looking to the past
Situated in Eastern Singapore amongst traditional shops and houses, 80ADR-House is part of a tide of renewal that ebbs slowly into the island’s older neighbourhoods. This project carefully integrates classic and contemporary styles, the revamped residence subtly contrast its surroundings – with ONG&ONG architects drawing inspiration from the past while simultaneously adapting features for modern use.
An open floor plan flows into the kitchen and dining space, retained elements on the ground floor include classic tiles, along with a wet kitchen and back washroom. These classic features are complimented by an abundance of bronze finishes throughout the space.
ONG&ONG elected to treat the structure conservatively, working to ensure that 80ADR-House remained a low-rise inter-terrace house. To accentuate the height of the internal spaces, the centre of the second floor was removed and rejoined on one side with thick glass floor panels. Two bedrooms sit towards the rear of the house, with a foyer area fronting a third bedroom and balcony area that faces the street.
The centrepiece of the upper floors is an intricate breeze blocks façade that extends across the second and third storey, tracing its way to a large skylight that cascades light into the interior spaces. The home’s original white brick walls were also retained, providing a counter point to the mesh lined stairwell that leads to the master bedroom on the uppermost floor. The highlight of the home is the master bedroom which overlooks the backyard garden and the surrounding neighbourhood beyond. Separating the main bedroom area from the bathroom and walk-in wardrobe is an inventive mirror system that can be adjusted to cordon off the different areas.
Concealed sliding doors provide added privacy to the extended master bathroom, which is defined by hexagon-cut marble floors in grey and reverse white. The final design also includes a combined balcony space sitting just outside the master bedroom. Here architects implemented flexibility through a black spiral staircase that leads to a newly introduced rooftop area.
