Architect Vincent Lim of Visual Text Architects (VTxT) was fortunate enough to meet the homeowners of this bungalow, who prize design over the maximisation of their built-in space.
Other than wanting lots of greenery, a koi pond, and a swimming pool for their new home, the family put their complete trust in him to deliver a house that would suit their lifestyle.
The result is a delightfully simple two-storey bungalow with an exposed column-and-beam design and mono-pitched roof emblematic of Modernist architecture; in particular, the work of architect Mies van der Rohe, which has always inspired Vincent.
“My concept was very simple. I wanted to create a modern shell around the original structure,” he says. The double-volume glassed- in structure is the “shell”, which encloses the extension of the home from its former footprint (marked by the long antique-brick wall on the ground level).
Indonesian Stone Pool
The pool features inviting emerald-green water, thanks to the specially sourced green-grey Indonesian volcanic stone that clads its sides and bottom.
![67702-lorescarmichael-10](https://sonadecor.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/12/67702-lorescarmichael-10.jpg)
Pavilion Style Architecture
This perspective shows the modern shell, or “pavilion-like structure”, that Vincent designed around the original house.
![67708-screen-shot-2017-06-23-11-32-19-am](https://sonadecor.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/12/67708-screen-shot-2017-06-23-11-32-19-am.png)
Kitchen Island
A mirrored panel cleverly conceals a second, smaller sink between the kitchen island and the dining table.
![67706-screen-shot-2017-06-23-11-31-54-am](https://sonadecor.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/12/67706-screen-shot-2017-06-23-11-31-54-am.png)
Dining Room
The brick wall on the right of the dining area marks where the original house ended.
![67711-screen-shot-2017-06-23-11-32-50-am](https://sonadecor.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/12/67711-screen-shot-2017-06-23-11-32-50-am.png)
Floor to Ceiling Glass Doors
A view of the kitchen from the second storey. Floor-to-ceiling sliding glass doors provide fast and easy access to the pool.
![67709-screen-shot-2017-06-23-11-32-31-am](https://sonadecor.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/12/67709-screen-shot-2017-06-23-11-32-31-am.png)
Kitchen
The family installed two sinks in the kitchen area for hygiene purposes – one for washing dishes, and the other for preparing food.
![67707-screen-shot-2017-06-23-11-32-03-am](https://sonadecor.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/12/67707-screen-shot-2017-06-23-11-32-03-am.png)
Teak Staircase
As with the rest of the wood used in the house, the teak stair treads were sourced from Indonesia by Vincent and the homeowner.
![67704-lorescarmichael-22](https://sonadecor.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/12/67704-lorescarmichael-22.jpg)
Waterproof Paint
Two coats of waterproof paint on all the bathroom walls work just as well as tiles, but look much better, says Vincent.
![67710-screen-shot-2017-06-23-11-32-41-am](https://sonadecor.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/12/67710-screen-shot-2017-06-23-11-32-41-am.png)
Double Volume Windows
On the second floor, where the bedrooms are located, the high-level windows help provide lightness to the structure.
This story first appeared on Sona Decor in 2017.
![67703-lorescarmichael-16](https://sonadecor.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/12/67703-lorescarmichael-16.jpg)