ARCHITECTURAL FOCUS
PROJECT MOVING HOUSE
RENOVATION OF A BRUTALIST APARTMENT IN SINGAPORE
SPARK has completed the conversion of a 132 sqm 3-bedroom apartment located in a Brutalist tower into a colourful , light-filled home , a canvas for the owners ’ creative selfexpression .
Formerly compartmentalised spaces connected by a dark corridor is now arranged “ enfilade ” sequential open living spaces focussed towards the verdant panoramic views . Playful visual procession draws you through the spaces . Views are framed by colour portals , scenography is created by layered colour walls and objects placed in perspective , drawing you through the connected spaces . Line , circle and colour block motifs are animated by the shifting daylight and shadow cast by venetian blinds . Bold colour laminate is used extensively to delineate functional areas such as kitchen and storage . Sliding ‘ gallery walls ’ facilitate the alternative patterns of domestic liveability . The apartment is a mirror of the owner ’ s love of colour and design , the apartment is a bright canvas for art and delightful objects and furnishings .
The city-state is also known for its meticulously restored shophouses and other examples of British Colonial architecture , as well as contemporary green buildings that were designed to look stunning but also save energy in a tropical climate .
Singapore ’ s Brutalist buildings compared to the meticulously restored colonial shophouses often fall into disrepair given the issues of shared ownership of common facilities with many owners thinking that selling their units collectively is a better financial bet than investing in upgrading .
Brutalism
Brutalism , often used as a pejorative term , refers to heroic modernist buildings of stark simplicity with raw concrete finishes . Singapore ’ s own take on the Brutalist style was influenced by Europe and Japan .
ARCHETECH - PAGE 70