GOING by the shrinking size of new homes these days, a three-bedroom apartment of some 1,200-plus square feet may not be considered small. But when the floor area includes a good-sized balcony and air conditioning ledges, then the remaining liveable space drops significantly. Plus, who wants to have to shuffle through a gap of just 60 cm between beds and walls in the bedrooms?

Faced with such a situation, a couple with two children knew some major works were necessary, and engaged Lawrence Puah of akiHAUS to re-imagine their home at Sloane Residences.

“One of the key restrictions in this apartment are the very small spaces,” says Puah of the new condominium on Balmoral Road, where the Tudor-style Sloane Court Hotel used to stand. “So it’s really about rethinking and planning everything in order to create additional spaces.”