfoot Kohler bathtub—its presence within the bedroom imparts an almost ar tistic quality. The home also enjoys an abundance of natural light coming through from its envelope, as well as from above. Cheok took advantage of skylights over the master bedroom and study room, turning these spaces into easeful, meditative sanctuaries.