Inside a Climate-Responsive Modernist Brick Bungalow
The airy, open Brick House was designed to maximise family time using flexible spaces
Chiquit Brammall
16 October 2017
Design journalist and freelance editor. Dollhouse architect. Serial renter.
It can’t get more personal than this: an architect designing his family home. For Teo Yee Chin, principal architect of the award-winning Red Bean Architects, the project his firm calls Brick House was exactly that. Asked to what degree were the owners involved with the design, he says: “They were very much involved, because the architect is the occupant!”
Teo’s very personal touch is seen in the facade, which is a dramatically detailed work of architectural art: a brick illustration of the East Coast sunrise. “There were four colours of bricks we used, ranging from dark brown to light cream. The pattern was pixelated from an image of the sky at sunrise, (taken) from the East Coast. It was not difficult to communicate the pattern to the contractor because every brick was drawn on the elevation and a very large drawing given to the bricklayer to follow,” the architect says.
Houzz at a Glance
Who lives here: Architect Teo Yee Chin and his family of six
Location: East Coast Drive
Size: 510 square metres (gross floor area)
Estimated construction cost: S$1.5million
Design team: Teo Yee Chin, Liow Zhengping, Yeo Yih Hsiu of Red Bean Architects
Who lives here: Architect Teo Yee Chin and his family of six
Location: East Coast Drive
Size: 510 square metres (gross floor area)
Estimated construction cost: S$1.5million
Design team: Teo Yee Chin, Liow Zhengping, Yeo Yih Hsiu of Red Bean Architects
Said brick image is laid on a box-like mass seemingly propped up by slim columns – a house on stilts, if you will. Traditionally a climate-responsive design typology, the house on stilts allows for air to circulate around the open ground floor, cooling the upper floors. The brick box also keeps cool through large picture windows and the strategic absence of bricks in some parts of the wall.
A double-volume living room space on the ground floor physically and visually connects the other common spaces, such as the family room on the second floor, and the open-concept kitchen and dining areas on the ground floor. It’s also designed to be flexible for different activities, says Teo. Housing three generations, including three young children, he wanted maximum interaction space.
“The living room space is the grand volume that welcomes and accommodates people coming together. This space opens up on three sides with large sliding glass doors to let in the scenery of lush bamboo and caesapina trees,” Teo says.
“The living room space is the grand volume that welcomes and accommodates people coming together. This space opens up on three sides with large sliding glass doors to let in the scenery of lush bamboo and caesapina trees,” Teo says.
The fair-faced concrete block – most evident at the dining area – forms the minor volume and contains the service areas such as the wet kitchen and laundry.
A long study hall in the second floor connects the bedrooms and family room. There is also an entertainment and karaoke room in the basement (not pictured).
Although the house is three-and-a-half floors, Teo says: “We wanted to preserve the intimacy of a small family house. Increasing the number of floors would only directly increase the barriers between spaces and interaction between them.” Thus, spaces such as the study were designed to be open to all family members.
Although the house is three-and-a-half floors, Teo says: “We wanted to preserve the intimacy of a small family house. Increasing the number of floors would only directly increase the barriers between spaces and interaction between them.” Thus, spaces such as the study were designed to be open to all family members.
Gaps in the brick wall allow sunlight and natural ventilation into even the most private of spaces, such as the bathroom.
A sunlight-filled stairway leads to the roof deck, which is another space for the multi-generational family to enjoy together.
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What did you find most striking about this home? Share in the Comments below.
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@magvent Planes don't spray insecticide; what we do have are regular fogging for mosquitos as well as vector control operations – and yes, this is a threat to health but dengue and Zika virus are bigger threats in our climate, so we live with the lesser evil. Singapore homeowners are also responsible for mosquito and pest control within our own properties.
I love it! Would add a a few rugs to soften things just a bit.
Very unique and interesting, love the exterior brick pattern, and the idea of gaps in the wall to let in the sunlight, in the bathroom. Otherwise rather cold and clinical (for my taste), I especially can't get the idea of the dining room which is like sitting in a large concrete hallway. Very high roofs usually do not convey a sense of cosiness, and here it's combined with large hard and empty surfaces. Also wonder about noise, it must be echoing in there, if two people have a conversation at the dining table you can hear it through the whole living room probably. I hope they don't watch TV in the same room too !