The second act for a client Studio iF has worked with for more than a decade, House on a Hill is an interconnected, multi-generational home with places for gathering, connection, and quieter zones for privacy and contemplation, where life's rituals are celebrated ‘through quiet and gentle sophistication.’ More Space caught up with Gwen Tan, Studio iF’s founder and principal designer, to discuss the vision behind the project.
MS: Thank you very much for making time for the interview Gwen, and congratulations on your latest project, House on a Hill. Could we please start by talking about your design approach at Studio iF?
GT: Living in the tropics here in Singapore, we are very sensitive to the environment. The humidity, the torrential rain, stepping from a cold interior to a really hot outdoor climate. It makes us a little bit more aware of how a client may feel in a space. We begin each project by imagining ourselves as clients. Living in the space, using it, thinking about how we can create the most suitable environment. Introducing the ingredients that will create the right atmosphere and emotion. For us, there are some ingredients that are universal. For example, nobody says they hate daylight. It’s like a magical ingredient that lights up your soul and your spirit. In our work, whether it's interiors or architectural projects, light is a very important aspect. It ties into a deep desire to connect and create positive emotions, and it adds tranquility and joy. At the end of the day when you speak about space, you remember the beautiful memories that you have within that space, not only the shell. Our ideas are centred on human connection and how a home can elevate our clients’ way of life over the years.
You have said the relationships you have with clients can span generations, and those close ties help shape the narratives in your work.
The relationships and stories we have developed with our clients often go back more than 20 years to when we first started our practice, so our clients’ stories begin as a preamble to every project. They give us a glimpse of what they may be longing for. Whether it's a lost memory, an aspiration, a certain dream, or the stage of life that is important to them. For the client of the House on a Hill, for example, our relationship goes back more than 10 years when we designed their first house. At that point their second generation were in their early 20s, now they are all married the client felt it was time to move to a bigger house that would accommodate their extended families. So it’s those conversations that give us clues of what to focus on, and help shape personal narratives into objects and beautiful living spaces.
'In the double height formal living area, we thought about the view looking down into that space. We chose a chandelier that creates light and sculptural detail, and we picked furniture that resonates with the poetry of the space.'
Gwen Tan, Founder and Principal Designer, Studio iF
In the formal living room, the Bend sofa by Patricia Urquiola for B&B Italia upholstered in leather with complementary stitching detail, and Formiche marble tables by Piero Lissoni for B&B Italia.
The main stair is placed quietly along the edge of the house, its open treads and textural materials softly bouncing light through the space.
The Edra Standard sofa by Francesco Binfaré, with the Husk chair by Patricia Urqiola for B&B Italia.
The dynamic sculptural staircase winds down to the basement level's landscaped courtyard, where views open up to spaces for social gathering.
View from the top of the spiral stair down to the games room that opens to the landscaped courtyard below.
In the media room, Edra's Absolu sofa by Franceso Binfaré, with B&B Italia Fat-Fat side tables by Patricia Urquiola.
'The Bend sofa by Patricia Urquiola for B&B Italia was selected specifically because we found that a double volume is the best way to really appreciate the beauty of its undulating form.'
Gwen Tan, Founder and Principal Designer, Studio iF
Last time we caught up, we discussed your own home, Open House, which you describe as a living laboratory of ideas. Is it still teaching you things about the way architecture shapes how we live, and vice-versa?
Yes, because I think as people we evolve. I’m now embarking on building a new home next door which is giving different insights into how to create spaces to really foster relationships between our multi-generational family. We are doing a lot of that in this current house, but how do we do it better. How do we create spaces for parents that provide places for their hobbies and social circles, meaningful gatherings with purpose for all the generations, and how do we curate the best balance.
When I was designing Open House, I decided to place both mothers on the two upper floors because they would have to use the stairs on a daily basis, so it was a way for them to exercise. They could go down slowly, taking a break at the pool level where there are lounges and lots of plants. The design allows for a certain journey within the house that is meaningful socially as well as physically. So we are always thinking, questioning and testing certain ideologies. The experiments continually inform our projects and help us understand our clients and what’s appropriate, safe and comfortable. It’s always a delightful two-way conversation. I would say that one of our biggest discussions is how we build transformation possibilities within the houses we design. At the end of the day, what really matters is how our clients connect with the space. Deep down that's always what drives us.
'I would say that one of our biggest discussions is how we build transformation possibilities within the houses we design. At the end of the day, what really matters is how our clients connect with the space. Deep down that's always what drives us.'
Gwen Tan, Founder and Principal Designer, Studio iF
The formal dining room with framed views to the garden. Husk dining chairs by Patricia Urquiola for B&B Italia.
The main articulation stair quietly connects the levels, bringing in light and adding another textural layer to the interior.
Internally material reflections are more subtle, the walls are painted with a powdery silver with a soft reflection highlighted by the sculptural Arrangements Suspension lamp designed by Michael Anastassiades for Flos.
The informal dining room with operable screen that allows for private dinners.
Inside the Junior Master Suite, private dining allows for quieter moments in balance with the more social dynamics of the house, highlighted by the Orion Tube Light constellation by Lee Broom.
The Junior Master Suite bathroom is layered in warm timbers.
The Junior Master Suite bedroom with views over the surrounding landscape.
The Junior Master Suite dressing room, with Husk chair by Patricia Urquiola for B&B Italia.
How has the client's narrative helped shape the design of your latest project, House on a Hill?
