Design Anthology - Asia Pacific Edition
River Valley
Mid-century modernism inspired Gabriel Tan’s design of this charming condominium
Nestled in a tranquil exurb, this midcentury-inspired apartment in Martin Place Residences exudes a sense of intimacy. Rooted in the iconic modernist movement, the home embraces an alchemy of natural materials, clean lines and dynamic hues. It’s the masterstroke of local furniture and product designer Gabriel Tan, who has known the clients — a married couple — for some time, and who shares with them an unerring eye for enduring design and craft. ‘I wanted to design a home that reflected their love for mid-century modern design and colours, but is at the same time contemporary and purpose-built for their lifestyle and personalities,’ Tan explains.
The couple had visited several Case Study Houses in Los Angeles, and wanted the quintessential functionality and comfort of that seminal era for their own home. These tenets are undergirded by their background: as entrepreneurs in the lifestyle and hospitality scene, they work long hours and their abode was thus envisioned as both a casual office and a haven for weekend gatherings. In consideration of their daily customs, Tan astutely composed a seamless sequence of communal spaces that enhance his clients’ scope for sociability. By removing a wall and retrofitting an expansive countertop, the kitchen was pulled closer to the adjacent rooms, creating an open-plan layout suited to socialising. The dining table and display shelving were fabricated with the couple in mind — a spacious desk with plush seating for work by day, and a cosy boîte-like alcove by night.
Instead of a specific style or colour palette, the creative process began with an archetypal piece of furniture: the Eames lounge chair and ottoman. A treasured birthday gift from wife to husband, it not only set the tone for the rest of the home but is the focal point in the living room. Another unmistakable visual language is the weave pattern that creates a counterpoint to the burnished brass and lustrous stone. Tan sought to incorporate this accent from another gem: the Chair 811 by TON, which is based on Josef Hoffman’s 1930 design. But the cane weave isn’t merely for textural quality — it’s been adroitly adopted as a substitute for glass in the TV console and display cabinets in order to minimise visual clutter.
The average Singaporean home would feature downlighting, but omitting it was a fundamental consideration for Tan when designing this space. Referencing his experiences with Furnishing Utopia, a recent research project exploring the impact of American modernism on the world, he explains, ‘One of the mid-century residences I visited in Detroit had pristine ceilings without any downlighting. When I sat on the sofa, I was drawn to the blank canvas that was the ceiling and it gave me an immense sense of calm.’ This very serenity permeates the condominium, in which globular lamps from Nuura are interspersed with Japanese-inspired trimmings, evoking a rhythmic sensibility that extends to the master bedroom.
This bijou apartment is born of the clients’ and designer’s collective appreciation for style that stands the test of time, and Tan has captured the hallmarks of mid-century modern design fused with contemporary touches to create a striking and inhabitant-focused home.