Of Apertures and Openings: Living Between Volumes and Views
Located along the tranquil waterfront of Sentosa Cove, this private residence is a modern tropical retreat defined by movement, light, and layered spatial experiences. Conceived as two volumes flanking a central courtyard and swimming pool, the architecture embraces its narrow site by creating a promenade of transitions — from enclosed to open, from solid to transparent.
Large apertures on the southern façade frame panoramic sea views and draw in natural breeze, while more intimate openings on the northern face maintain privacy and shade. Internally, the house unfolds like a cinematic journey through levels and bridges, where every room is connected not just by structure, but by rhythm, air, and shifting perspective.
From floating staircases to rooftop gardens, this home is a crafted experience — one where the lines between architecture, landscape, and interior dissolve into quiet continuity.
Location
Singapore
Completion
2007
GFA
889 sqm
Client
Private
Services
Architecture, Interiors
Awards
- Asia Pacific Property Awards 2010 – Highly Commended Best Architecture (Single Unit) (Singapore)
A Symphony of Light and Movement
The heart of the Sentosa Cove residence reveals itself in this soaring atrium — a vertical volume where glass, air, and water converge to form a dynamic spatial experience.
A skylight stretches across the ceiling, flooding the space with natural daylight and casting shifting shadows along the white and stone-toned walls. The linear lap pool flows beneath a suspended bridge, visually connecting the entrance to the sea beyond while inviting movement across thresholds.
Curved balconies and floating staircases animate the verticality, creating a sculptural choreography of circulation. Here, architecture is not merely shelter, but a living conduit between body, light, and landscape.
A minimal material palette — glass balustrades, white plaster, and natural stone — keeps the focus on transparency and reflection, letting each moment of light and water subtly transform the atmosphere. As the sun arcs overhead, the space becomes a constantly shifting canvas that celebrates openness, fluidity, and quiet sophistication.
The interplay of vertical openness and linear depth not only celebrates the surrounding coastal context but also evokes a serene, almost meditative rhythm. This central void becomes the spiritual anchor of the home — framing the horizon, inviting the breeze, and connecting daily rituals to the larger movement of the sky and sea.
Horizon Embraced – Architecture Framed by Light and Water
As twilight settles over the sea-facing Sentosa Cove residence, the architecture stands in elegant silhouette — a confident composition of cantilevers, glass planes, and clean volumes that merge coastal living with sculptural clarity. The home’s exterior is a study in compositional balance: the upper mass floats weightlessly above an expansive glazed base, creating a dialogue between lightness and solidity.
Designed to frame the seascape, the architectural language emphasizes horizontality — from the extended lap pool that visually draws the eye toward the horizon, to the bold overhang that offers deep shade while framing skyward views. The facade opens generously to the outdoors, inviting breezes and natural light into the heart of the home, while also offering uninterrupted transparency from interior to ocean.
At night, the residence glows like a lantern, its internal warmth casting a gentle reflection across the still pool. This glow is not merely functional but symbolic — a quiet beacon of calm, comfort, and refined living. Here, architecture is not an object in the landscape, but a vessel for experience: it celebrates the transitions between inside and out, structure and scenery, shelter and sky.
Sculpted Flow – Interior Architecture in Motion
This double-volume lounge at Sentosa Cove is a poetic convergence of geometry and movement, where curves and lines shape both space and experience. The staircase becomes a sculptural element, folding gently into the architecture with its soft timber treads floating against the pristine white wall. Below, a series of bold red lounge pieces echo the circular gestures of the floorplate, anchoring the room in warmth and contrast.
Glass balustrades preserve the visual fluidity, allowing the eye to travel uninterrupted across levels and out to the shimmering pool below.
Every surface and form is thoughtfully choreographed—light, material, and circulation coalesce in a spatial ballet that embraces calm and dynamism. This is not simply a seating area—it is a gallery of movement, offering moments of pause within a composition that is constantly in motion.
Complementing the architectural grace is a carefully curated material palette that balances softness and strength. Smooth white flooring reflects ambient light and accentuates the purity of the space, while the natural timber stair and landing add warmth and tactility. The juxtaposition of soft furnishings with clean structural lines enhances the sensory contrast, inviting both visual delight and physical comfort.
This lounge is not just a transitional space—it is a design statement that embodies the rhythm and refinement of the entire residence.
The Sentosa Cove residence is a masterclass in spatial poetry — where architecture, light, and materiality converge to create an immersive living experience. Every line, surface, and volume has been considered to heighten the relationship between the body and its surroundings, offering both serenity and stimulation.
More than a home, it is a sculpted sanctuary that celebrates transparency, movement, and connection — to water, sky, and the rituals of everyday life.
Left: Top
Right: Right
