How much do we need, to live comfortably and well? What enriches and fulfils us, and what can we discard or forgo? We asked these questions of Silo House, seeking elements that would create an oasis for the family amidst the density of suburban Singapore. The result is a playful exploration of forms, and a reimagination of layout which creates spaces that are thoughtfully scaled and sequenced to the house’s inhabitants.

As a large multi-generational family, the client wished for comfortable bedrooms which were private sanctuaries, family gathering spaces, and provisions for accessibility, such as a central lift and generous circulation. Working with the client, we first determined the floor area for and relationship between these functions, within three volumes. Conventional notions like the front-to-rear sequence and boundary signaling were challenged to mitigate site conditions. These blocks were then teased apart, articulated and punctuated with voids, fenestrations and green pockets. Through these gestures and the reconfiguration of a typical house layout, we prioritized privacy and the elements of air, light and greenery, in accordance with the client’s notions of generous living.

Humble and hardworking materials were chosen, drawing in light or air through glass and vent blocks, or creating a neutral backdrop that showcase a terracotta-clad lift shaft. With a layout reoriented towards the back, the front boundaries of the house were softened through curated landscape and a low gabion wall, creating a more picturesque elevation upon approach, and redirecting the visual focus of the house.

Living becomes a journey filled with diffused light, variations in the scale of spaces, framed views around corners and playful glimpses of everyday elements made delightful. Like a silo collects grain, Silo House collects moments of small delight that are stitched into everyday routines through environmental encounters, seeding and storing memories accumulated through living.