When asked to name a Singaporean landmark, most of us would name icons such as the Merlion, Marina Bay Sands, the Singapore Flyer, or the Esplanade. But what about lesser-known structures such as the colourful Peranakan shophouses along Koon Seng Road, the Jenga-style condo The Interlace in Alexandra, or the Stiletto House in Katong?
The Stiletto House at Jalan Seaview
Image credit: Studio Periphery/EKHA Studio
Situated in Jalan Seaview, Katong, the Stiletto House is so named for its striking columns shaped like the heel of a stiletto shoe. The building was completed in 2019 and has since been featured in numerous publications, both local and foreign alike, thanks to its unusual, curvy design.
Unlike most landed homes in Singapore, Stiletto House stands out with a curvaceous, sensual profile that’s a far cry from its boxy, squarish neighbours. The overall effect is at once futuristic yet organic, and frankly wouldn’t look out of place even in the Hollywood Hills.
Image credit: Studio Periphery/EKHA Studio
The Stiletto House is owned by retired businessman Robin Yeo, “an avid collector of antiques and ultra-modern furniture” who approached EHKA Studio with a design brief for a dramatic, curvy house with ample space to showcase his collections.
In an interview with Tatler Asia, Yeo said, “I am fascinated by curves. I told the architects I wanted undulating walls.” This love for curves extends even to his furniture—according to Yeo, “furnishings with right-angled legs are ‘forbidden’ in [his] house.”
A spacious home making the most of limitations
Image credit: Studio Periphery/EKHA Studio
Despite sitting on a 4,581sqft plot of land, the actual floor space of Stiletto House measures a whopping 9,300sqft. It’s also a 5-storey building in a 2-storey residential zone. Yet, zero rules were broken. Instead, this impressive feat of architectural design was achieved by pushing to the absolute limits of the building and planning guidelines set by the Urban Redevelopment Authority (URA) and PUB.
“All the rooms are pushed to the edge of the allowable setbacks. The sculpted roofs and floor slabs work within the allowable eave setbacks, while the internal spaces and balconies are pushed to the maximum building setback,” stated EKHA Studio.
Image credit: Studio Periphery/EKHA Studio
In Yeo’s design brief to EKHA Studio, he wanted to “maximise the site with as much internal floor area as possible, and with each room being as large as it possibly can.” And that was certainly achieved. The 5-storey building consists of a basement, two main floors, an attic housing the master bedroom suite, as well as a mezzanine floor connected to the first storey.
Since the plot of land happens to be in a low-lying area, the ground floor of the house had to be elevated by around 1.5m from the road level. Rather than implementing harsh steps, EKHA Studio created gentle, rounded terrace steps that led from the car porch to the house.
Image credit: Studio Periphery/EKHA Studio
Floating platforms that shelter the car porch and front of the house are seemingly held up by singular stiletto heel-shaped columns that give Stiletto House its name, though in actual fact, they’re held up at several other points for stability’s sake.
A house of steel, glass, and concrete that feels organic
You’d think that such an extravagantly designed house would employ fancy, unheard-of building materials. Yet, the main materials used were concrete, metal, and glass—the same as most landed houses in Singapore. In EKHA Studio’s words, they made use of these common materials to keep the “building buildable [and] construction cost affordable.”
Image credit: Studio Periphery/EKHA Studio
Instead, this sense of drama was achieved through the utilisation of organic sculptural forms rather than the standard rectilinear forms you see in most landed homes locally. By eschewing right angles and straight lines in favour of curves, the house embodies a feeling of softness that’s at once dramatic without being loud.
Image credit: Studio Periphery/EKHA Studio
“The sculpted columns are [made of] reinforced concrete, using laser-cut formwork and flexible plywood to form the shape, then plastered and smoothened out by hand to achieve the smooth curves. The curved and corrugated exterior walls are fabricated off-site in fibre reinforced concrete panels and assembled and finished onsite to achieve a smooth finish.”
Image credit: Studio Periphery/EKHA Studio
The studio added, “Sensual curves are deployed throughout the house, from the building to the landscaping and groundscape, to the staircases and curved glass railings, to the edging soffit details and corrugated perforated metal sheets, and even to the interior cabinetry, furniture and fitting out accessories. […] These curvaceous forms create a sense of drama, play well off the sunlight and add a touch of “softness”. Yet, each curve is defined logically by the spaces it contains […] and is not employed in a whimsical manner.”
