House Tour: Major makeover transforms a 40-year-old condo apartment into a bright, airy family home

Integrated seamlessly into its surroundings, the interior must look natural within the site. “It is more about the beautiful surroundings than the interior itself,” she emphasises.

The family found it difficult to bond in its previous residence, a landed home, because it was split over three floors. This apartment is perfect, with a spacious floor area that feels like a landed home, but with everything on one level. Since the layout works for the family of four, they made only minimal changes.

The dining area was merged with the living area to create a family room. To match the size of the master bedroom, the master bathroom was enlarged. The ageing piping, electrical wiring, air-conditioning and fittings were all replaced, but the duo chose to maintain many of the existing materials, such as the travertine and dark grey slate floors that were beautiful and which they recommended the clients keep

The original travertine stone flooring in the living area complements the apartment’s natural surroundings with its weathered, rustic look. This living area is spacious, bright, and airy thanks to a light colour palette.

Even the off-white linen curtains were not an accident. “We chose linen because we wanted to use as many natural materials as possible,” Shing Hui explains. “The draperies, unlike blinds, sway with the light breezes sweeping through the apartment. It is soothing to see these movements, especially compared to all the other static elements in the home. The rustling sounds of leaves and movement of foliage are like manifestations of nature.”

The homeowners have been cooking more since the circuit breaker, so functionality has been a top priority in the kitchen. Because the existing kitchen was dark and enclosed by structural walls, they could not open it up to allow more natural light in. To get around this, Shing Hui incorporated downlights, cove lights, and lights in the backsplash that allow the homeowners to modify the lighting according to their needs.

A timber frame around the solitary window in the master bedroom draws the eye out to the communal garden beyond, heightening the connection between the room and the outdoors. As the original parquet flooring had an orange undertone, it had a busy look, so it was stained a darker brown to convey a quiet feeling.

The master bathroom possesses a restful and uplifting quality that transforms a daily routine into a rejuvenating ritual. By replacing the original pedestal water closet with a wall-hung one and installing new cabinets raised off the floor, the space has a certain lightness and is easy to clean. Cool grey large-format tiles complete the look.

At the end of 2020, the family moved into their new home after a three-month renovation. What Shing Hui appreciates the most are the dialogues between her and the clients. “Months after the completion, they sent me a photograph taken from their balcony to show how beautiful the interior spaces looked against the setting sun. “I witnessed their lives unfolding within the home I envisioned for them, and it felt like an intimate exchange between architect and client,” she says.

By adopting a light touch, L Architects preserved the genius loci. Utilising the unique qualities of the surrounding context and the apartment itself, it helped them live harmoniously in their new home and recognise their connection to the place.

Read Next

House Tour: Jumbo HDB flat with a bright, spacious feel

House Tour: Hamptons-style terrace house with antique furniture

A luxurious home dressed in neutral tones and natural materials