Field Pottery Founder, Natalie Cheung’s home in Joo Chiat

Some might already know Natalie Cheung Ai Wen of Singapore ceramic studio Field Pottery for her distinct style: a seamless blend of elements from the natural world, crafted into eclectic organic shapes and distinctive silhouettes. It should come as no surprise, then, that her unique lens extends to other artistic disciplines as well.

An architectural designer, ceramicist and spatial designer, the 30-year-old firmly believes that these combined mediums have given her a new-found appreciation and understanding of the subtleties of life and the role of design in it. “I’m constantly fascinated by how the details of spaces is a manifestation of human life, which are affected by a person’s lifestyle and everyday habits, as well as one’s past and current cultures,” she says.

Background

Natalie attributes her passion for shaping spaces to her formative years, a time marked by boundless freedom and creativity. Growing up alongside her older sister, they spent countless afternoons immersed in play-acting and storytelling. Their imaginative pursuits were further enriched by virtual worlds found in simulation games, like The Sims and RollerCoaster Tycoon, where Natalie honed her skills in designing and constructing her own environments.

She recalls restarting The Sims game over and over again, using cheat codes to earn cash to build endless spaces in her virtual world. Reflecting on those early days, Natalie says she didn’t see herself as an exceptionally creative person, and that art was limited to painting or traditional mediums.

However, she did recall the joy of experimenting without the pressure to conform to traditional artistic norms. For her, creativity was about pure enjoyment and exploration, rather than the pursuit of perfection.

NUS Architecture

When it was time to choose her academic path, Natalie took a bold leap into a new realm (in the eyes of her relatives) by enrolling in the architecture program at the National University of Singapore. There, she found a sense of familiarity in the process of creation, “in analysing lives, storytelling, crafting a narrative, and working with my hands to create spaces for people,” she recounts.

Natalie eventually went on to pursue her Masters of Architecture, interning during her six-year study at award-winning firm WOHA during her gap year. Her architectural master thesis ‘Authoring Nature’ was accredited the President’s Medal (Silver) Nomination and her Bachelors graduating project ‘The Seam’ was accredited the President’s Medal (Bronze) Nomination.

City vs Nature

Her projects mainly centred around questioning curated versus wild nature, questioning the ideals of city living within nature and our preconceived notion of the wild.

Natalie also exhibited her thesis at the 2018 International Exhibition of Architecture Graduation Design in Taiwan (IEAGD). It was there that she was head-hunted by her first employer Foster and Partners, an award-winning and globally recognised British international architecture firm, where she was exposed to the firm’s design ethos and research-based designs on residential and mixed-use projects within Southeast Asia, such as Singapore and Philippines. In her time there, she worked on various projects within a small team to design a tropical high-rise residential building, headquarters for a local bank as well as a renowned fashion brand in the Philippines.

Through her projects, she gained a new insight: that the design of skyscrapers need not equate purely to airtight glass sculptures devoid of connection with its weather and surroundings but rather, as a canvas: a space for the revival of age-old motifs from local contexts, where heritage is seamlessly interwoven with modernity and local flavours.

This would be formative of her design thinking together expounded onto her interests stemming from her thesis project.

Interior Design

Beyond her day job with a local architecture firm, Natalie was compelled to explore other modes of creative expression in her personal time. In 2020, she founded ceramic studio Field Pottery, and in 2022 she founded Picnic Room (@picnic.room), a platform for spatial explorations in architecture and interior design.

Joo Chiat Apartment

On a more intimate scale, Natalie’s own home is one of the favourites from her personal projects, offering her a chance to reinvent an older apartment. She shares an apartment with her husband and dog, situated within an older compound built in 1996 in Joo Chiat.

Upon their initial acquisition, the space presented a series of challenges: a narrow dining area veiled in dim light, low ceilings throughout the apartment, and an entryway awkwardly aligned with the sight line of the toilet door. Yet, amidst these limitations, she saw untapped potential in the wrought-iron staircase and the attic, then relegated to a storage nook by its previous owners.

