LIGHT CATCHER HOUSE
COMPLETED
FUNCTION: Single Family Dwelling
SITE AREA: 176.7 sqm
FLOOR AREA: 341.2 sqm
LOCATION: Sunrise Drive, SINGAPORE
Bringing in daylight into the terrace house is often one of the most common requirements by house owners since windows are restricted to the front and back façade and most often than not, these façades are reserved for private bedrooms which block light into the common spaces. This is especially so when terrace houses are extended beyond 3-storeys where deep light-wells become less effective.
Inspired by “wind-catchers” of the vernacular architecture of central Iran, we designed the roof of the terrace house as “light-catchers”.
Light introduced from the sun scoops are reflected into the stairwell, casting intriguing shadows through the perforated railings, creating a warmer, more welcoming and definitely brighter journey up and down the circulation of the house. This is achieved by a series of curved roofs with matt aluminium ceiling panels which reflect and diffuse natural daylight into the central common spaces.
Solid Timber-slatted flooring that are spaced with a small gap in between is also introduced on the upper floor slabs in the common areas especially the attic level, allowing much needed light to penetrate deeper, especially for the lower levels where light is scarce. Skylights and clerestories are used in conjunction with the curved metallic ceilings, allowing the natural light to be reflected into the house.
As night falls, the same metallic ceiling that brought in light during the day, now act as reflectors for indirect lighting, creating a soothing ambience to the house, efficiently diffusing cove up lighting and subtly illuminating interior and exterior spaces.
Introducing sunlight is essential to every house. This is especially crucial for inter-terrace housing, where lighting usually only afforded on the shorter sides of the deep site.
Image Gallery
CREDITS
PHOTOGRAPHY: Framesg
Consulting Engineers: LTM Consultants
Team: Pan Yi Cheng, Daniel Chia, Teo Xiao Wei