A dated terrace house in Yio Chu Kang is transformed into a serene, multi-generational home where light, material and memory come together.
10 July 2025
Text by Olha Romaniuk
Set in the quiet neighbourhood of Yio Chu Kang, this four-storey terrace house tells a deeply personal story — one that unfolds through space, material, and memory. Designed by Bryan Chng of Urban Delineation, the 2,600-square-foot home is a thoughtful response to the lives of a close-knit family of four, each with distinct lifestyles, preferences, and passions.
A complete transformation from its original 30-year-old state, the home has been reimagined into what the design team calls “4 Storey of Stories” — a reference to the individual personalities that shape each level. With parents working in finance, a daughter in IT who loves pottery, and a son in the finance sector with a green thumb, the home needed to express both individuality and connection. The brief was simple yet ambitious: to craft a house that feels like home for everyone, while still being unified in its design language.
Originally untouched for several decades, the house started to bear signs of its age and shifting needs. Outdated interiors, disconnected layouts, and a lack of natural light prompted the family to seek a full-scale renovation that would align with their evolving lifestyle. Bryan approached the project holistically — reconfiguring the spatial flow, refreshing the material palette, and ensuring that each family member could have a private sanctuary tailored to their taste. “Despite the diversity of design across the four storeys, the home had to feel cohesive — connected by light, flow, and the language of nature,” shares Bryan.
Natural materials formed the backbone of the design. From warm timber grains and travertine to granite and soft-hued stone, the palette was curated to establish a calm, grounding atmosphere that gently diffuses light throughout the home. More than just aesthetic choices, these materials connect each floor, making the home feel like one continuous story, even as the mood shifts from one level to another.
At the heart of the home is the double-volume living room, soaring at nearly five metres high. This dramatic yet inviting space acts as the central gathering point, where the family often come together. The highlight is a trio of handcrafted pendant lights by Balinese artist Ong Zekuang — sculptural pieces that hang gracefully in the open void. “These artisanal lights were not available in Singapore and were specially recommended by our studio,” says Bryan. “In a beautiful act of dedication, the family travelled to Bali to personally select and ship the pieces back home”
Porcelain floor tiles from Hafary were selected for the living room, chosen for their durability and soft, stone-like texture. Together with the soaring vertical space and natural finishes, the living hall became a serene threshold to the rest of the home — a grounding point for the family’s daily rituals.
The dining room continues the theme of warmth and texture. Custom carpentry finished in laminates brings a sense of cohesion, linking the space visually and materially to the living zone. These nature-inspired finishes create a backdrop for everyday meals, reinforcing the family’s desire for shared moments in a space that feels both contemporary and timeless.
Each private room was designed to reflect the unique temperament and lifestyle of its occupants. On one floor, the son’s attic-level room is envisioned as a green retreat, filled with plants and surrounded by sunlight — a sanctuary that mirrors his love for nature. The daughter’s room leans into tactile calm, inspired by ceramic tones and textures reminiscent of pottery — a quiet reflection of her creative hobbies.
For the parents, the bedroom is a resort-like escape. Natural stones, warm wood, and tactile fabrics were used to evoke the mood of a luxury retreat, offering both comfort and elegance. Across all rooms, the material palette remains consistent with the overall design philosophy — natural, muted, and enduring.
While each level celebrates individuality, the communal areas were designed as neutral, harmonious zones that bring the family together. The kitchen and home library, for instance, carry earthy finishes and natural light — encouraging conversation, collaboration, and connection.
Designing a multi-generational home with such varied preferences was no small feat. The challenge lay in balancing diverse styles without losing cohesion. Urban Delineation achieved this by anchoring the home in natural materials and a shared sense of tranquillity — allowing each room to be distinct while still belonging to a larger, harmonious whole.
Urban Delineation
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