With the removal of the false ceiling, the apartment’s original wooden planks emerged, remarkably preserved. Natalie suspects that these planks were concealed beneath beams to avert “bad fengshui”, following an age-old superstition that overhead beams invite misfortune. On the contrary, the exposed wooden ceiling, coupled with the newfound three-meter height, unlocked new possibilities and imbued the space with a sense of grandeur.

Kitchen

In the kitchen, Natalie opted to dismantle only two walls, liberating the living and dining areas which is now seamlessly integrated with an open kitchen featuring a sprawling 4.5m countertop.

“My friends always get a kick out of seeing the original plans and enjoy comparing it to how the space has transformed,” she says.

To deal with the vexing sight of the bathroom upon entry, she found a remedy in a discreet panel of plywood doors, concealing cleverly integrated cabinetry and a concealed entrance to the guest bathroom and pottery studio. These panels not only add to the aesthetic coherence of the space but also serve as great storage solutions, discreetly accommodating irregular wall alignments, cleaning supplies, and even the house’s electrical distribution box.

A standout feature in this home is the dual-purpose bookshelf strategically positioned at the entrance. Not only does it serve as a physical barrier, shielding the interior from prying eyes, but it also embodies a symbolic gesture, evoking the ancient Asian tradition of respecting the threshold when entering or exiting a home. Natalie’s vision of “stepping through a bookcase” not only adds intrigue to the space but also fosters a sense of reverence for the home’s transitional zones, a practice often overlooked in contemporary design.

“Old houses possess a unique charm, offering endless opportunities for creative expression,” she explains. Embracing a philosophy of adaptability, Natalie eschews rigid furniture arrangements in favor of versatile pieces that evolve alongside her and her partner.

Attic

This flexibility proved invaluable when the couple transformed their attic into a vibrant marketplace for a two-day thrift sale fundraiser. The attic, typically a sanctuary for music and movie-watching, was converted into a bustling retail space, complete with racks, a changing room, and even a tarot card reading corner.

At their living space, movable furnishings effortlessly accommodate impromptu gatherings, transforming the ambience from casual home dining to a cafe layout (that can hold 20-30 people) at a moment’s notice.

Clementi BTO

In another project, a 4-bedroom Clementi BTO unit, Natalie was presented with the challenge of creating a space within a space. As the husband often worked from home, he wanted a space that could be integrated with the living area, while still possessing the possibility of being closed off when necessary.

Natalie created a low wall between the husband’s study room, which faces the living area, complete with internal windows and blinds. This delineation creates a visual openness between the study and living areas, so the owner could still feel connected to the communal area and yet have his privacy too.

Additionally, concealing work-related clutter within the study and behind the low wall preserves the spaciousness of the living room from the entrance door. This blend of functionality and aesthetics contributes to a comfortable
and enjoyable home working environment.

Hougang Flat

For now, Natalie is excited about working on a friend’s older flat in Hougang, a home with an expansive view of the forest and river below. The home’s defining features are carved wall niches and arches (trends that are much sought-after) and old mosaic tiles within the balcony spaces.

Natalie says the preservation of historical artifacts are not merely a nod to nostalgia, but a testament to the craftsmanship and dedication of generations past. For her, there is a profound significance in the coexistence of old and new, an opportunity for dialogue between eras.

“It’s heartening to see remnants of the past honoured and cherished... It speaks volumes about our respect for the labour and artistry that shaped our history. To witness the old seamlessly meld with the new is truly special.”

Skills across disciplines

Looking ahead, Natalie envisions a fusion of her expertise in ceramics and architecture, where each discipline informs and enriches the other. She is eager to delve deeper into the exploration of natural forms, leveraging materials and textures to imbue spaces with a sense of organic vitality.

Natalie draws inspiration from luminaries, such as Sri Lankan architect Geoffrey Bawa, Japanese innovator Terunobu Fujimori, the visionary works of British designer Ilse Crawford, as well as the captivating creations of Olafur Eliason. She also acknowledges the contributions of local Singaporean architects, who challenge convention and embrace experimentation.

Going ahead, Natalie says that the realm of architecture offers boundless opportunities for exploration, provided one is willing to transcend traditional boundaries and embrace interdisciplinary influences. “To me, I envision a future where architecture transcends dichotomies, seamlessly integrating various disciplines to create spaces that transcend conventional definitions,” she believes.