NATUR AL HARMONY

It’s not just a mix of wood and concrete— the meticulous attention to detail makes this interior by SC + DC an award-winning project

HAVING FREE PLAY WITH THE DESIGN BRIEF IS

one of the dream situations for any designer. While this may create a multitude of creative possibilities, it ’s still of utmost importance to pair aesthetic design with functional purpose—a def t combination that Astley Ng, regional creative director of SC + DC, has mastered. With over two decades of experience under his belt, Ng has an astute eye for craf ting interior schemes that stand the test of time, while creating details that inspire.

Typically, parquet wood is used on the f loor but we chose to put it on the ceiling to make a statement ... Oak parquet was the best choice—it's light and has a natural-looking character

Modern Blend

For this project, the homeowners entrusted the designer with an open brief, to turn their terrace house into a stylish urban sanctuar y. Located within a cluster of housing development in the exclusive District 11 enclave, the 4 ,000sqft home features a modern facade and is surrounded with verdant greener y. Aside from requesting for nature-inspired details, the owners left it to Ng to improve its modern look. Working swiftly within three months, Ng elevated the design of its interiors to make it an abode that the couple enjoy returning home to. Despite its comfortable size, there were some spatial constraints due to its narrow layout—a detail that the designer sought to change by accentuating the sense of space, particularly on the ground floor.

Warmth of Wood

One of the most striking features is the use of parquet wood— it ’s applied on the ceiling to create a focal point in the living room. “Typically, parquet wood is used on the floor but we chose to put it on the ceiling to make a statement,” shares Ng. “It was an engineering challenge as it was quite heav y; oak parquet was the best choice—it 's light and has a naturallooking character.” To create this unusual detail, the designer and his team built a false ceiling structure using primarily oak wood panels. Accompanied by sleek glass panels that line the adjacent walls, this ceiling structure adds to the visual continuity at the ground floor, connecting the living space to the dining area. In the basement, the same oak wood panels are applied on the ceiling in the study as well as on the doors that lead to a bomb shelter and the powder room.

Concrete Plans

Throughout the home, decoration is kept to a minimal to complement its modern look—furniture pieces and upholster y have been selected in a neutral scheme, with patterned rugs and potted plants sprucing up each of these spaces. To dif ferentiate the master bedroom from the guest rooms, glossy black finishes were applied to the wall, accented by furniture pieces and sculptures in the same finish, as well as strips of tuf ted upholster y that give the space a tactile touch. This bedroom was so outstanding that it won an accolade—it was an awardee at the Infocomm Development Authority of Singapore (IDA) Excellence Award in 2015 . The use of concrete and bricks on the ground floor and the basement gave the interior a rugged touch, while downlights bathe the space in a warm glow. A concrete column separates the living room from dining and kitchen areas; it functions as a pillar for the TV as well as the wine chiller. The resulting interior is a modern home that is at one with its tropical surroundings.

BELOW Mirrored panels add a sleek look to the dining space, while the timber panels bring a sense of warmth to the home

TOP The use of wood parquet on the ceiling is one of the abode's most distinctive features

LEFT TO RIGHT Brick walls give the study area a rugged feel; the use of wood parquet throughout the house adds to the visual continuity of the design scheme; glossy black finishes are a slick addition to the master bedroom; the neutral palette creates a restful mood in the guest room