Integrating greenery at home is never easy, even when working with larger spaces. One runs the risk of having just a few scant potted plants lying about in favour of more living space, or going the other extreme and turning an abode into a jungle. 

The challenge becomes yet more complicated when dealing with an odd-shaped piece of land, which limits how a building can be shaped. For Mark 12 Architects, designing such a home — on a triangular plot, no less — required creativity and a knack for balancing function with form.

“When the client approached us, I got very excited,” says principal architect Clement Koh, describing his initial thoughts about the project. The brief, he recounts, was straightforward enough: create a dwelling that could accommodate the client’s multigenerational family, with sufficient space to garden for the plant lovers among them. 

But executing that brief, given the constraints of the space, was far from simple. “This being a triangular plot, the challenge was to match the client’s requirements while allowing parts of nature to be integrated,” says Koh. “We wanted to encapsulate the idea of a home with a sense of openness, connection to the outdoors and nature, and something that is site-specific.”

The solution he devised to accommodate the family’s spatial needs was to add a mezzanine between the first and second levels of the house. With a music room and bedroom on one end, and an open lounge area on the other, the mezzanine adds floor area without compromising light and airflow in the first level’s living room, dining area and dry kitchen.

Next, to incorporate greenery, Koh designed a set of 15 balconies. Each of the six bedrooms has its own attached “pocket garden”; some extend across two levels, breaking away from the “layered” structure of a typical house with strict stratification between floors. 

Additional balconies at the common areas on the upper levels provide yet more space for nature; the one on the attic-level entertainment room has even been converted into a koi pond.

One benefit of having so many open spaces — especially in such a densely built home — is the creation of breezeways, which allow air to flow through different parts of the house for a cooling effect. “There are various openings for wind to penetrate, and because of that cross-ventilation, the house ‘breathes’,” Koh explains. At the same time, overhanging balconies provide shade for the lower levels. All this reduces the need for cooling by means such as air-conditioning.

Such passive design, Koh adds, is a key part of sustainable home design. “At the core of the design, planning must be done so that minimal energy is expended on cooling and daylighting.”

Once the architectural aspects of the house were set in stone, the Mark 12 team next turned its attention to interior design. With so many different rooms created, it was important to maintain a sense of harmony and unity, says Koh. “We wanted to keep a smaller palette for this house,” he adds.

Design manager Varian Chang, who also worked on the project, focused on finishings to tie the house together. Light, warm tones — whites, beiges, greys and tans — create a flow throughout the various spaces, making them feel wider and airier.

Laminates were used to add texture to surfaces while extending the colour scheme. Having used Lamitak products in past projects, Koh and Chang knew they would work well in this house. “We’ve received good feedback from clients regarding its durability, and the customer service has been fantastic,” Koh explains. 

Working with the client, they narrowed their picks to two: the Aria Laurentian Maple (WY 5605D) and Smoke Microcement (DXP 1393MD). These were applied all around the house, from the dry kitchen to the bathrooms and the entertainment room.

The result is a consistency that unifies the house without compromising on visual interest. The pale hues make for a clean backdrop that reflects light exceedingly well, supported by subtle textures that hold their own when viewed up close. 

Explaining the choice of laminates, Chang says the tone and grain of the Aria Laurentian Maple fit well with the client’s desire for a Japandi-style interior. The Smoke Microcement, meanwhile, was introduced to “give some character to the space”, while subtly contrasting against the adjacent textures and colours throughout the house.

Speaking on what sets a good laminate apart from others, Koh points out that besides technical performance, aesthetic appeal is key. “The colour, grain and texture have to speak in an emotive manner to the designer and end-user, to create that pleasing effect,” he says. 

He adds that Mark 12 has continually found success with Lamitak, especially thanks to the wide variety of its products. The brand’s range includes textures from wood to stone and marble, giving homeowners and interior designers plenty of options — not to mention sources of inspiration.

Lamitak’s sustainability credentials are another plus point, Koh notes. The brand’s laminates have been certified under the Singapore Green Labelling Scheme in recognition of their minimal effects on the environment; they have also received the UL Greenguard certification for low toxic chemical emissions. 

Check out the latest stories on Style