Tropical Sanctuary

In the midst of the modern metropolis of Singapore lies a multi-level tropical sanctuary in the hilly Bukit Timah enclave, home to LTW Designworks’ principal partner H.L. Lim, wife Christine Lim and their two pet dogs.

Taking inspiration from the site’s natural surroundings of lush green landscapes, unobstructed outdoor views and the ever-changing Singapore skyline, the house’s architecture blurs the boundaries between the indoor and outdoor space to create a relaxed and resort-like ambiance. Located on a steep hillside, the house is intentionally situated on the leeward side in order to maintain a high level of privacy and security, while maximizing the flow of natural air through the interior.

“The open space-plan design creates a comfortable micro-climate for the home, especially during the night when accumulated heat from the ground leads to an increase in indoor temperature” says H.L., adding “as a result I’ve incorporated several water features around the house such as ponds and a swimming pool which helps to cool down the interior spaces when there is cross ventilation.”

Unlike many other private homes in the region, the use of metal, particularly iron, was a key element in the home’s construction. H.L. describes “the iron cladding panels naturally oxidize over time, giving the home an incredible rustic aesthetic and texture, and also creates a visual contrast against the other natural structural materials such as stone and timber.” Altogether these materials and textures contribute to an earthy, visually-striking colour tone that blends into the surrounding landscape.

Inside, H.L. and Catherine selected imported Italian marble for the bathrooms and corridors that complement the architectural colour palette, giving the interior walls a subtle layering effect. “The marbles come from a particular region in Italy that is rich in volcanic minerals and gaseous cavities,” explains Lim, “and while typically many homeowners choose to fill in the porous cavities and polish this kind of marble, we decided to keep them unfinished to respect the material’s natural state.” Additionally, floors and ceilings of the house are covered in teak wood that was reclaimed from old houses in Indonesia, and similar to the stone and iron work, these surfaces were left in their original matte finish to highlight their intrinsic colour, texture and beauty.

To realize the concept of a ‘tropical home’ with a unique industrial quality, spaces were purposefully opened up such as staircase balustrades in order to allow natural airflow throughout. Framing the spacious living room is a double-height feature wall of wooden blocks rising up from the lower floor up and across the ceiling in dramatic fashion. Resembling an image of “hands pressed together” the custom-designed installation from a Beijing art studio is symbolic of peace, wellbeing and shelter.

“We gave the artist the freedom to create any pattern he wanted,” says H.L. The result was a stunning artwork comprised of hundreds of wooden cubes stacked and cut at various chamfers, resulting in this amazing abstract pattern that reveals varying patterns when viewed from different areas of the house. “We want our guests to appreciate the house from different angles and spaces. The open planned layout and the layers of transparency allow for this to happen,” H.L. shares. For instance, the bridge and the staircase leading up to the third floor bedrooms are designed with thin steel rods and clear panels, giving an illusion of being suspended in mid-air. The vertical lines from the feature wall counterbalance the horizontal planes of the pond and outdoor swimming pool.

When it came to discussing on the challenges H.L. faced when designing and constructing the house, he expressed that it was not a challenge and more importantly he wanted to let the landscape develop organically and so this was handled personally by H.L. and his wife, Christine. They have maintained the green spaces and planted a variety of fruit trees close to the pavilion, including bananas, papayas and avocados.

Many areas of the house are designed for the couple to host their dinners, parties and gatherings. Particularly the rooftop, where they hold barbeques, guests can take in wide-angle views of the Singapore skyline and the city centre, including Marina Bay Sands while the dining room is located in the kitchen and is connected with the pavilion for hosting pool-side gatherings.

Comfort was the main consideration when sourcing for furniture and accessories. Large sofas for the living room and armchairs made from woven plastic are selected instead of rattan as they are more comfortable and easier to maintain. All furniture and fittings match the immediate surroundings and the interiors. Flaring colours like red, loud decorative pieces and reflective surfaces were avoided. Accessories for the house were collected from the couple’s travel during their trips to India, Egypt, Africa and around the world. No items in the main living areas are too precious for them to be extra cautious when moving between the spaces. Valuing the “living experience” itself, it is important for them to feel completely at ease when they are at home.