Home Tour: A rustic landed house along Yio Chu Kang Road with original old brick walls

One of the downsides to living in land scarce Singapore is not being able to retain much of the original landscape the nation was built on. As a result, a lot of the history and memories associated with iconic structures are lost once the buildings have been torn down in the name of progress. 

Original Brick Walls

For that reason, when it came time for this homeowner to renovate his landed property located along Yio Chu Kang road, he wanted to keep essential aspects of the house. When he approached architect firm Park+Associates for a solution, the architecture team proposed keeping the beautiful exposed burnt red bricks, which was a highlight of the original structure.

More importantly, brick producers in the region have already stopped making such bricks and there would be no way to replace them if they were destroyed. 

However, aside from keeping portions of the original brick walls, the architect team decided to give the home an entirely new look with rustic elements. This was achieved through the use of warm, natural materials, such as wooden decking and swivelling wooden screens.

Wood Swivel Screens

“These screens change the home’s personality from morning to night,” explains the lead architect from Park+Associates. “They’re functional, certainly, but they also create this beautiful dance of light and shadow that animates the interior spaces in ways that static walls never could.”

Double Volume Living Room

Perhaps the most breathtaking feature of this rustic house is the double-volume living area, where wooden cladding wraps the ceiling in a warm embrace. Here, ornate chandeliers hang like jewelry against the textured backdrop, creating a juxtaposition between rustic and refined that defines the home’s character. In the evenings, when the chandeliers illuminate the space, the wooden ceiling seems to glow from within, creating an atmosphere that feels both grand and intimately comforting.

Wooden Dining Table and Bench Set

The dining area tells a different story—one of family gatherings and lingering conversations. A substantial wooden table surrounded by a continuous bench creates a casual, convivial atmosphere that invites family members to slide in and stay awhile. Here, the rustic house aesthetic is at its most functional, creating spaces that encourage human connection rather than simply looking beautiful.

Home Art Gallery

Ascending to the upper floor, the wooden cladding continues as a unifying element, leading family members and guests to the private bedroom spaces. The corridor has been transformed into an impromptu gallery, with contemporary artworks adding personal expression to the rustic framework. This thoughtful landed property renovation demonstrates how modern life and artistic sensibilities can enhance rather than detract from rustic architectural elements.

Large Stone Wall Cladding

Large stone tiles line the wall, contrasting beautifully with the intricate grains of the wood cladding. 

White Marble Bathroom

The master bathroom, a sanctuary of white marble slabs, feels unexpectedly spacious and open. Here, warm lighting transforms the utilitarian space into something approaching the luxurious without abandoning the home’s rustic vocabulary.

Garden Lights

As daylight fades, this rustic house reveals perhaps its most magical aspect. Strategic uplighting transforms the garden’s lush vegetation into living sculptures, while the reflection of light on the pool’s surface creates a mesmerizing play of water and illumination that can be enjoyed from several vantage points throughout the home.

House designed by Park+Associates

By preserving the irreplaceable while introducing contemporary elements with complementary warmth and texture, Park+Associates has created more than just a beautiful rustic house—they’ve created a template for how Singapore might preserve its architectural memory while moving confidently into the future.

As Singapore continues its relentless evolution, this home along Yio Chu Kang road quietly demonstrates that progress doesn’t always require erasure. Sometimes, the most forward-thinking approach is to recognize the value in what came before, and to build upon it with intelligence, sensitivity, and respect.