d+a | Issue 115 • Apr/May 2020

55 SEAMLESS CONNECTION The result is a two-storey-with-attic abode that has something unique: an almost pavilion-like structure as its veranda out front. This is delineated from the driveway through a split level covered with granite flooring upon which an outdoor sofa set is placed. Behind the furniture rises a two-storey void capped with a trellis that is on the same plane as the second floor’s roof, allowing natural light in at an angle to nourish the Leopard Tree growing through it. This has become the anchor point of the home, offering an added dimension of visual layering and connectivity. It was also devised to continue the thread of nature’s tropical bounty into the heart of the home. Another defining feature of the front of the house is the sizable cantilever overhang that acts as a shelter for the car porch and veranda. At its deepest, it measures 9m and also stretches beyond the width of the house itself. Its soffit adopts a grid-like configuration, where swathes of oak are separated by pairs of horizontal and vertical strips of dark grey aluminium that have a gap between them for a sleeker look. This same linear motif repeats itself throughout the house, such as on the second-floor balcony. “The owner was very unsure about the veranda at the start, but we assured CHRISTINA THEAN, DIRECTOR, PARK + ASSOCIATES 2. The almost pavilion-like structure as the house’s veranda out front is an extension of the dining room and part of the entertainment space. 2