Project in Detail
Lien Residence
Singapore, Republic of
Ministry of Design Pte Ltd, China Court, Singapore, Republic of
2010
Lien Residence by Ministry of Design
Architecture (with PAA) + Interior Architecture
600 sq m
Singapore 2009. Built
Zig Zag house
Returning to the romance of the single storey bungalow house (an endangered typology in densely urbanised Singapore) the Zig-Zag house acquires its characteristic form by responding to the challenging site constraints through a series of spatial maneuvers that negotiate a long and triangulated sliver of land and its resident mature Tembusu tree*.
Zoning
As a first impression, the Zig-Zag House appears to be a single storey building detached from the datum of the existing landscape but in actuality comprises 2 floors: on the first floor, a sky-lit basement entry/garage and on the basement floor, 'servant' areas which anchor the 'served' spaces above. Each of the building’s three interconnected wings house an entertainment zone, a family zone and a private master room zone. This spatial strategy allows for areas to be interconnected whilst maintaining the ability to be zoned for privacy.
Sculpture versus Architecture
Designed as a seamless form, the building encourages an ambiguous reading between architecture and abstracted sculpture. Viewed from the vicinity’s taller structures, the building’s roof-scape provides the final design touch – where diagonally arranged planting strips echo the unique twisted form of the Zig Zag House.
Climate
Responding to the region's tropical climate, the building is organized along a continuous series of single loaded spaces, which allow for ample cross ventilation and natural light. Each of the building’s elevations are rhythmically lined with full height sliding glass doors which open onto internal corridors that serve as naturally ventilated breezeways. Courtyards, captured by the twisting building form, bring light into the basement areas as well as allow for outdoor deck spaces that link indoor and outdoor spaces seamlessly.
Materiality
A simple plaster white finish for all the walls was chosen to accentuate the twisting form of the building as well as to capture the shifting light and shadows throughout the day. Timber flooring was used internally and carried through to the external decks to provide a reading of greater seamlessness between internal and external spaces.
The Zig Zag house contributes to the evolving typology of the tropical house with its pared- down materiality, simplicity of form and fenestration, complexity of space and the re-interpretation of key tropical architectural tenants.
*The site's resident tree had to be later felled during the course of construction due to the poor health of its root system.
Lead Architect »
Ministry of Design Pte Ltd
China Court
Singapore, Republic of
Professional Credits »
Client / Developer
Lien Ying Chow (Pte) Ltd
Singapore, Republic of
Environmental Engineer
LAC Engineers & Associates
Singapore, Republic of
Landscape Architect
Tierra Design
Singapore, Republic of
Main Contractor
Domain Trading & Construction
Singapore, Republic of
Masterplanner
K2LD Architects
Singapore, Republic of
Mechanical & Electrical Engineer
LAC Engineers & Associates
Singapore, Republic of
Structural Engineer
JS Tan & Associates
Singapore, Republic of
Submissions Architect
Park + Associates
Singapore, Republic of
Supplier / Product Credits »
Floor
Timber Flooring
Wood Doctor
Singapore, Republic of
Kitchen System
Artisan Kitchen
Artisan
Singapore, Republic of