Melding sculptural forms, rich textures, and an intuitive approach, this duplex renovation by Studio Metanoia exemplifies the art of turning constraints into creative opportunities.
27 January 2025
Home Type: 3-bedroom walk-up duplex apartment
Floor Area: 1,604sqft
Text by Vanitha Pavapathi
Home to a pair of young professionals, this duplex apartment set in the east of Singapore belies its locale. It appears as if teleported from Europe with its sophisticated and timeless interior sans ornate details that are typical of Hausmannian apartments. The renovation led by Studio Metanoia’s creative director, Cher Lin, reflects a thoughtful take on minimalism, achieving a nuanced balance of richness and warmth.
“The homeowners find joy in celebrating major holidays at home through cooking, baking and redecorating, often hosting large gatherings.” shares Cher. “Their space needed to reflect these passions while offering a sanctuary for work and relaxation.”
On top of that, the couple’s love for travel is evident in the personal treasures they’ve collected from various destinations. Initially inclined towards a cooler palette, they embraced a warmer colour scheme, entrusting Studio Metanoia with complete creative authority to craft a harmonious and personalised interior.
The transformation begins on the first level, where the introduction of a supplementary open kitchen complements the existing enclosed one with new reeded glass sliding doors. The latter also occupies a smaller footprint compared to before with the entry repositioned for better flow, facilitating a wider thoroughfare to the living space which enhances sightlines significantly.
Besides the peninsula counter clad in striking Calacatta marble inspired by Studio Metanoia’s previous project, “this new culinary haven includes a fully functional sink, hob, and oven,” Cher notes. The addition integrates seamlessly with a dining area (previously the living room), catering to the homeowners’ love for baking and entertaining. Now, the living room occupies the original dining space with the passageway to the common bedroom and bathroom camouflaged by a door, improving the apartment’s visual and spatial flow.
Upstairs, two bedrooms were reconfigured into a unified private space featuring distinct zones: one designated for restful repose and the other transformed into an expansive study. Instead of merging the ensuites, both were retained and renovated, resulting in his and hers bathrooms within a spacious hotel-esque suite – possibly the first of its kind.
The original stair landing, once overlooked, was downsized to allocate more space to the master bedroom. “The area now serves as both a practical passageway and an artful display nook reminiscent of a quiet museum,” expresses Cher. This dual-purpose space houses a minimalist pedestal showcasing a patina-rich clay vase and an abstract painting in saturated browns, creating a tranquil vignette.
Key materials and a subdued colour palette played a pivotal role in shaping the apartment’s serene aesthetic. Smooth plastered walls in solid paint colours provide a neutral backdrop that accentuates the richness and warmth of materials like heavily-veined Calacatta Viola marble, dark walnut joinery, and warm oak flooring. “This ‘blank’ canvas seamlessly integrates diverse decor and artistic elements, fostering a captivating interplay of textures and forms,” Cher explains.
A standout feature is the staircase, which bridges functionality and artistry. “Instead of replacing the original steel rails, we enveloped them in hand-moulded concrete with recessed lighting for soft illumination,” Cher reveals. This innovative yet economical and sustainable solution adds sculptural curves while maintaining practicality. Overhead, the Tense pendant light by New Works floats like a cloud, creating a serene ambience in the double-volume space.
Where stunning staircases and passageways in spacious homes are common in other countries, this is not the case in Singapore’s compact apartments, shares Cher. “Embracing this constraint, our goal was to elevate the utilitarian journey from level one to two into a more experiential venture, irrespective of space limitations.”
Towards the final stages of the renovation, a clear glass panel was added, allowing glimpses of the staircase from the master bedroom and vice versa. This subtle feature offers a unique and beautiful perspective, exemplifying Studio Metanoia’s commitment to intuitive and thoughtful design. Clearly, this apartment is a testament to the transformative power of intentional design.
Studio Metanoia
www.metanoia-studio.com
www.instagram.com/studiometanoia_
Photography by Studio Periphery
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