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i saw the pictures first, then realised this house is actually in bukit timah, singapore. and what a house it is!
the use of water, natural light and stone brings a great expansiveness to the already amply sized space. i particularly love the use of water bodies as a way to cool the house and reduce ambient heat effect– an excellent demonstration of how functionality and good design can indeed go together.
asymptote architecture looks like a firm to watch.
they’ve recently completed a residential project in the heart of manhattan, which from far away looks more conventional than a closer look reveals. 166 perry street has a glass facade, with panels tilted at different angles, some towards the sky, others towards the ground. what it then reveals are snapshots of the cityscape, put together in a patchwork for viewing pleasure. this is subtle, but informed architecture at its best.
a look at their previously completed project, the stunning hydrapier in the netherlands, suggests that their elegant and nuanced eye will continue to bring about pieces of architecture to be marvelled at as works of art.
a gorgeous building, well-suited to its location right by lake michigan. contrary to what critics say, i actually really like seeing what people can do to shake up a traditional box-like office building structure, whilst not entirely removing semblance of that form. at the end of the day, not all companies want buildings that look like works of art, they may sometimes just want spaces which are usable, professional and which are not too far off from their corporate image. that’s where the beauty of good architecture lies: in being able to transform and elevate the experience of a space, without alienating the very people who operate within it.
i came across this article which highlights an old black and white in singapore that has been restored by its current occupant, mark seeger. there seem to be more people going by the diy route when it comes to home decor and restoration. whether it be from the build-it-yourself ikea shelves, to the improvise-it-yourself bookcases, to the sophisticated art of roof and floor restoration. i’ve built basic houses with habitat for humanity before, and the process of hammering out the structure of a house to adding the finishing touches of insulation bring about a newfound humility and appreciation for the places we live, sleep and dream in. what seals the deal for this house is mark’s clearly aesthetic eye, evident in the wave bookcase, gorgeous solid wooden dining table, bale roof and juxtaposition of old brick with chocolate wooden floorboards. altogether an inspired project!
wow. this is really something. this building is one of many that sit on the corporate campus of vitra, a german furniture company. they are conventionally shaped housing structures on the exterior but whose interior spaces are fluid, open and filled with light.
in school, they had housed us in container classrooms to cope with the growing student population. the classrooms had been functional, rectangular, air-conditioned boxes where lectures (and chatting) reverbed off the walls alarmingly well. the common use of containers in such mundane ways is what makes this project by the AnL studio team so refreshing. here, they’ve taken a few old shipping containers, which by a simple angling, have transformed them into a fresh and contemporary piece of practical architecture.
i came across independent’s article of this stunning piece of architecture. it’s a piece designed by the up and coming japanese duo, sanaa. it is what i feel outstanding architecture is about, looking effortlessly beautiful, but underpinned by good, user-friendly design and the latest in building and material technology. the glass and concrete combination in the undulating curves make for a fitting space to engage in research that is experimental and nebulous.
penang, especially georgetown, is really quite something.
i’m not sure if my being singaporean adds to the charm, especially because there’s a lot here that is what i imagine singapore would have been like in the 60s. think old barber and hairdressing salons, areas dedicated to a particular type of craft, street markets, lots of roadside stalls with good food. add onto that beautiful old shophouses in a multitude of hues and ages– a photographer’s wet dream.
just remember though, singapore is a lot smaller than penang, so it would be helpful to hire a vehicle while you’re there!
check out:
to see
all the old guild associations around town and the beautiful old shophouses
jalan chowrasta- the market here is in full swing every morning
to eat
bon ton cafe, lorong stewart: amazing carrot cake
amelie’s cafe, lebuh armenian: cozy cafe, bread, drinks
gurney drive: most things hit the spot!
lebuh keng kwee: chendol and asam laksa. mmm.
winter warmers, gurney plaza: lavender milk tea
young heart restaurant, jln cantonment: healthy food, delicious dumplings and noodles
i am thankful that this new building opened right when i started work at the new job. it’s a beautiful piece of architecture to walk past every day. the architects have managed to marry the modern glass and steel look so favoured by corporates these days with a very clean, zen feel. i tried to find out more about the architects online, but couldn’t find anything about them. i’d wager a guess that they’re asian.
there’s a big pool encased in charcoal gray slate out the front, and in the mornings, you can see yellow and brown leaves that have gathered along the edges of the pool. it’s picturesque. throw in the occasional tree branch that falls into the pool, and it’s gravity’s own installation art project. one section of the building, which i’m guessing is the main lobby area, has been done up with a copper rusted facade that helps add warmth to the straight lines and dark materials. round the back of the buildings, there’s a rock garden with a few larger dark gray boulders sitting atop a wash of small white pebbles. one of the mornings as i glanced over, i saw the sweeper trying to remove the leaves from the garden with a rake. and as he went along his way, i wondered if he realised how much he looked like a monk engaging in zen meditation practice in japan, raking through sand/rock gardens to clear the mind.
there aren’t any pictures to accompany this post really, just a description. there’s a house along mountbatten road, nestled amidst the stretch of big houses with newly repaved pavement, which stands out from the row. its got an asymmetrical exterior gate and three large paper lampshades encased in an attic of glass at the very tip of the house. during the day, the house already looks quite interesting, but at night, that’s when the house comes alive for me. at night, the purple exterior gate looks black, and everything on the quiet road is dark, except these three glowing orbs, an illuminated installation piece.
