Modern Balinese Tropical Architecture

House on Jalan Merlimau

“….if the house could be a work of art, like a sculpture, rather than just being a typical house. That’s what we’ll like our work to be.” (quoted from Aamer Taher in d+a Magazine)

There is nothing ‘typical’ about this house designed be Aamer Taher. The architect is usually not in favour of Singapore’s URA guidelines as he finds it to be too restrictive. Nevertheless, he always tries to work these restrictions into something creative.

And his creativity shines in this 3-storey house on Jalan Merlimau, near Novena Square. Looking at the front view of the house, the most significant feature is the mono pitch roof, which is a single floating plane that leans over the attic and continues in a gentle gradient all the way to become the car porch roof.

A skylight section allows views through the family room on the 2nd storey where the grey-tiled roof slopes over the balcony.

Another exciting feature in this house is the infinity pool on the rooftop. The pool is placed on the horizontal length of the L-shaped plan of the house and is positioned such that it still gets the cool breezes.

Having a pool that is raised above the ground makes way for some delightful, Modern Balinese Tropical House with resort–like, landscaping of courtyard, pond, garden and terraces on a limited plot.

The client’s request for a ‘resort-like atmosphere’ for the house is answered by expressing the areas of living and dining as pavilions. One enters the house through an intimately scaled entrance foyer, crosses a bridge and pond, and then enters a double-volume space that opens out to water and greenery.

The master bath is shaped by a circular wall of glass blocks with a horizontal opening, and further screened on the outside with a thick layer of plantings.