Designed by Wallflower Architecture + Design, the private residence at Six Ramsgate in Singapore is the definition of open concept living. By zoning spaces such as the bedrooms and servants’ quarters on alternative levels, i.e. 2nd storey and basement levels, the ground plane is freed from walls that would have been required if public and private programs were interlaced on the same plane.

Embrace your Space
The site is approximately 82 feet (25m) wide by 157 feet (48m) deep, and because of the intermingling of internal gardens and column-free vistas, there is a continuous and unbroken visual depth of 131 feet (40m) that ties together the entrance foyer, swimming pool, formal living area, internal garden court and formal dining areas.

An Open Concept to Cooling
The environmental transparencies at ground level and between courtyards are important in passively cooling the house. All the courtyards have differing material finishes and therefore differing heat gain and latency (water, grass, water, granite). As long as there are temperature differences between courtyards, the living, dining, and pool house become conduits for breezes that move in between the courtyards very much like how land and sea breezes are generated. The use of thick masonry walls on either side of the house keep temperature gradients small within the house and also act as enormous ‘ducting’ in guiding air currents between courtyards.

Cool, calm, collected. Nice bathtub facuet

See those slats on the second floor?

Swivel action for breezes and shadow play

A great setting for a sword fight, say Beatrix Kiddo vs O-Ren Ishii?

Shadow play, so photogenic right now

PROJECT VITALS
Project Title: Six Ramsgate
Location: 6 Ramsgate Road, Singapore
Site Area: 3,937 square feet | 1,200 square meters
Built-In Area: 2,805 square feet | 855 square meters

Architecture firm: Wallflower Architecture + Design
Architect-in-charge: Robin Tan
Design Team: Robin Tan, Cecil Chee & Sean Zheng

Sources
– http://www.wallflower.com.sg/
– http://www.contemporist.com/2009/05/13/the-six-ramsgate-residence-by-wallflower-architecture/

All photography by Albert Lim Koon Seng. An architectural photographer based in Singapore whose images have been published extensively in architectural journals such as A + U, MIMAR, Singapore Architect, World Architecture, SPACE and Monument. His photographs havel also illustrated numerous books, including Modern Tropical Architecture and Singapore: Architecture of a Global City. His work has illustrated exhibitions at the Venice Biennale and Aedes East, Berlin.

If you enjoyed this article, the Sifter highly recommends: An Elegant Solution to a Long and Narrow Space