Centre your home around a deluge of light and air with these age-old architectural features.
Design by Ong&Ong
When houses run long and deep, daylight and ventilation can sometimes be lacking right in the heart of the home. In such instances, it’s worthwhile taking a page from traditional shophouses of yesteryear by incorporating courtyards and air wells into the house. Houses such as this one by Ong&Ong boldly plants an airwell right in the centre of the house to introduce light and ventilation. Consider a leafy landscape like this for a good dose of greenery.
Design by Atelier M
Why not reference the original idea of the courtyard in your own home? While a courtyard is a sure way to introduce light into the deep recesses of a house, it was originally seen as a communal space that connected people within a single compound; think of the courtyard as a tool for strengthening familial ties. In this house by Atelier M, a large courtyard is both a connecting space and a destination in and of itself for family and friends.
Design by The Carpenter’s
Terrace houses often suffer the unfortunate fate of dark and stuffy interiors due to the lack of windows by the side. Airwells are the perfect solution to this, and they don’t have to take up a lot of space. This terrace house by The Carpenter’s Workshop features a sliver of an airwell beside a narrow passageway to bring light in. Here, the airwell is open to sky but a glass skylight is a possible alternative if only daylight is lacking and ventilation is not a problem.
