Christina Thean, Director of Park + Associates, describes the composition as a “scattered arrangement of smaller housing blocks with intermittent pockets of private green spaces for each family, instead of the usual large volume”.

With its straight horizontal and vertical lines, accented with wood and glass, and arranged irregularly, it certainly gives that impression. “Yet, you get the sense that varied as they are, they are all still siblings,” she quips.

In addition to the lava stone and grey granite used, a collection of human-sized boulders at the base give the illusion that the upper storeys rest firmly on a solid foundation.

As a result of the way the architecture is designed, it is instinctively obvious that this is the heart of the house, where the entire family can gather for al fresco meals and badminton matches.

“A common corridor, a glimpse to someone’s room, a nook for a private moment, these provide layering to the courtyard experience,” says Thean.

The two guest room pavilions opposite the main door are distinctive for their dark grey Accoya wood cladding that contrasts against the rest of the house. These are accessible via a flight of granite slabs and then a timber staircase, evoking the feeling of being in a Balinese resort.

The remaining front and rear sides are occupied by public and private living areas, maintaining a strong sightline to the courtyard.

On the ground floor is a formal living room in the front, a swimming pool behind it, and lava stone walls. In the rear are a formal dining room and the helpers’ quarters.

At the top of the stairs, a central corridor connects the four blocks of self-contained living quarters. As the owner wanted to be fair to his sons, all three have the same gross floor area. The two younger sons reside in the front of the house.

The rear of the house has an informal dining room, a dry kitchen and a play area for the grandchildren. Levels three and four have two more double-storey apartments — one for the eldest son and the other, smaller one for the owner and his wife.

Thanks to the glass windows and doors that open to let in the breeze, natural daylight floods the spaces.

“It almost feels like a gated community,” says Lam. “What was most important to the owner was that each unit has a living room, kitchenette, master bedroom, and two to three more rooms, depending on the family planning.”