State of Zen

TRANSFORMED A SPACIOUS APARTMENT INTO A CALMING ABODE WITH A CREATIVE MIX OF JAPANESE AND SCANDINAVIAN INFLUENCES

Surrounded by lush gardens in a prime district, this 3,500sqft residence is already an oasis of calm. What the family needed from Dennis Cheok, the creative director of Upstairs_, was to reconfigure the apartment’s sprawling plan of isolated nooks, which had become neglected with disuse, into a cohesive, welcoming space.

Their passion for Japanese culture is evident in their carefully curated collection of antiques, furniture, and artefacts, which add character to the home. So, it was not surprising when they had a precise brief— to recreate a modern ryokan (a traditional Japanese inn) with Scandinavian touches.

GATHERING SPACE

A large living area, delineated into zones by sunken floorplates and elevated platforms, evokes the layered spaces of a ryokan. Oversized sofas create an inviting atmosphere for family time while a raised textured plinth, hand-carved out of Japanese chestnut wood, is both an entrance into the lounge as well as a platform with tatami flooring.

The open-concept kitchen features an island counter to enable a direct connection between the food preparation area and the counter seats. The result is a delightful communal space in which family members can interact. “Furnishing-wise, we kept this space pristine and ceremonial—the emphasis is on the spatial quality that is delightful to behold. It is a nod to Japanese minimalism,” says Cheok. “Apart from the miniature bonsai, we displayed a few antique pieces such as the rosewood chairs in two different styles, and a Ming vase, alongside a few strategic lighting fixtures and artefacts.”

HOMELY HIDEAWAY

The cosy master bedroom, like a welcoming Japanese inn, is clad in timber panels. Taking cues from how one would live in a ryokan, the furnishings are intentionally kept low to the ground. “The master suite is, in a sense, a microcosm of the key design concepts for the main spaces, succinctly implemented in a smaller and more intimate scale here,” explains Cheok. Varied strips of Japanese chestnut timber form a low bedhead with artistic flair. A tatami ledge and a low tea table delineate the bedroom, bathroom and balcony, while a screen with seigaiha, a

traditional Japanese wave-like motif, divides the rest area from the master bathroom. Clad in book-matched marble slabs, the bathroom offers a visual and sensorial respite from the woodlined bedroom. The beautiful veins of the marble run across the walls, flowing sinuously like a painter’s masterful brushstrokes. “It’s almost like walking into a natural painting,” quips the designer.

LEFT TO RIGHT The elevated platforms draw reference to the layered spaces of a traditional Japanese inn; a view of the kitchen from the living room; the extensive use of light wood contributes to the tranquil ambience of this home

UPSTAIRS_ Founded in 2011 by architect Dennis Cheok (left), Upstairs_ is a spatial design studio that strives to experiment and push new boundaries in traditional craft and material innovation. Past projects by the firm include an elegant array of homes in Singapore, as well as the N.tyler flagship boutique at The Shoppes at Marina Bay Sands and the Crocodile concept boutique at Vivocity.

LEFT TO RIGHT Furnishings are kept to a minimum to recreate the restful mood of a ryokan; the sinuous veins of the marble slabs add a dramatic flourish to the master bathroom; the seigaiha metal screen in the master bedroom is one of several subtle nods to traditional Japanese homes

UPSTAIRS_ 8 Changi South Street 1 / Tel: 6299 0650 / upstairs.sg