JA-HOUSE,
Singapore

From the moment of arrival, JA-House reveals itself in stages. Reconstructed as a semi-detached home with a basement, first storey, second storey, and attic, the house is organised around a simple idea: that moving through a home should feel like a sequence of experiences.

At the car porch, timber screens offer glimpses of the basement lounge, while the Zen garden reveals itself to the side. Inside, the basement takes on a quieter, more intimate character, with warm, earth-toned textured plaster and a dark floor creating a grounded, cocooning retreat. Deliberately set apart for entertaining, the lounge remains distinct from the upper levels, with the staircase tucked discreetly behind a door.

Ascending to the first storey, the house opens into a 3.3-metre-high living space where living, dining, and the dry kitchen come together. An existing double volume at the dining area adds to the sense of height and openness, while lighter beige textured plaster continues the warmth of the basement.

The staircase becomes a defining element, with open risers and a sweeping railing set clear of the main building wall, lending the flight a floating quality. A solid travertine base anchors the ascending form.

In the living room, an open corner window extends the space towards the pool and terrace. The former narrow stair was replaced with full-length terraced steps spanning the width of the terrace, transforming a route to the pool into a place to sit, gather, and linger.

As the house rises, timber flooring marks a shift towards more personal spaces. The second storey accommodates a media area and home office, with sliding screens allowing the spaces to open into one another or remain separate. Movable pivot screens along the facade provide privacy without cutting the house off from the greenery beyond.

At the top, the master suite unfolds from bedroom to walk-in wardrobe and bathroom, with both opening onto their own terraces. Across the house, timber flooring and warm beige textured plaster create a quiet sense of continuity.