Homes

Brewin Design Office adopts an organic approach for this apartment in a residential Thomas Heatherwick tower in Singapore

AUG 25, 2020 | By Aneesha Bhadri
In the living room, two curved sofas by Vladimir Kagan and a pair of Finn Juhl Pelican armchairs in cognac leather make up the seating arrangement; Photographs by Common Studio
Solid Travertine coffee tables from the Brewin Collection on a custom cut Tai Ping rug are pictured here. The balcony with potted plants brings in ample daylight; Photographs by Common Studio
A beige and light grey Tai Ping rug covers the living room floor. It is custom cut to the curvature of the seaters, mimicking waves lapping against the shore of a beach; Photographs by Common Studio
The Kingdom Drape chandelier by Lindsey Adelman is suspended above a bespoke dining table in polished Serra Brava marble holding a set of bronze candlesticks by high-end jewellery designer Ted Muehling. Dinnerware by Hermes Carnets D’Equateur is laid out on the table; Photographs by Common Studio
The entryway is characterised by three Flexform armchairs with woven rattan backs by Antonio Citterio surround a custom table with a clover-shaped base in Travertine on a customised Tai Ping rug. A work comprising a tapestry of bronze speckles by Australian artist Lindy Lee is on the wall; Photographs by Common Studio
A solid teak curved bench from the Brewin Collection is placed on the balcony; Photographs by Common Studio
The master bedroom is swathed in an elegant off-white textured silk wallpaper and characterised by a platinum Armourcoat ceiling; Photographs by Common Studio
Custom designed bedside tables featuring a Forest Brown marble top in a bronze frame flank the Tatlin bed from Minotti, while Holly Hunt Beacon pendants are suspended above; Photographs by Common Studio
One corner of the room is designated to be a reading space, where a Flexform Alison armchair with a chocolate brown leather back sits adjacent to a complementary Flexform Giano pouffe with a weaved cord texture. A warm gray silk Tai Ping rug with a geometric pattern by Yabu Pushelberg completes the look; Photographs by Common Studio

A luxury residential tower designed by renowned English architect Thomas Heatherwick in collaboration with Swire Properties accommodates just 20 exclusive apartments—each occupying a single floor. Among them is one with the most intriguing interiors.

Mimicking the architectural idea of Eden, this particular abode is a marvelous confluence of organic forms and hues. It is conceptualised by Robert Cheng, the principal and design director of Hong Kong based Brewin Design Office, along with his team.

The interiors take cues from the building’s design concept of living in a garden. An unconstrained living room furnished with a combination of custom made furniture, curated accents and bespoke joinery details opens out to the outdoors. Bathed in warm tones and off-white shades, the space is suffused with tranquility and timeless appeal.

Three Flexform armchairs with woven rattan backs by Antonio Citterio surround a bespoke table with a clover-shaped base in Travertine. Australian artist Lindy Lee’s work comprising a tapestry of bronze speckles is on the wall; Photographs by Common Studio

Four ensuite bedrooms and five leafy balconies are laid out within this 3,000 sq ft space, bringing in ample sunlight and offering panoramic views of the prestigious Ardmore-Claymore-Draycott Park district in Singapore. An interplay of organic textures reminiscent of nature and refined surfaces—such as stone, rattan and timber—complement accents of metal and textured paint.

The study features a desk by artist Christopher Kurtz and a framed black and white work by artist and photographer Sebastiao Salgado; Photographs by Common Studio

Curved sofas by Vladimir Kagan occupy the living room and counter the rigidity of a typical rectangular layout. A beige and light grey Tai Ping rug is custom cut to the curvature of the seaters, akin to waves lapping against the shore of a beach. Ash timber fin detailing is seen throughout, including in the use of sliding panels that separate the study from the living area. The dining area features a textured rattan wallpaper and an arresting Lindsey Adelman chandelier that takes inspiration from a tree branch.

Detail of the mahogany study desk by artist Christopher Kurtz; Photographs by Common Studio

The master bedchamber is an elegant medley of marble, wood, leather and silk. On the other hand, the junior master bedroom has a light tropical touch with gold and green tints, while the third one showcases an expressive illustration of a rainforest landscape. “A plethora of unique shapes inspired by living organisms defines the furniture pieces, creating a dialogue with the organic architecture of the building. The end result celebrates not only the aesthetics and forms of nature but also art and artisanship, bridging raw organic design and understated sophistication,” says Cheng.

Sliding panels with ash timber detail separate the study from the living room; Photographs by Common Studio

Rare artworks and accessories sourced from renowned galleries across the US, Italy, Australia and Belgium that correlate to the apartment’s design are seen in this home, accentuating the bespoke and natural look of the apartment. Organically shaped seaters, soft earthy colours, meticulously curated decor, floor-to-ceiling windows and thriving shrubbery transform this dwelling into an exemplary contemporary model of garden living in an urban context.