House Tour: 2-Storey bungalow in Braddell with modern, tropical resort vibes
Architect Vincent Lim of Visual Text Architects (VTxT) was fortunate enough to meet the homeowners of this bungalow, who prize design over the maximisation of their built-in space.
Other than wanting lots of greenery, a koi pond, and a swimming pool for their new home, the family put their complete trust in him to deliver a house that would suit their lifestyle.
The result is a delightfully simple two-storey bungalow with an exposed column-and-beam design and mono-pitched roof emblematic of Modernist architecture; in particular, the work of architect Mies van der Rohe, which has always inspired Vincent.
“My concept was very simple. I wanted to create a modern shell around the original structure,” he says. The double-volume glassed- in structure is the “shell”, which encloses the extension of the home from its former footprint (marked by the long antique-brick wall on the ground level).
Indonesian Stone Pool
The pool features inviting emerald-green water, thanks to the specially sourced green-grey Indonesian volcanic stone that clads its sides and bottom.
Pavilion Style Architecture
This perspective shows the modern shell, or “pavilion-like structure”, that Vincent designed around the original house.
Kitchen Island
A mirrored panel cleverly conceals a second, smaller sink between the kitchen island and the dining table.
Floor to Ceiling Glass Doors
A view of the kitchen from the second storey. Floor-to-ceiling sliding glass doors provide fast and easy access to the pool.
Kitchen
The family installed two sinks in the kitchen area for hygiene purposes – one for washing dishes, and the other for preparing food.
Teak Staircase
As with the rest of the wood used in the house, the teak stair treads were sourced from Indonesia by Vincent and the homeowner.
Waterproof Paint
Two coats of waterproof paint on all the bathroom walls work just as well as tiles, but look much better, says Vincent.
Double Volume Windows
On the second floor, where the bedrooms are located, the high-level windows help provide lightness to the structure.
This story first appeared on Home and Decor in 2017.