House Tour: A minimalist, dark-hued apartment with surprisingly practical elements
This clean-lined HDB apartment in Depot Road features a concealed bathroom, ceiling-mounted TV, and a counter that runs all the way from the kitchen to dining room, among other practical elements.
By Melody Bay -
This project garnered the Silver award for Best Residential Design (Apartment), at the IDCS 2020 Design Excellence Awards.
When this homeowner couple approached Arche Interior to design and renovate their three-bedroom HDB apartment at Depot Road, they were very clear about what they wanted: to create space and maximise storage, without the rustic wooden elements that characterise so many apartments these days.
To address their design brief, Arche Interior had to plan for a complete transformation, including hacking all removable walls. Although there were challenges with the structural columns that could not be removed, Arche Interior worked around them by completely reconfiguring the home and disguising them in various ways.
The homeowners' practical sensibilities also came into play, so there are plenty of hidden gems like a concealed bathroom and a countertop that runs all the way from the kitchen to the dining room.
AT A GLANCE
Who lives here: A couple
Size of home: 699 sq ft
Type of home: 3-bedroom HDB apartment
ID: Arche Interior
Website: www.arche.sg
The minimalist living room features clean lines that are easy on the eyes, and a magazine rack on one wall.
In keeping with the minimalist setup, the TV in the living room is ceiling-mounted in the corner, with a recessed niche below for the setup box.
This integrated wall niche next to the living room serves as both a seating area and concealment for the bomb shelter.
Across from the niche is the dining table, which is actually a long countertop that runs from the kitchen. Here, the backlit feature wall provides a focal point for the home and anchors the overall look.
The magazine rack is also within easy reach of the countertop if the homeowners want to read while having a cup of coffee.
Details like the marble veining of the countertop help to lend texture and visual interest to the otherwise monochromatic space.
The long countertop runs from the kitchen to the dining area in a seamless flow, creating both food prep and dining space.
The open concept allows one to see and converse with people in the living room, even if one is cooking in the kitchen.
There are plenty of hidden surprises all over the house, like this bathroom concealed behind a nondescript panel.
Even the vanity table is hidden away beneath a counter, whose top can be lifted to reveal a mirror and storage space.
The bedroom exudes a similarly minimalist and streamlined look.
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