Filial piety. Hierarchy. Family. While traditional Asian values may wane in this day and age, such is not the case for this household, who reside in a Ridout Road bungalow.
Setting out to build a house for his multigenerational family, a managing director of a listed company – who prefers to remain unnamed – gave the task to Ta.le Architects.
The brief: to build a home that could house his entire family, so as to uphold those Asian values which he holds dear, and do more. Much more.
Ridout Road Bungalow Size
He also wanted the 29,000 sq ft (2,694 sqm) Ridout Road bungalow to serve the dual purpose of being a space where he could host business associates, extended family and friends.
Thus, it was paramount that a battery of amenities be included in the design of the house – such as a movie theatre, KTV room, swimming pool, sauna, fitness centre, squash court, wine cellar and a pool table – so as to keep guests perpetually entertained.
![luxury-homes-singapore_ta-le-architects_ridout-road_1 Living room with large sofas and a grand chandelier](https://sonadecor.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/12/luxury-homes-singapore_ta-le-architects_ridout-road_1.jpg)
4 Generations Live Here
For Ta.le Architects, the challenge was designing a house to accommodate four generations: the client and his elderly parents, his four children and one grandchild. This required them to understand the nuances of each generation in the family.
Design around Family Hierarchy
Says the founder and principal architect of Ta.le Architects, Tay Yanling: “Ultimately, we needed to really understand the family hierarchy and the relationships between the different family members.
This would then guide us in the overall design of the home, enabling us to balance the connections between intimate private spaces and communal spaces in a way that harmoniously reflects the family culture.”
![luxury-homes-singapore_ta-le-architects_ridout-road_new View of the house from outside](https://sonadecor.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/12/luxury-homes-singapore_ta-le-architects_ridout-road_new.jpg)
1920s British Military Home
Besides that, the original building set on this plot of land is a conserved 20th century plantation house, which served as a home to a British military officer and his family during the early 1920s. It sits atop terraced grass fields, overlooking a woodland area with historic tembusu and angsana trees.
This posed another challenge of having to preserve the image of the plantation estate, which meant having to design a structure or extension that would not compete with the original building architecturally and visually.
![luxury-homes-singapore_ta-le-architects_ridout-road_5 A view of the rooftop balcony and side windows](https://sonadecor.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/12/luxury-homes-singapore_ta-le-architects_ridout-road_5.jpg)
Extension is 12 times larger
The solution put forth by the team at Ta.le Architects in collaboration with designers from Produce Workshop, is an extension that’s 12 times the size of the original building, clad in green platforms to retain the image of a single bungalow in the midst of lush, serene greenery – and aptly christened the “Hidden House”.
“It was critical that one should be able to view and appreciate the surrounding greenery from any part of the house,” says Pan Yicheng, collaborating designer from Produce Workshop.
![luxury-homes-singapore_ta-le-architects_ridout-road_4 View of a green wall in the home](https://sonadecor.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/12/luxury-homes-singapore_ta-le-architects_ridout-road_4.jpg)
Traditional Chinese Architecture Inspired
Drawing inspiration from the traditional Chinese quadrangle house, or 四合院 (Translate: courtyard house. Pronounce: si he yuan), the extension’s design is structured and not overly flamboyant, a trait that’s said to be characteristic of the client.
Symmetry and hierarchy reign as the bedrooms and private areas are spread across the three upper floors, arranged hierarchically with the master bedroom at the top, and children’s rooms at the lower levels – reflective of the traditional family order and structure.
![ridout-road-house-exterior_thepeaksingapore A view of the rooftop clad with grass.](https://sonadecor.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/12/ridout-road-house-exterior_thepeaksingapore.jpg)
Courtyard House
A courtyard-like space in the middle of each of the house’s three quadrangles makes for a common area for members of the family to interact.
![luxury-homes-singapore_ta-le-architects_ridout-road_3 A small cosy living and dining room](https://sonadecor.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/12/luxury-homes-singapore_ta-le-architects_ridout-road_3.jpg)
Timber Clad Ceiling
In the house, timber-clad ceilings give an expansive look and a sense of spaciousness, as far as ceiling space is concerned, while being perforated by a series of light wells, introducing natural light and air into the communal spaces.
Copper panels complement the pink bricks on the bungalow’s facade, while also providing shade and privacy for the interiors.
![ridout-road-house_bathroom_thepeaksingapore A grand marble bath flanked by marble sinks and pillars](https://sonadecor.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/12/ridout-road-house_bathroom_thepeaksingapore.jpg)
![ridout-road-house_office_thepeaksingapore A luxurious study with polished marble flooring](https://sonadecor.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/12/ridout-road-house_office_thepeaksingapore.jpg)
Original Colonial House Preserved
“We incorporated nature – from greenery and foliage to using water and wood throughout – and paid respect to the older colonial building that overlooks the entire project,” adds Tay.
“This interweaving of nature and modernity, old and new reflects the complex family hierarchy and relationships that exist in the Hidden House.”
![luxury-homes-singapore_ta-le-architects_ridout-road_2 A grand staircase with lights](https://sonadecor.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/12/luxury-homes-singapore_ta-le-architects_ridout-road_2.jpg)
This article was first published on The Peak.