Home Tour: A $92,000 Renovation for an architect-interior designer’s self-designed 3-room HDB in Pasir Ris
This 3-room HDB flat is a modern tropical retreat that is sustainable, adaptable and filled with biophilic touches.
By Lynn Tan -
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Who Lives Here: An architect-interior designer and his two cats
Home: A 3-room HDB flat at Pasir Ris Drive 6
Size: 800 sqft
Interior Designer: Winstudio
Who would have expected that an invitation from friends to play table tennis at the Pasir Ris Sports Hall during the pandemic would end up with Winston Lim moving into the area. The architect-interior designer in his mid-50s fell in love with Pasir Ris’ beaches, forests and parks that offer a myriad of outdoor activities, which led him to begin house hunting in the area. He eventually purchased this three-room flat two years later.
The 36-year-old flat, although well-maintained, did not align with his needs and lifestyle. He gutted the place and started from a clean slate, redesigning and reconfiguring the spaces to create an open concept and barrier free home for him and his two cats- a male Siberian named Shady and Brighta, a female mixed breed Persian.
“I set out to design a sustainable forever home - a space that is flexible, dynamic and adaptable to my evolving needs both as a homeowner and cat owner. I also considered how the home would naturally change with me over time, allowing it to grow and transform as I age in place,” he shares.
Living among greenery
As an architect, Winston has always been drawn to designs that incorporate greenery into interior spaces. He loves the rustic bathrooms that blend naturally with their surroundings, which he experienced on scuba diving trips to remote islands.
He also appreciates the lush landscaping of the rejuvenated Changi Airport Terminal 2. All these serve as sources of inspiration for bringing greenery into his own home.
“My interest in indoor gardens deepened during the Covid period, when I realised how plants can profoundly enhance air quality and mental well-being. The challenge I gave myself was to create a simple system that offered these benefits without needing constant maintenance,” he says.
Apart from various plants and biophilic elements in the home, there are vertical green walls in the balcony and the bathroom.
These “hanging gardens” have a waterproof layer covered with recycled felt and irrigated using condensate from the air-conditioning system that flows down the drip irrigation pipes. When night falls, they are softly illuminated by concealed solar powered lights nestled within the foliage.
Integrating vertical green walls into spaces such as the bathroom requires careful consideration with regards to waterproofing, irrigation and drainage. This self-sustaining ecosystem that transforms ordinary walls into living gardens is the result of much testing and tweaking by the man himself.
“I needed a system that allowed the plants to thrive without causing moisture damage and this required detailed coordination between planting materials, plumbing and air-con piping,” he explains.
Pegboards reimagined
Pegboards are more commonly found in workshops, retail spaces and craft rooms, but Winston decided to make them one of the key aesthetic and practical features of his home.
They are multi-functional and can house display shelves, cabinets, lighting, even his monitor.
This reflects the central design philosophy of his home: “Spaces should be flexible, transformative and adaptable to everyday life. In the tropics, a home should harness natural airflow and strengthen the connection between indoors and outdoors, while a forever home has to be timeless yet responsive to the evolving needs of its occupants.”
Living room
The living room has been designed to blur the boundaries between inside and outside with open and flowing spaces that extend out to the balcony.
The wooden pegboards and plants further reinforce this concept of being at one with nature.
Vintage furniture is juxtaposed with contemporary pieces to create an interesting contrast.
Kitchen and dining room
The kitchen and dining areas flow seamlessly from the living room and are centred around a peninsula island, which serves as a prep area, a dining table that sits up to eight people, and even a work desk for virtual meetings.
Wall and ceiling mirrors help to reflect light and brighten up what would otherwise be a dim internal space. The pegboard theme continues into this area for consistency, but with a black quartz countertop for contrast.
Bedroom
Instead of the usual swing doors, Winston has opted for a series of sliding doors and panels that allow the spaces to flow freely. This is implemented not just in the main living spaces, but also private areas such as the bedroom and home office.
Instead of walls, the bedroom and home office feature large sliding mirrored doors that act as spatial dividers. Behind these mirrors are the built-in wardrobes integrating vintage cabinets and armoires that blend practicality with a curated old world charm.
A remote-controlled Murphy bed allows the bedroom to be used as an exercise area or a playroom for the cats during the day. This reinforces Winston’s ideas on adaptation and transformation. Here, the pegboards are used to house a clock, hang art, clothing and accessories.
Home office
The home office enjoys a view overlooking the park. As with the rest of the home, it is not just a workspace, but can also serve as a guest room. The home’s multi-purpose rooms and multi-use furniture is Winston’s response to the flat’s limited floor area.
“Designing for both me and my cats within a compact layout required meticulous planning to ensure that the home is functional and transformative. Every detail, from furniture placement to storage solutions, was carefully considered to maximise usability. Balancing aesthetics and practicality was complex, but it led to a self-sustaining design that feels open ended, purposeful and natural,” he highlights.
Feline friendly features
Shady and Brighta are part of the family, so naturally, they were part of the design brief. Winston designed dedicated spaces for the feline duo, such as a custom cat condo, a balcony cabinet that hides their litter box, and a DIY feeding station built from pegboards.
These not only address their well-being, but also helps to manage their maintenance and care load.
$92,000 Renovation Cost
Winston managed to save on some labour costs as he DIY-ed several parts of the home. The renovation cost came up to about $92,000, excluding furniture and accessories. The renovation took about three months to complete and he moved into his new home in April 2024.
Compared to designing for a client, working on his own home is a more personal experience and involved a more experimental process.
“I can explore ideas freely, test unconventional solutions and design around my personal choices and pets. Every decision reflects my design ethos- from sustainability and flexibility to tactile comfort and indoor-outdoor flow,” he points out. He also regards his home as an ongoing project as he discovers new issues to tackle day on day.