Enclosed Open House by Wallflower Architecture
Singapore based architect, Wallflower Architecture has created innovative architectural spaces amidst urban density for a homeowner in Singapore East Coast area.
The owners wanted a spacious, contemporary house that would be as open as possible but without compromising security and privacy at the same time. Surrounded by neighbours on four sides, the solution was a fully fenced compound with a spatial programme that internalised spaces such as pools and gardens, which are normally regarded as external to the envelope of the house.
By zoning spaces such as the bedrooms and servants’ quarters on alternative levels, i.e. 2nd storey and basement levels, the ground plane was freed from walls that would have been required if public and private programmes were interlaced on the same plane. The see-through volumes allow a continuous, uninterrupted 40-metres view, from the entrance foyer and pool, through the formal living area to the internal garden courtyard and formal dining area in the second volume. All these spaces are perceived to be within the built enclosure of the house.
The environmental transparencies at ground level and between courtyards are important in passively cooling the house. All the courtyards have differing material finishes and therefore differing heat gain and latency (water, grass, water, granite).
As long as there are temperature differences between courtyards, the living, dining, and pool house become conduits for breezes that move in between the courtyards, very much like how land and sea breezes are generated. At the second storey, solid hardwood louvers that can be adjusted by hand allow the desired amount of breeze and sunlight to filter through.
Environmentally, the contiguous and interconnected space encourage the slightest breezes, whether they are prevailing and therefore air-movement is horizontal, or convectionally circulated, which the courtyards help generate. For the owner, it is the experiential serenity that unencumbered space, a gentle breeze, dappled sunlight and the hush of water rippling on a pond that is priceless in our dense and busy urbanscape.
Link wallflower
8 Responses to “Enclosed Open House by Wallflower Architecture”
Leave a Reply
You must be logged in to post a comment.
January 18th, 2010 at 10:17 am
Fascinating house, too bad you got no plans.
January 18th, 2010 at 5:40 pm
[...] source [...]
January 22nd, 2010 at 5:14 am
[...] that form between the courtyards. Not only that, but the shades are really spectacular.- via Cube Me Author: Lavinia 0 Comments » ShareRetweetVote upBookmark See more amazing related interior [...]
January 22nd, 2010 at 7:19 am
[...] From Wallflower Architecture, this original architecture project is located in Singapore, on the East coast area and it is neighbored by four other urban buildings. The unusual design was chosen as a result of the owner’s “brief”: he wanted a house that could be as open as possible and yet not interfere with the notion of safety. He wanted a home that was beautiful, spacious and also protected. This is how this residence was created, as an “enclosed open space”, with even the outdoor elements (pool, garden) fenced and regarded as internal. The creative design does not just have an aesthetic function, but it also keeps the house cool due to the breezes that form between the courtyards. Not only that, but the shades are really spectacular.- via Cube Me [...]
February 3rd, 2010 at 10:37 pm
[...] From Wallflower Architecture, this original architecture project is located in Singapore, on the East coast area and it is neighbored by four other urban buildings. The unusual design was chosen as a result of the owner’s “brief”: he wanted a house that could be as open as possible and yet not interfere with the notion of safety. He wanted a home that was beautiful, spacious and also protected. This is how this residence was created, as an “enclosed open space”, with even the outdoor elements (pool, garden) fenced and regarded as internal. The creative design does not just have an aesthetic function, but it also keeps the house cool due to the breezes that form between the courtyards. Not only that, but the shades are really spectacular.- via Cube Me [...]
March 11th, 2010 at 6:49 pm
[...] Images: Wallflower Architecture Via Cubeme [...]
March 17th, 2010 at 9:07 am
Hi, i just found this here after an quick yahoo search. Fine site you got here! Keep it up!
July 31st, 2010 at 5:15 am
First off wonderful site. Im uncertain if it could have been talked about, but when using Opera I can never get the whole weblog to load without refreshing repeatedly. May well just be my modem. Enjoy!