An Architect Built A Beautifully Hidden Tropical House For A Family Of Five

In this week’s episode, a multi-generational family home is designed to balance openness and privacy, responding to its urban context and the homeowners’ love for books and plants. The house is positioned at a road junction, with neighbouring properties on three sides, requiring carefully planned openings to minimise overlooking while maintaining natural light and ventilation.

Greenery plays a key role in creating a sense of privacy and calm, with planters serving as both aesthetic and functional elements. A recessed side façade forms a sheltered patio, allowing bi-fold doors to remain open even during rain. Inside, the layout is designed to be inward-looking, with hidden vistas enhancing visual connectivity between spaces.

Living spaces flow seamlessly, with microcement screed flooring eliminating grout lines for a more expansive feel. A restrained material palette acts as a backdrop for the owners’ curated art and furniture, including a rattan daybed that has travelled with them across multiple residences. The home is filled with art from Singapore, Hyderabad, and Kolkata, reflecting the family’s cultural and ancestral ties. A painting titled Coming Home anchors the dining space, symbolising the family’s connection despite living in different places.

The kitchen, the heart of the home, features an Indian granite island that extends the dining area for gatherings. A 3.2-metre-high sliding door connects these spaces, creating an open visual link from the front to the rear. An unconventional powder room placement near the entrance allows guests easy access without passing through functional areas.

A skylight at the centre of the home filters daylight through an open-riser staircase, enhancing brightness throughout. The sculptural staircase spirals around a planter, visually linking the upper levels with a minimalist six-millimetre railing to reinforce the floating effect.

A reading nook by the elevator landing takes advantage of natural light, creating a quiet retreat within the home.