In the search for the ideal home, some might move across the country, while others might take a step further and move to another continent. But not this couple, an ophthalmologist and her travel writer husband, who have been living in Tiong Bahru since 2008.
Attracted by the estate’s Art Deco architectural features, the juxtaposition of the old and the new, and the confluence of East and West, the couple lived within the estate despite moving into three different flats over the years.
However, when it came to a point in their lives to decide where they settle down for future retirement, they picked a larger living space.
Their latest, and what they say will be their final home, is a two-bedroom, 1,200 sq ft flat, given an eclectic look by Paul Yeo and Ivan Soh of PI Architects.
Yeo shares that this apartment wasn’t the first that the couple viewed during their latest house hunt, but “what made this apartment stand out from the others, is that it is a ground floor unit with a rear courtyard and the interior layout has been untouched since the 1960s”.
Through their conversations with their clients, PI Architects learnt that the couple have amassed many vintage items which they wanted to showcase, and they also wanted the vibrant colours of Peranakan aesthetics to blend with the heritage of Tiong Bahru.
“The clients wanted the home to be a celebration of their journey together as a couple in different cities around the world, via vibrant colours and patterns expressed throughout the apartment,” says Yeo.