This Singapore home is eclectic and endearing all at once, combining vintage details with modern elements and everything in between
It’s a balmy Singapore afternoon—the greenery around the Medway Park estate glistens from the morning rain, in stark contrast to the monochromatic colonial homes in the neighbourhood. Our destination is the home of British couple Victoria and Rob Garrett, who moved here from the townhouse they were living in near Singapore Botanic Gardens. One of the main reasons for their move was to accommodate the needs of their young sons, Orlando and Xander.
“We moved here during the Covid-19 pandemic; we loved the area we were in but the townhouse had a very small garden. With all the restrictions at that time, we really felt the need for a bigger garden, [more] outdoor space and also the community,” says Victoria, a real estate professional who has spent over 15 years in the industry.
Read more: Home tour: A stunning Bel Air property inspired by old Hollywood
Built in the 1920s, the black-and-white bungalows here housed non-commissioned British officers and their families. Even today, half of the residents are British High Commission officials, says Victoria. “There used to be just one giant compound at one time, so you could walk over to one another’s homes. Over time, people started putting up hedges and fences,” she adds, musing over how things would have been then.
It’s the enduring sense of community that really drew the Garretts to the estate, including an existing network of friends. Since moving here, the couple have started a few neighbourhood initiatives of their own. These include a monthly clean-up activity involving parents and children, and a Halloween party; Victoria is also part of a book club.
“It really is a very diverse community. We’ve had the privilege of celebrating Deepavali at some of our friends’ homes for the past three years, and then we have had people over to our home celebrating Easter with us,” she adds.
What they love most about living in a community of black-and-white houses is the flexibility—the perfect balance of communal life with one of total privacy when they want it.