The prospect of retirement doesn’t just signal the end of a career; it offers the chance to recalibrate and re-prioritize in life.
Singapore Apartment Renovation
November 28, 2010
Paul and Elsa Seah, a lawyer and high school teacher living in Singapore, turned a 925-square-foot government housing flat—complete with bomb shelter—into a sleek but cozy home. The challenge, says Paul, was to be faithful to the prefab, concrete roots of the space and still have a comfortable, well-designed apartment. "I have always been a fan of the industrial-minimalist look," he says, "but I also really like mid-century modern furniture and the Scandinavian aesthetic. I wanted to see if we could meld all these styles without having too much of a mish-mash."
A concrete screed floor connects the open plan living and dining rooms and helps keeps the apartment cool. The white Cineline console from Ligne Roset holds the Seahs' AVR, DVD, and CD players. The sofa, another Ligne Roset purchase, is by designer Philip Nigro and the Clock clock is from Oggimai, an Italian company.
Every Singapore high-rise household has a bomb-shelter enclosed behind a blast-proof door—inevitably an eyesore. The Seahs covered the entire wall with mirrors. This solution increased the sense of space and played up the apartment's natural lighting. The shelter houses Elsa's shoes, the vacuum cleaner and the wine fridge.
During a trip to Australia, the Seahs were smitten by the "Party" photo-print hanging in a Bondi restaurant. They met the artist, Murray Hilton (that's him in the cape in the photo), and came home with the print.
The white glass table is from Bontempi Case and is extendable. By co-opting the settee (in the first image) and some folding chairs, the Seahs can comfortably seat 10 to 12 dinner guests. The single-blade fan, an Australian design, is more energy efficient than air conditioning.
The Seahs love to cook, so wanted maximum counter space as well as plenty of storage. They had to sacrifice two drawers and two cabinets in order to accommodate a microwave and an oven. Virtually all of their appliances are energy-efficient models.
In order to compensate for the storage space given over to the oven and microwave, the Seahs added a metal bar to hang spoons, spatulas and tongs.
This specially fabricated metal trolley does double duty as a table and holds pots, cutlery, glassware and Paul's 25-year-old Strathisla single malt scotch.
To keep their bedroom as a refuge, the Seahs banned TV and computers. They hung a thick dividing curtain between the sleeping and wardrobe areas (see next photo) to "add a bit more drama and intimacy," says Paul.
The Togo lounge chair by Michel Ducaroy for Ligne Roset "is the most comfortable seat in the house," Paul says. The Coupe Lamp is by Joe Colombo for Oluce, one of Paul's favorite mid-century designers.
A concrete screed floor connects the open plan living and dining rooms and helps keeps the apartment cool. The white Cineline console from Ligne Roset holds the Seahs' AVR, DVD, and CD players. The sofa, another Ligne Roset purchase, is by designer Philip Nigro and the Clock clock is from Oggimai, an Italian company.
Latest Articles
You don’t have to choose between sustainable energy and curb appeal.
July 19, 2016
Each week, we tap into Dwell's Instagram community to bring you the most captivating design and architecture shots of the week.
July 06, 2016
Each week, we tap into Dwell's Instagram community to bring you the most captivating design and architecture shots of the week.
June 29, 2016
Docomomo US announces the winners of this year's Modernism in America Awards. Each project showcases exemplary modern restoration techniques, practices, and ideas.
June 27, 2016
After last year’s collaboration, we were excited to team up with Monogram again for the 2016 Monogram Modern Home Tour.
June 27, 2016
A strategic rewire enhances a spec house’s gut renovation.
June 26, 2016
Coralie Gourguechon's paper objects will make you see technology in a whole new way.
June 26, 2016
Smart technology helps a house in Aspen, Colorado, stay on its sustainable course.
June 25, 2016
The aesthetic appeal of personal electronics has long fueled consumer interest. A new industrial design book celebrates devices that broke the mold.
June 25, 2016
An angled deck transforms a backyard in Menlo Park, California, into a welcoming gathering spot.
June 24, 2016
Today, we kicked off this year’s annual Dwell on Design at the LA Convention Center, which will continue through Sunday, June 26th. Though we’ve been hosting this extensive event for years, this time around is particularly special.
June 24, 2016
Two designers restore a low-slung midcentury gem in Napa, California, by an unsung Bay Area modernist.
June 24, 2016
San Francisco–based designer Maca Huneeus created her family’s weekend retreat near Lake Tahoe with a relaxed, sophisticated sensibility.
June 24, 2016
A Toronto couple remodel their home with a special emphasis on a spacious kitchen and a material-rich bathroom.
June 24, 2016
In Kansas City, an architecture studio designs an adaptable house for a musician on a budget.
June 23, 2016
By straightening angles, installing windows, and adding vertical accents, architect Aaron Ritenour brought light and order to an irregularly shaped apartment in the heart of Athens, Greece.
June 23, 2016
A modest kitchen addition to a couple’s cottage outside of Brisbane proves that one 376-square-foot room can revive an entire home.
June 23, 2016
Each week, we tap into Dwell's Instagram community to bring you the most captivating design and architecture shots of the week.
June 22, 2016
A modern dwelling replaces a fallen farmhouse.
June 22, 2016
Seeking an escape from bustling city life, a Manhattan couple embarks on a renovation in the verdant Hudson Valley.
June 22, 2016
Atelier Moderno renovated an old industrial building to create a luminous, modern home.
June 21, 2016
Anchored in a small San Francisco canal, this floating home takes its cues from a classic city habitat.
June 21, 2016
From the bones of a neglected farmstead in rural Scotland emerges a low-impact, solar-powered home that’s all about working with what was already there.
June 21, 2016
An architect with a taste for unconventional living spaces creates a small house at lofty heights with a starring view.
June 21, 2016
Marjan Van Aubel makes technology a little more natural.
June 21, 2016
Building on the site of a former one-car garage, an architect creates his family’s home in an evolving neighborhood of Brooklyn.
June 20, 2016
In a Brooklyn backyard, an off-duty architect builds a structure that tests his attention to the little things.
June 20, 2016
In the suburbs of Paris, an architect with an eco-friendly practice doesn’t let tradition stand in the way of innovation.
June 20, 2016
Join the Discussion