Concrete, in the context of the city, has often been described as cold. This reconstruction by ip:li Architects demonstrates otherwise. Luo Jingmei writes.
April 16th, 2012
How many ways can you add more space to an existing house? In Singapore, there appears to be only two – awkwardly attach rooms in myriad styles, or gingerly stick on a glass box should the house come with some history.
But architect Yip Yuen Hong of ip:li Architects has gone and done things quite differently – by boldly and almost insouciantly encasing the existing house with a concrete shell.
One of Yip’s recently completed projects, the bungalow at 19 Sunset Place is as familiar as it is arresting. Indeed, alongside neighbours comprising immaculate white cubes and decorative juxtapositions of French windows and tiled roofs, it is stark in form and raw in materiality, as if pulled from a sketch and grown from the ground.
“The existing house didn’t have enough space to cater to the needs of the clients – a couple with two teenage sons, two maids and two dogs,” explains Yip. “But they thought the original house was quite charming and wanted to either keep it or [replicate] a new one.”
The house, like some others lining the same street, was a 70s-type construction of old-school russet bricks and dark-stained timber strip wall panelling. A visit to the site left Yip enamoured and he decided to retain as much of it as possible.
“Such materials are very hard to find nowadays,” he says. “I feel a great affinity for this sort of basic, raw materials like brick, plaster, concrete – simple things.” No surprise then that he has decided to leave the concrete shell unfinished, albeit textured with timber formwork patterns. “For me, concrete is very soulful and very malleable. You can do quite a lot of things with it.”
Yip is aware that not everybody can take to this roughness, “for the simple fact that they haven’t seen much of it in Singapore. Hence, they just want sleek houses.” But sleek is not what Yip does and neither is perfection. His job, he explains, is to provide a framework for the owners to participate in the growth and evolution of their home. “[But] don’t make it sound as if we are trying to be philosophical, that we want to educate the world,” he adds, smiling. “We’re just trying to make a nice house with nice materials so that it’s fun for the owners and fun for us.”
Photos: Jeremy San
ip:li Architects
ipliarchitects.com
Check out the full story in Cubes issue 55 out now at Singapore newsstands.
A searchable and comprehensive guide for specifying leading products and their suppliers
Keep up to date with the latest and greatest from our industry BFF's!
The Sub-Zero Wolf showrooms in Sydney and Melbourne provide a creative experience unlike any other. Now showcasing all-new product ranges, the showrooms present a unique perspective on the future of kitchens, homes and lifestyles.
In the pursuit of an uplifting synergy between the inner world and the surrounding environment, internationally acclaimed Interior Architect and Designer Lorena Gaxiola transform the vibration of the auspicious number ‘8’ into mesmerising artistry alongside the Feltex design team, brought to you by GH Commercial.
Sub-Zero and Wolf’s prestigious Kitchen Design Contest (KDC) has celebrated the very best in kitchen innovation and aesthetics for three decades now. Recognising premier kitchen design professionals from around the globe, the KDC facilitates innovation, style and functionality that pushes boundaries.
Channelling the enchanting ambience of the Caffè Greco in Rome, Budapest’s historic Gerbeaud, and Grossi Florentino in Melbourne, Ross Didier’s new collection evokes the designer’s affinity for café experience, while delivering refined seating for contemporary hospitality interiors.
With their recent refurbishment of Sydney’s iconic Shangri-La Hotel, Paul McGillick thinks that HASSELL have set a new benchmark.
What used to be one of the design world’s most reviled institutions is now earning a reputation as an authentic design house, committed to investing in original talent. And their efforts at the recent Salone del Mobile 2017 were aimed at emphasising this new era for the brand and for design democracy.
A new “tech hub” designed to deliver a slice of Silicon Valley to south-east Queensland is expected to be operational in October next year, with construction underway of the $14 million Gold Coast building, which will be home to AMMA Private Equity.
The internet never sleeps! Here's the stuff you might have missed
Symbolising a commitment to cultural preservation and timeless design, Powerhouse Castle Hill invites visitors into the stories behind the artefacts in a diverse range of educational and cultural activities.
In Malaysia Spacemen has created a world of perfumed wonder with their latest project, Trove, where treasures abound.