Hideaway House by Ming Architects

Hideaway House, situated in a low-lying estate of eastern Singapore, is an architectural response to its location. In compliance with authority requirements, the house boasts an elevated ground storey, three metres above street level, to protect against floods. This also serves to reduce views into its main living spaces from its adjacent, busy thoroughfare, allowing the interior to serve as a relaxing, sheltered repose for the homeowners. To further increase privacy within the home, sleek metal screens are intricately positioned on the façade as a series of skins.

These create the impression of depth and filter sunlight through themselves, while simultaneously providing privacy to the bedrooms within. In the evening, the lighted rooms evoke the idea of a glowing lantern through the screens, serving as a stark contrast to the row of suburban houses along the streetscape. The interior boasts an array of unique elements that separate it from its surroundings. A series of metal fins echo the external screens as staircase balustrades, shaping shadows on the staircase using sunlight through the glass skylight overhead. On the various floors, a number of private roof gardens are cultivated, incorporating nature throughout the building. These are framed through windows of each private bedroom, creating unique views from every angle. The use of privacy screens on the exterior to hide a serene interior thus encapsulates the core idea of Hideaway House.