Room Without Roof

HYLA Architects

Address:

47 Ann Siang Road, #02-01
Singapore 069720

Tel: +65 6324 2488
Email: admin@hyla.com.sg

Living in a tropical, Asian city, a lot of homeowners want to make the most of the delightfully warm climate by integrating as much indoor-outdoor space into their home’s design as possible. However, I can’t imagine most people consider removing the roof.

When designing this two-storey, detached residence in Siglap Plain, Singapore, HYLA Architects chose a gable roof concept with an unusual twist – half of the home is actually an external courtyard which plays as the central living hub for the residents. The open, gable architecture gives the house privacy while also creating this ‘room without roof’, outdoor interior.

Not just in its architectural form, almost all the elements of this residential design aim to enhance an indoor-outdoor lifestyle. A modulated dark grey and textured brick cladding make up the home’s façade, creating a natural, organic external aesthetic.

A precast concrete screen on the second level provides protection from sun exposure while an external timber grid screen gives a warm contrast to the brick and concrete, and adds to the home’s refined material palette.

Internally, a swimming pool in the external courtyard and small pockets of greenery also continue the indoor-outdoor theme. A tiered landscape wall provides a luscious backdrop for the cantilevered staircase, and the attic lounge and home office space has its own planting strip which is a continuation from the courtyard planting palette below.

It is a selective choice of materials and an innovative architectural form that creates a luxurious, contemporary home which makes the most of its tropical, Singapore environment.