Employing tropical architecture in a glasshouse
Image credit: Studio Periphery/EKHA Studio
The homeowner wanted a facade full of glass, as well as a lofty, “voluminous, bright and airy” first floor. This request was followed to the letter, with a few considerations made to elevate the result even further.
Image credit: Studio Periphery/EKHA Studio
Upon entering the home, you’re greeted by a statement spiral staircase crafted out of steel and glass. This sculptural marvel took the design studio’s contractor a few months to construct, but the result was absolutely worth it. According to EHKA Studio’s co-founder Hsu Hsia Pin, the glass balustrade was smoothened and finished by hand, and the stairs were deliberately placed near the entrance of the house to serve as a centrepiece.
Image credit: Studio Periphery/EKHA Studio
The rest of the house is similarly filled with glass. Double-height windows and glass sliding doors along the northern and eastern facades of the house help fill the entire space with light. Meanwhile, the western facade features solid walls and exterior sliding aluminium screens to block out the sun at its hottest.
Image credit: Studio Periphery/EKHA Studio
Look up from the ground floor and you’ll spot the mezzanine, which features a glass floor. This design choice was inspired by the homeowner’s previous house, where he had a staircase entirely made of glass.
Besides looking particularly striking, the glass floor of the mezzanine also serves to create a seamless transition from the main living area to the lofted space. It also helps keep the area feeling airy since a glass floor doesn’t block as much light.
Image credit: Studio Periphery/EKHA Studio
This seamless feel is further accentuated by a lack of corridors in the house, and even the master bedroom, located in the attic, can be immediately accessed from the staircase. “The illusion of space is created with the use of curves. These curves add something to the space because they connect things, so you don’t feel an edge. You don’t feel things stop at a certain position, but they continue to flow on,” said Hsu in a 2021 interview with CNA.
Image credit: Studio Periphery/EKHA Studio
A glasshouse, especially in tropical weather, would normally result in a sweltering, swampy mess. To counter this, EKHA Studio adopted “passive design strategies” from traditional tropical architecture and incorporated them into the house’s design. “All the glass used is low-emission, so it helps to reduce the heat gained through the glass,” added Hsu.
Aluminium screens to block the sun.
Image credit: Studio Periphery/EKHA Studio
Apart from the strategic use of solid walls and aluminium screens to block out direct sunrays, the architect also added sliding doors that can be fully opened to allow for cross-ventilation throughout the house. This is complemented by numerous ceiling fans to encourage airflow, giant overhanging exterior eaves to provide shade, and even an external water overflow wall that leads from the pool on the ground floor to the basement.
Image credit: Studio Periphery/EKHA Studio
These design strategies all work together in tandem to help cool the living space even without the use of air-conditioning. “We believe this project can redefine what tropical architecture can look like,” states EKHA Studio.
Blending ultra-modern design choices with antiquities
Image credit: Studio Periphery/EKHA Studio
As an avid collector of antiquities, Robin Yeo wanted his house to also serve as a display space—almost like a museum or art gallery—to show off the art and antiquities he’s amassed over the years. Much of his house is blanketed in white, accentuated by pops of colour in the form of plants, designer furniture—almost always featuring rounded shapes and curved lines—and art pieces.
Image credit: Studio Periphery/EKHA Studio
Taking centre stage above the dining table is a century-old Chinese dragon robe that used to belong to a prince. In an interview with Tatler Asia, Yeo mentioned that he’d “acquired [it] from auction house Christie’s in London 20 years ago.”
“The burgundy colour is unique, worn (by those from) the hierarchy of princes. I wasn’t sure if it would work in this setting, but it does give character to the space. If everything is modern, it can feel a bit sterile,” said Yeo.
More art and avant garde furniture in the basement.
Image credit: Studio Periphery/EKHA Studio
Meanwhile, ornate silver vessels each adorned with intricate carvings are nestled within glass cabinets in the master bedroom. They’re complemented and contrasted by framed pieces of an embroidered dress, which the homeowner had purchased in China for $15. “You don’t have to pay exorbitant prices when collecting antiques. Getting a good bargain is part of the fun.”
Thanks to this skillful balance of old and new, the house feels like an artful, thoughtfully designed space that neither feels sterile nor stuffy.
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Cover image adapted from: Studio Periphery/EKHA Studio
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