With its striking vermillion-colored sloping roof, the house is designed to feel like a humble, single-story home for a family with three children. Upon entering, a meandering path winds through a small garden of tall grasses, leading beneath the expansive roof. A carefully placed opening accommodates a tree, guiding visitors into the family’s main living space—a private, tranquil retreat. These layered spaces maximise privacy, allowing the family to overlook the landscape while remaining discreetly nestled within their home.

At the heart of the house, a courtyard with a single large tree reflects the family’s love of nature. The dining area opens onto this courtyard, where the tree stands as a silent witness to daily life, connecting all the rooms above. Even the powder room, designed to feel open yet secluded, offers a serene vantage point to admire the courtyard and the ever-changing shadows cast through the skylight.

Upstairs, every bedroom is oriented towards the courtyard, transforming the space into a shared family sanctuary. Each bedroom is distinguished by a unique color reflecting its occupant’s personality while unified under the overarching roof. The master bedroom, perched above, enjoys the most privileged view of both the house and courtyard, designed as a peaceful retreat with an outdoor balcony serving as its entrance.

Honoring the home’s past, elements from the original house have been repurposed—old window and door grilles are thoughtfully reassembled into a composition that now forms the entrance gate and courtyard skylight, blending history with contemporary design.

Photography: Ong Chan Hao