House Tour: A Singapore house inspired by the Japanese paper art of Origami by Formwerkz Architects
By Young Lim -
Folds, curls and spirals, those were the shapes that the architect team at Formwerkz thought of when the homeowner requested for a home design inspired by the Japanese art of paper folding (Origami).
So instead of rounded corners, the edges of the house’s design feature stark angles and straight lines.
This angular look was likewise replicated within the interiors. Here, you see the floor end in an upward slant along the stairway. By using the same wooden flooring throughout, the architect achieved a mesmerising optical illusion of a much larger space within this odd corner.
The louvered panels provide plenty of shade from the morning sun while still letting ample light into the washroom.
The wood-clad wall sports the same chiselled look as the exterior of the home. Above it, the suspended stairs provide a lightweight feel reminscent of folded paper.
The main staircase at the back of the home takes on the look of a spiral cardboard, with light streaming through the metal threads to create an interesting effect at the base of the stairs.
In one corner of the home, the architect team created an intimate pond area flanked by a lush green wall.The grotto-like feel is accented by odd protrusion from the wood-clad wall, similar to the irregular look of cave dwellings.
In the evenings, the captivating façade takes on a three-dimensional effect when one realises that the zig-zag pattern is formed by the use of diamond-shaped panels overlapping each other.
Photos courtesy of Formwerkz Architects.