See the light

PERCHED ON ELEVATED GROUND in a quiet residential neighbourhood off Bukit Timah, with sweeping views of greenery and central Singapore, The See-Through House is a study in simplicity, serenity and - as the name implies - transparency. Getting it built turned out to be a little more complicated.

The residence was the first of six new homes developed on a 120,000-square-foot property by one family whose members decided on commissioning a different architect to design each home. An existing house, built by the owners in the 1950s, occupies a prime position at the rear of the site. Its garden was large enough to split into half a dozen additional GCB (Good Class Bungalows) plots.

Designed by Robin Tan of Wallflower Architecture + Design, The See-Through House was completed in 2016. Since then, three more homes have been built and two others are currently under construction, along with an ongoing renovation of the original house. Meanwhile, as an interesting counterpoint to contemporary architecture, a magnificent 1920s conservation house designed by the British architect Frank W. Brewer sits prominently on an adjacent property.