Three-storey bungalows are hard to come by in Singapore, with a majority of detached homes in areas zoned for two storeys at most. A freehold three-storey bungalow is practically a unicorn, with fewer than a handful of places around the island where such houses can be found. Now, one such home, in Lengkok Mariam, has come onto the market.

“I was looking for a piece of land to build a new home,” the owner tells Haven. He came across the District 17 property when the previous owners set up an open house, and he was immediately drawn in not just by its zoning, but also its size and shape. “It’s not the usual rectangle,” he says, adding that he saw potential for a uniquely planned garden in the 8,326-sq-ft plot.

After buying the property, the owner — who asked to remain anonymous for this story — started working on the design for a three-storey house to replace the existing two-storey structure. His plans, however, would be delayed when the Covid-19 pandemic started. “The site was stuck for six to nine months,” he says, adding that there were further delays even after work was allowed to resume.

In all, the timeline was pushed back by about one year, and the seven-bedroom house was finally completed in August 2021.

What’s inside

Entering the house through the main gate, we are greeted by two large archways. “These frames add another sense of layering,” says the owner. Down the middle is the main door, which leads into an entryway, while a home office is tucked behind the car porch on the side. “I designed this house so the entrance would never be blocked by a car,” says the owner, explaining that he wanted to avoid the usual layout where a bungalow’s main door is blocked by vehicles up front.

Through the entryway and into the living room and dining area, we are surrounded by large glass walls; these open up to reveal a swimming pool that wraps around the space. The living room features grey marble flooring, as well as furniture in matching hues.

Going back brings us to the kitchen, which comes with its own breakfast area and built-in appliances from Bosch. Bi-fold doors that face the front of the house allow for heavier cooking with better ventilation; another door takes us out to an al fresco area that also overlooks the pool and backyard.

There’s a definite resort-like atmosphere here, with a breezy ease in the day that transforms into an intimate cosiness as the sun sets. The foliage that encloses the yard extends that feeling of openness, concealing the boundary wall while adding visual interest.

On the other end of the first storey is a laundry room, helpers’ room and the home office. “One of the design criteria I had was to have a workroom with direct access from the outside,” says the owner. “It’s a self-contained office; if you have a meeting, everybody can enter from [the car porch] without having to go through the main house.”

An open kind of privacy

That notion of separation between inside and outside was key for the owner when coming up with the look of the place. “The house was designed with privacy in mind,” he says. Key to this, he adds as we head up the elevator to the second floor, was the installation of movable timber louvres, which block out prying eyes without reducing the flow of light or air.

Though one might assume that flashes of flamboyance alone would be enough to spruce up a space like this, it’s the often unseen things that make all the difference. Here, for instance, there’s a quiet breeze that follows us as we walk through each room, keeping us cool even though the day’s high sits at a balmy 34°C.

We hardly notice it until the owner points out that we haven’t turned on the air-conditioning. He explains that opting for those louvres on the upper levels, as opposed to the usual floor-to-ceiling tinted windows or a solid wall, has kept the house airy and breezy. 

He adds that the entire design of the place was also created with cross-ventilation in mind, so that the house would work well in Singapore’s hot climate. Being driven by wind and air pressure, cross-ventilation requires no additional energy input. Incorporating it into home designs not only keeps things cool, but can also improve indoor air quality.

Indeed, such clever touches that enhance daily life, emphasising function just as much as form, can elevate a home from ostentatiousness into the realm of effortless luxury. It’s these subtleties and nuances in design that can often turn a house into an actual home that one can feel comfortable living in.

Heading upstairs

On the second floor, we’re greeted by a sitting room surrounded by three en-suite bedrooms and a balcony. The owner’s son’s bedroom comes with a customised feature wall, reflecting his love for basketball and sports. The two other bedrooms on this floor are unoccupied, except when the owner’s other children stay over. Each comes with a walk-in wardrobe and bathroom with frosted glass panels, bookmatched marble walls and Antonio Lupi sanitaryware.

The balcony has a full-sized bar that can be hidden away behind a set of sliding panels. The owner has put out a foosball table here, though he imagines future owners might have a pool table, or even opt to convert the space into two smaller bedrooms. Pointing to the view, he notes that though we’re only on the second floor, we can see most of the roofs of other houses around us, thanks to the property’s higher elevation.

Up on the top floor of the house is another sitting room that doubles up as a study for the owner, with a connecting door to the master suite. “You can open everything up and use it as one big space, or have it closed to separate them,” he says.

A wall panel in the master suite conceals the entrance into a walk-in wardrobe and the master bathroom, which comes with his-and-hers areas. An open shower, combined with the high elevation, means privacy without the claustrophobic vibes that can come with typical bathroom layouts.

From the master suite, we step out onto a large veranda, which gives a grand, sweeping view of the house’s surroundings. On the other end of the third floor is a home gym, which the owner sheepishly admits he hasn’t used as often as he’d like. Next to this is a foyer that also leads into the master suite. The owner shares that a minibar hidden here allows for late-night snacks and drinks without having to run downstairs.

Down to the details

There’s a palpable seamlessness that permeates the house, despite its large size. Each area seems to flow into the next, thanks to the consistent use of natural light, neutral tones and natural textures throughout, particularly stone and timber. 

This carries through to the furniture as well, the owner notes. “All the furniture was selected by our interior designer,” he says. “It was curated to suit the house, down to the colours and sizes of each piece.”

Also scattered throughout the house are artworks that the owner intends to leave behind — along with most of the furniture — when the place is sold. “We already matched these pieces to the look of each room,” he explains, adding that he intends to take only the pieces displayed on the third-floor landing when he leaves.

Asked why he’s looking to sell after just three years, the owner says he’s looking to move somewhere that’s better suited for his family of three; and he thinks it’s time to hand over the house to someone who might have better use for the space.

“Life seems to go in circles,” the owner muses. His family had first lived in a small apartment, then upgraded to a slightly larger home before settling here. Now, he finds the place too big, with spaces that are rarely used. “I’m actually now looking for an apartment; for the three of us, I think that would be just nice.”

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