The house is located near a reservoir and lush nature reserves with panoramic landscape views from the top of a hill. Studio iF designed the interiors and Formwerkz Architects designed the architecture. The flow was very important, so we shaped the experiences we wanted to create by weaving in views and natural light. We worked on framing specific views for each wing, with differentiating aspects, courtyards that opened to the sky, as well as more contemplative daylight spaces that offered quieter moments in the house. We then created a very warm social dynamic where they can all live very privately, but at the same time the oldest generation can connect with the youngest effortlessly through planning adjacencies.
You have described the home as a series of apartments within a house. How did you resolve this from a planning perspective so that each space is both private and connected?
The house itself is like a sequel to the first house that we designed. House on a Hill is designed for multiple generations of the one family and the approach was to design a series of self-contained apartments, where each person's cluster is a few thousand square feet by itself. They are a family who genuinely like spending time with each other. They eat dinner together and share a study complex because they have a family business, but after hours they can retreat into their own space.
We paired the levels by generation. The top floor is for the head of the house with a roof garden and private courtyards for relaxing and watching the stars in the evening. The second floor is the daughter and son's family wings that are more connected to the double volume space that overlooks the formal living room. We planned for this to be the one that's connected to the rest of the living spaces. As the kids grow up, it was important for them to be able to see and talk with family members downstairs.
For the junior master suite, strategically placing the bathroom with a hidden secondary access from the living area, allowed us to create a shortcut without having to cross the master bedroom and extensive his and hers walk-in-closets. It means that if one person is working late in the living area, they can access the bathroom without disturbing someone who is already sleeping.
'Spaces with no clear divide between the outdoors and indoors always interest us, where you’re not quite sure if you are inside or out.'
Gwen Tan, Founder and Principal Designer, Studio iF
There are some beautifully subtle ways you have lifted the experience through reflection, texture, light, shadow and landscape.
Spaces with no clear divide between the outdoors and indoors always interest us, where you’re not quite sure if you are inside or out. Here, the formal entrance of the house on the upper ground floor level opens through a grand series of screens and gates, then you enter into a foyer with ponds and gardens that lead to the lawn and the pool. Look left or right and there’s different aspects of nature to welcome you. It feels like you are entering a garden per se.
Although the main staircase is quietly placed along the edge of the house, we still managed to celebrate a lot of those dynamic elements with the sculpted spiral stairway down to the basement level’s landscaped courtyard. In the double height formal living area, we thought about the view looking down into that space. We chose a chandelier that creates light and sculptural detail, and we picked furniture that resonates with the poetry of the space. The Bend sofa by Patricia Urquiola for B&B Italia was selected specifically because we found that a double volume is the best way to really appreciate the beauty of its undulating form. The interesting thing about this piece is the back rest that bends around the body and the contrasting trim detail that articulates its form from different angles. It has differing thicknesses, allowing you to pick the section of the sofa that fits best ergonomically. It is always a delightful process picking the colour and the threading detail that articulates the sculptural form of the sofa beautifully.
We then played with a lot of different materials. We were conscious of the amount of external glass so internally the reflections are more subtle. The walls are painted with a powdery silver that has a soft reflection. To manage the acoustics, we used a lot of fabric, leather and thick bespoke carpets. We selected a beautiful tinted glass dining table with legs made of sculpted cylindrical glass columns, so we were layering different levels of transparency to create the depth of space.
View down the staircase to the living level, the flicker of light playing with the texture in the stone.
The interior becomes part of the garden and pool area, with furniture that is modular and can be used outdoors, including the B&B Italia Outdoor Borea Oval Sunbed and Spool side table by Piero Lissoni, and the soft organic form of the Butterfly sofa by Patricia Urquiola.
Soft organic forms and finessed materials feature in the B&B Italia Outdoor Butterfly sofa and coffee table designed by Patricia Urquiola, and the Spool side table by Piero Lissoni.
'We chose pieces that are light so they could be moved around easily, so it was about picking pieces that can be deconstructed into different layouts.'
Gwen Tan, Founder and Principal Designer, Studio iF
What key furniture pieces were selected and how do they support the needs of a multi-generational family?
In the formal living room, we wanted everyone to feel very comfortable. For the taller members of the family, sitting in the deeper areas of the Bend sofa is perfect for lounging for a long time, while someone shorter can also find a corner of the sofa that's shallower and comfortable too. We chose pieces that are light so they could be moved around easily, so it was about picking pieces that can be deconstructed into different layouts. For example, in the formal dining room, If they need to sit 20 people, they can move chairs from the informal dining room separated by sliding screen doors. On the rooftop we chose the Living Divani Extrasoft outdoor sofa that is modular, so for their big parties guests can spread out around the swimming pool lawn areas.
And finally, what are you currently working on?
We are working on the residence for the Singapore High Commissioner in Brunei. It’s a very interesting project because there’s a lot of background and understanding across both residential and hospitality aspects for this type of residence. They host guests and delegates from all over the world so there’s a lot to learn. The last 10 years have been remarkable, the diversity of the projects and the span of geographical locations is something we probably didn't expect when we opened the studio. For us, it all comes down to building good relationships with clients. Their stories shape all of our projects.
Thank you Gwen, always great to chat with you.
B&B Italia, B&B Italia Outdoor, Living Divani, Lee Broom and Edra are available exclusively from Space Furniture – Singapore and Malaysia, and Space – Australia.