00:01The design idea was to have an industrial space
00:03with each of the spaces having a different feeling.
00:07The client is in the creative industry,
00:11likes travelling, reading.
00:13They would like the space to be as open as possible
00:16with maximum flexibility.
00:18My name is Sai, I'm an architect
00:22and I'm also the founder of OWMF Architecture
00:24based in Singapore and Malaysia.
00:28The apartment is located in Little India,
00:31one of Singapore's vibrant historical neighbourhoods,
00:34alongside Chinatown and Gampong Ram,
00:37which is the Malay-Arab Quarter.
00:40There are small cafes as well as local labourhood
00:43hawkers and markets.
00:46The building is quite small,
00:47with five floors and eight units on each floor.
00:53Most of the materials are left natural and raw,
00:56except for the bedroom and bathroom,
00:58which are finished in smoother plaster and tiles.
01:02Each space also has a different spatial quality.
01:05The living is high and dark,
01:08and the bedroom is low and cosy.
01:20Storage space was essential,
01:23especially for bicycles and books.
01:27We didn't want to have a lot of fixed furniture,
01:30so that the space can be used for multiple purposes,
01:34such as entertaining and yoga.
01:37The apartment had one bedroom,
01:39with a built-in wardrobe taking up most of the space.
01:42There was hardly any space left for circulation.
01:46A study loft could be accessed by the stairs in the living room.
01:50The living, kitchen and dining rooms were in a combined open-plan space,
01:54and a long balcony wraps around the edge of the apartment.
01:57During the renovation, we took away a part of the bedroom wall,
02:01and the wardrobe was moved to the adjacent wall.
02:04We raised the entire floor of the bedroom
02:06to create a tatami platform with storage underneath.
02:10We removed the staircase to the roof,
02:12and replaced it with a pull-out ladder.
02:21The main door opens directly into the open living space.
02:25The ceiling here is quite high at 6.9m.
02:28It makes the space feel grand and spacious.
02:33A bicycle storage system was created above the entrance,
02:36using a custom-made pulley system.
02:38It allows the owner to easily lower and raise the bicycles,
02:43and really maximises the double volume height.
02:49The combined living and dining space
02:52receives plenty of tropical sun from the long balcony.
02:56One of the main design decisions was to move the blinds
02:59from the inside of the apartment to the balcony railings.
03:02This minimises the clutter inside,
03:05while also providing privacy when needed.
03:07It also provides some shading,
03:10so that the balcony can be enjoyed in sunnier weather,
03:13and becomes an extension of the living space.
03:16At the centre of living area is a low table that I designed.
03:21It is a natural ply finish.
03:23It acts as a large coffee table when lounging around,
03:27and a low dining table when having meals.
03:30The table can be split into two,
03:32and used as benches when having friends over.
03:35At the entrance of the bedroom,
03:37there's a roll-out coffee table below the fixed platform.
03:40It can be used for bigger gatherings,
03:43and has storage space for clients' calligraphy scrolls.
03:48We removed the existing vinyl floors and poured screed on top,
03:52which is a mixture of cement and sand.
03:55Black pigment is added to make the screed colour darker,
03:58and to reduce the glare from the sunlight.
04:01A tall shelf made of black stained birch ply was added between the living and bedrooms.
04:07Like the floor, the idea is to have a darker background to minimise the tropical glare.
04:14For half the year from March to September,
04:17the morning sun penetrates the entire apartment.
04:20Plants helps to provide more shades and privacy.
04:25The washing machine was originally in the kitchen area,
04:28and we moved it to the balcony.
04:32The kitchen is compact, sharing the same space as the living room.
04:37It is made of the same black stained birch ply as the bookshelf.
04:41The kitchen includes a sink with black fittings,
04:44an induction hob, storage above and below,
04:48and space for a tall fridge.
04:50The countertop is made of deckton,
04:52an artificial strong material.
04:56We made a custom concrete kitchen backsplash in shades of grey,
05:01with the help of a local artisan.
05:07The backsplash is functional but also an art piece.
05:15The bathroom has a neutral beige tone.
05:18We intentionally kept it simple with just a basin, toilet and shower.
05:23The same local artisan that made the backsplash in the kitchen,
05:27handmade the Teraxol bathroom basin.
05:30It slants inward towards the base, to avoid the floor trap.
05:34Simple tiles are chosen to provide a quiet backdrop for the Teraxol piece,
05:39and for easy maintenance.
05:41We avoided using glass, which is difficult to clean.
05:48Instead of a door, we decided to use blinds for the bedroom entrance.
05:53The blind also doubles up as a projector screen for both the bedroom and the living.
06:00The bedroom is designed to be a smaller, more intimate space.
06:06It is also very short at 2 metres height, in contrast to the voluminous living room.
06:13The raised storage platform is made from birch plywood and occupies the whole bedroom.
06:19It has a lot of storage.
06:21With the tatami bed tucked away in the storage below,
06:24it can be converted into a sitting area or workspace.
06:30It is even spacious enough for an extra futon when family visits.
06:36The new bedroom wardrobe is floor to ceiling,
06:40and actually starts from under the platform,
06:42to create an extra 400mm storage.
06:46The solid brass knobs, which the owner bought during their trip to Indonesia,
06:51also doubles up as hooks for their clothes.
06:56The steps to access the loft is integrated into the upper part of the bookshelf.
07:01It is usually always out and ready to use,
07:04but when guests are over,
07:06access to the loft space can be closed off simply by folding the stairs back into the bookshelf.
07:11This also frees up space on the lower floor.
07:16The loft is an open and flexible space,
07:19sometimes used for work,
07:21sometimes for making art,
07:22screening movies,
07:23as a guest bedroom,
07:24or simply for staring into space.
07:27When it comes to designing a small space,
07:30we believe in minimal fixed cabinets and functions.
07:33We use mobile and transformable furniture,
07:36so that a single space can be used flexibly for multiple purposes.
07:43We also try to provide a diversity of spaces.
07:46The occupants are free to choose where they want to eat, work, and relax everyday.
07:54Projections are free to choose where they are.
08:00Projections are free to choose where they are.
08:04Proving the place to choose where they use to explore the size of the作品.
08:05Amen.
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