d+a | Issue 116 • Jun/July 2020

65 living area, dining area, kitchen, the helper’s living quarter and a guest room. On the second floor, the front wing is dedicated is the parents’ master suite, while the rear is for their two daughters. “We designed it such that when the time comes, the children’s area can operate as two self-contained suites,” explains Koh. The third floor is for hobby and leisure. The attic houses a spa-like bathroom and a dance studio for the daughters. Meanwhile, the entire rear wing hosts a roof garden with a canopied tea parlour that enjoys breezy evenings and a view to the dance studio and neighbourhood beyond. POETIC SPACES The material palette comprises three primary elements: granite, marble and Burmese timber. All three are solid, visually-robust materials that, in the hands of less- experienced architects, could easily overwhelm the design. But here, RT+Q skilfully pairs them with the precise ratio of open spaces, floor-to- ceiling openings, and breathtakingly-thin cantilevered planes to render them just right. The shade of grey in the house is kept consistent across materials. The generous deck and swimming pool stretching along the living area can serve as either a connector or separator from the dining area, depending on the occasion. The spatial framing in the interior was meticulously planned to be pleasingly symmetrical, providing a perfect backdrop for the furniture pieces curated by interior consultant D Editors. On the façade, metal screens add texture 2. RT+Q articulates the barn form of the house with metal screens and Burmese teak. / ABOVE. A generously- sized deck allows the indoor activity to spill outside seamlessly.