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An Architect’s Charming 1950s Garden Home Inspired by Tadao Ando | Singapore
In Japanese Garden

An Architect’s Charming 1950s Garden Home Inspired by Tadao Ando | Singapore



In this week’s episode, a single-storey house built in 1957 is reimagined with sensitivity to its original structure and climate. Retaining its period charm, the remodel preserves details such as exposed timber rafters, mosaic floor tiles, and ventilation blocks, while opening the home to natural light and airflow. Positioned between two cul-de-sacs, the house benefits from uninterrupted breezes and year-round ventilation.

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– This house was built in 1957, which gives a period
charm and with good bones that have some interesting
architectural features. We are hopeless romantics when it comes to old structures, not in a nostalgic sense, but the thoughts that were
built into these old buildings with the sort of craftsmanship that you don’t see these days. This building was built in 1957. It was a single ownership all the way until we purchased it. We don’t believe in building
more than what we need, so a single story house is enough for us. Instead of rebuilding, we chose to remodel, preserving elements
like the timber rafters, which were only exposed
after we removed the ceiling, the original mosaic floor tiles, and the ventilation blocks. The front and back of the
house face a cul-de-sac, so there are no neighbouring
houses directly out. With monsoon winds coming
in from both directions, the house stays naturally
ventilated year round. There is a back alley
of around three metres, and by regulation, it allowed us to extend a single story to the periphery of the land. That allowed us to create a courtyard in the middle of the house. It’s quite a visual relief with the soothing sound of
rustling leaves in the morning. Growing up, I loved art, but I totally resented how it was taught. Architecture entered the picture only because I was ill informed, not because I loved it
wholeheartedly at first. I thought it was all about
drawing and making sculptures, just as how I loved art. Having started the subject, I fell in love with it as it had broadened my horizons, so I decided to pursue it as my career as a practising
architect in Singapore. I was inspired by two
very different generations of Japanese homes, the Azuma House by Tadao Ando, and the Moriyama House by Ryue Nishizawa. The Azuma House is an
inward looking structure with an unsheltered courtyard, exposed to the cold winter of Osaka. What struck me wasn’t just
the courtyard typology, but the anecdote where the homeowner had complained about the cold and the inconvenience of walking between spaces without shelter. Then, Ando famously told the homeowner, “Put on a sweater,” and to leverage his physical
power and live with it. The open courtyard typically prompts a perplexed question of,
what happens when it rains? We considered installing
a retractable roof, but this would go against our intention of letting the trees grow fully. It speaks to a certain
attitude towards nature. In the courtyard, we subject ourselves to the whims and fancies of the weather. It may not be for everyone, but it’s something I wanted
to try out for myself. Since we do not have any neighbours at the front and back, our courtyard has full access to the sky, allowing us to even open up our master bathroom when
there are no guests. The second house that inspires me is Moriyama House by Ryue Nishizawa, which is deeply connected
to the neighbourhood. In Singapore, it’s common to have a
gate and a boundary wall extending the idea of a
private house to the edge. This house has no clear separation between the inside and outside, prompting an organic interaction
with the surroundings. Creating garden in place
of a regular car porch further softens the front edges. At the back of the house, we have a fully openable
aluminium louvre wall to the back alley, the kind you might find
on old school windows. Whenever there is a gathering
of friends and relatives, we will open this up and the space instantly
becomes a lot more expansive. I think many people ask us, what happens when it rains? Does it disrupt our daily life? When there is a heavy downpour, if we really need to get across, we either dash across, get our bodies a little wet, or we take an umbrella, or we wait it out. We are starting to
recalibrate our daily rituals according to the environment. This house was really an experiment to see how we live and
connect with nature. How much is too much before
it compromises comfort? As architects, we are trying to advocate
for sustainability, yet we have exercised so much
control over our environment that we’ve become detached. I hope that, in my own
small way as an architect, I will be able to sit
into the minds of people that we should learn how to
love our tropical climate again.

21 Comments

  2. @alawong8669

    Congrats on such a liveable home. I can’t agree more with you on the “experiment” part of living. Dare to be different and live differently from social norm. Thank you for the inspiration.

  3. @lillianbarker4292

    I grew up in the desert southwest of the US. Before 1960 we didn’t have air conditioning. We had evaporative cooling that pumped water through pads that cooled the air that was blown through them. We had to keep some windows open and we could use screened doors. It was perfect except for hot humid months. In winter we used fireplaces or electric wall heaters. I loved being aware of the seasons and the ease of moving inside and outside. Now we really are trapped inside by air conditioning. Of course it is always comfortable and it saves water, but I’m sure it causes global warming as it separates us from nature.

  6. @layyeo7237

    I get really nervous looking at you climbing up the ladder. Please, please, at least wear a pair of shoes instead of slippers.

  12. @priscalala

    This is an absolute gem. Such a sincere effort and the owner articulated so well the beauty and vulnerability of this space. Also enjoyed the way he delivered the thought process of the design. Very inspiring way of living!

  13. @GinMa1977

    Love your house and sentiments. Building not more than what we need and insisting on a connection to the natural environment…just wonderful! Another architect, James Cutler, expressed the same kind of intimacy with nature that enriches the lived experience.
    As an architect myself, I can relate to your dissonant introduction into architecture.
    Well made film and well narrated! Than you for sharing your work!

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