Reader's home
Wed, 29 Sep 2010
Paul and his wife Elsa have recently moved into their new home in Singapore (an 86m2 / 925 sq ft public housing apartment). Turning to magazines and blogs for inspiration they have created this fabulous minimalist apartment, a perfect respite from Singapore's hectic pace. Emailing with Paul he came up with an insight into Singapore's growing design scene.
Things have really started to move design and architecture-wise in Singapore over the past 5-6 years. Lots of interesting stuff now, but I think we are still some way away from finding our own design vernacular. There isn't a "Singapore" look, in the way that there is an American country-home look, or a Scandinavian aesthetic, or even the modern-Australian feel that so many of the Sydney and Melbourne homes that you have put up on your site have achieved. I guess it is a bit difficult with the cookie-cutter government housing flats that 80% of us live in, where everything is pre-fab. For a long time, the government was just trying to put together as much low-cost housing as possible to meet the demands of population growth. So build quality is alright, and the flats are relatively affordable, but they were absolutely zip in terms of design until recent years. More effort is being put in to the aesthetics of the new built flats now, but the one I just moved in to recently is about 10 years old, and was certainly built for function rather than form. I have always been a fan of mid-century modern and minimalist styles. What I tried to do with the flat is to keep it honest to its pre-fab / concrete / city-space background by taking on an industrial feel and meshing it with what the styles that I liked. It was challenging because neither my wife nor I have any background in design whatsoever, but really great fun. There are many other really interesting interpretations of public housing flats though – everything from modern baroque to faux-country house, and from Balinese resort to French petit-Chateau style. It will be interesting to see if all the different styles somehow converge into a "Singaporean" look in the future!
Reader Comments (46)
Thanks for your reply Paul. It's interesting finding out how it all works.
Hey Paul, public housing are lease from the government despite you thinking you 'own' it. If you were to look at the agreement you signed with the housing board, you will notice you are listed as a leasee not an owner as these flats are on 99 years lease and the government will take back the land after 99 years.
Well, that's not exactly right. Constitutionally, none of the land in Singapore is truly "owned" by its citizens for perpetuity save for "fee simple" lands granted by the Birtish Colonial government. Fee simple lands make up less than 1% of Singapore land. All other land can be acquisitioned by the government at any time, whether freehold or leasehold. Of couse, leasehold land (usually with a tenure of between 30 to 99-years) reverts to the state at the end of that time.
However, saying all that, Singaporeans purchse such leasehold units all the time, and title is transferred to the owners. We are the legal owners of the property as it is, and can deal with it as legal owners. And, contrary to what you have stated, we are listed as "owner-occupiers" of the flat. I hope that clarifies things.
Gorgeous!!!! We cannot wait to chill at your place... Hallelujah!
Thanks Paul for your answer! I´ll be waiting for the floor plan while looking at this pictures again and again! (I can´t promise not to borrow more than one or two wonderful ideas)
OH my there must be something wrong with me, so many people love this but I just find this apartment kinda depressing. Pool little bears.
Wonderful work you have there Paul, quite inspiring actually. I was wondering where can I find the listed as "Owner-occupiers" of the flat?
Hi. I love the place. I was wondering what type of stand is holding up the tv. Not the white cabinet that the tv is sitting on, but the silver metal strip that the tv is actually positioned on. Did that piece of "metal" come with the tv or is it purchased seperately or was it custom made? I have not seen anything like that before.
Paul, your apartment is gorgeous! I saved most of the photos for my inspiration folder! Where did you get the Togo in Singapore? I've been trying to find it but have not been very lucky :(
what a great place!..Im inlove with your CLOCK - 'clock' where did you get that? :-)
Hi guys - thanks for the comments. Will try to make some brief responses:
Shawn - the TV is a new Sony Bravia NX700. I was looking for a nice set that would look presentable sitting on a console - did not want to wall mount my TV as everything in the house is really low. This came out at the perfect time. The metal piece is designed by Sony to fit these TVs, but must be bought separately.
S - I got the Togo from Monticello. They have a lovely Ligne Roset showroom at Odeon Towers on North Bridge Road.
det15 - the CLOCK is from some Italian brand. We pruchased it from a shop called Molecule that sells lots of cute clocks. There's a branch at Great World City and another one at Mandarin Gallery on Orchard Road.
I love the design Paul. I'm currently based in Melbourne and looking for ideas to renovate my HDB pod when I return sometime next year. What sort of flooring and from which company did you use for the master bedroom?
Hi Kevin, the flooring is just normal parquet that was already there from the previous owners. We just got some flooring people to stain it a very dark, almost black, walnut colour.
Hi Paul,
For two design newbies, you have done a wonderful job decorating this apartment. My favorites are the reading room and the office space. The desk you have, is exactly what I'm looking for for our new place. Could you tell me where you bought it?
Hi - the desk was actually built in. I told my contractors what I wanted and we worked on the design a little bit to fit the room.
As design newbies I think you did a wonderful job with decorating the apartment. I would be happy if our new place turned out half as nice. The reading area and office space are my favorites. May I ask where you got the desk from? It's excatly what I've been looking for.
Thank you,
Sonja
I just repeated myself. For some reason I couldn't see my first post ... Sorry about that Paul and thanks for your answer.
Hi Paul, I really love what you've done with your apartment. You should consider becoming a part-time interior designer! Lol!
May I ask what kind of sealant did you use for your cement flooring? And if it's not too much to ask, could I also have the contact for your contractor please?
Thank you!
If there is a "Singapore style" it is a style and design conscious one. A lot of people seem to be much more aware of design classics, new designs and put a great deal of thought and money into their living spaces than in other parts of Asia, not to say the world, also interiors in Singapore often have parts in the decor that look back on Singapore's history, with anything from old bicycle taxis and window bars to old soda bottles and Peranakan style tiles on display.
Take Hong Kong as a contrast, where people in general are obsessed with real estate as an investment, but do not seem to care much about their living spaces and architecture and interior design most of the time seems to come as an afterthought.
I love that clock! Who makes that?
The place looks really great!
May i know how to achieve the effect for your bathroom wall?
Is it cement screed? Any maintenance issue with this adoption since the moisture level is high?
I am thinking of cement screed for my bathroom wall but everyone around me discourages saying that crack lines will appear after a few years plus the dampness will result in mold and porous.
So really hope to hear from you. Thanks.