A Home for Books and Stories
The Fernvale Apartment in Singapore, designed by three-d conceptwerke, is minimal in elements but rich in light and space
To reach the Fernvale Apartment designed by Singaporean studio three-d conceptwerke, one first manoeuvres a columned maze leading to a cloistered lift lobby. Up a small lift and through a corridor on the 24th floor, one arrives at a cul-de-sac edged by several metal-gated front doors. This convoluted journey heightens all the more the sense of openness upon entering; where one would expect a conventional living room filled with an oversized sofa, television and other domestic paraphernalia is pure, empty space.
The design of this apartment centres on the client’s love of reading. This activity is catered for in the living areas, rather than only in the study, with a wall of books and a singular lounger displayed like a sculptural object in the space. ‘The other two rooms are focused on rest and more serious study when necessary,’ explains principal designer Dess Chew. The team removed a bedroom wall to bring light and views of a corner bay window into the living area, which now accommodates a long Suar wood dining table. This unbridled, spacious area can host large groups and befits the homeowner’s love of entertaining. Guests can move from one spot to another with ease, and from common areas to more cosy corners while remaining connected to everyone else.
A bold monochromatic palette gives the apartment timeless appeal, and materials were chosen to add character to the space. ‘The materials add texture, depth and character while reflecting the homeowner’s personality,’ says Chew. A pastor who appreciates a simple lifestyle, his wardrobe is defined primarily by monochrome pieces, save for a bit of quirk in his colourful socks. This translates to white walls, white subway tiles in the kitchen and bathroom, and black epoxy paint flooring, with the latter introducing a lighter, airier dimension as light bounces off the glossy surface and alters throughout the day. An unexpected twist is found in the sunny yellow tiles cocooning the bathroom.
Aluminium trays, vintage light switches and utility style lamps accentuate the industrial aesthetic, which is softened by the contemplative mood created by the light filtering through aluminium blinds. A large picture window also increases light flow between areas, while enhancing the perception of space.
The delicate brevity of elements and thoughtfully placed pictures on white walls is reminiscent of an art gallery. A trio of black-and-white photographic prints taken by the homeowner on his travels hangs above a bar counter, with other personal keepsakes displayed elsewhere around the home. Among them is an artistic scribble by his godson, a portrait by an elderly friend who took to the craft after his wife’s death, and a hand-drawn triptych by a local artist that incorporates aspects of the homeowner’s life, and whose placement around the house encourages a jigsaw puzzle-like game of discovery.
Together with the books, these items are the only decoration to the clean foil. ‘The thing I like about this home is that it really is an extension of me. Everything has a story, everything has a memory,’ the homeowner says. While the entire apartment offers various beautifully framed scenes, equal importance is placed on the intangible — light, shadow, space and texture — endowing a poetic human quality to the physical things.
Text / Jingmei Luo
Images / Marc Tan, Studio Periphery
