Ninety7 @ Siglap

The house sits on Siglap Hill, the highest point in a residential suburb in the eastern part of Singapore. As the highest point, the site is breezy and it also enjoys spectacular views of the surrounding low-rise neighbourhood and the city skyline. Aamer designed the house to capitalise on both attributes of the site. The owner is a bachelor and a businessman who entertains at his house. The main spaces of the house were elevated off the ground to fully exploit the magnificent views and catch the breeze. The main "public" spaces – the living room, dining room and the open kitchen – were placed on the second level while the private spaces – the master bedroom, study and personal entertainment space – were placed on the third level. A single continuous curvilinear plane wrapped around the two levels of main spaces, flowing from roof of the car porch to the floor of the second level and upward to join the roof of the third level, unifying the main spaces as a single dynamic volume on the southern edge. The curvilinear plane unwrapped itself on the western edge to reveal two big balconies thrusting forward in the direction of the city skyline, propelled by two slanted columns. Around the perimeter of the rooms in the main spaces are streamlined and generously proportioned balconies. These balconies allowed activities to spill out from the rooms and also linked up the different rooms. As significantly, they also served as an environmental filter sheltering the rooms from direct sunlight and rain. When this house won a Singapore Institute of Architects’ Design Award, the jury citations noted especially the "very up-to-date take on a tropical language of architecture." In contrast to the openness of the second and third levels, the ground level appears closed off. From the street entrance, there are two blank walls that defined a recessed entrance. The entrance leads to a swimming pool with a covered terrace on one side. On the other side of the swimming pool are two, what Aamer described as, "resort style 'Cabana'" rooms that are currently used as a gymnasium and a guest bedroom. In contrast to the expansive and extroverted second and third level, the spaces in the first level are rather introverted – the perimeter planting blocks out any outward view and the swimming pool became the inward focus. This contrast is perhaps calculated to accentuate the sense of drama when the guest ascends the staircase and sees the sudden unveiling of the spectacular views.