One of the main reconfigurations involved the living area on the ground floor, where a double-volume, 8m-high expanse of glass invites the green of the trees and the blue of the swimming pool indoors. The old layout placed the family’s Steinway grand piano in front of this spectacular view, while the main sitting room was situated on the other side. Ong flipped the configuration and created several cosy touchpoints, both maximising the space and expanding its functionality.

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The enclave of Bishopsgate in Singapore is home to many of the country’s Good Class Bungalows, which are considered the most prestigious properties in the island state’s real estate market. Originally built by the British, these dwellings are a hybrid of Western colonial style and regional architecture, to adapt to the local climate.

Ko Shiou Hee, founding principal of K2LD Architects, was tasked with modernising this particular house for a repeat client, to create a stage for contemporary multigenerational living within the strict conservation guidelines.

Along with renovating the interior of the old house, the architects developed an innovative new extension that wraps around the back and side of the existing bungalow. Based on conservation requirements, the two structures could not physically touch, giving rise to a glass connecting structure that enables a flow between them, while merging into the environment.

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With the desire to inject personality and custom details into a Good Class Bungalow built in the noughties, a family of five hired Designworx Interior Consultant to reimagine the stately Bukit Timah home.

The 12,387 sq ft luxury property now features a design that exudes timeless elegance while keeping the family’s feng shui requirements in mind. Living spaces throughout maintain a calming and clean-lined look with a palette consisting of white, light, and neutral hues. This included replacing the old flooring on the ground floor with sleek white marble tiles.

Rooms throughout the abode are tailored to factor in the homeowners’ needs, such as the new basement den, renovated bathrooms, and an open-concept culinary zone that connects to an outdoor dining area. A key highlight of the renovation is certainly the lofty dining room which features a bespoke installation of glass ribbons and fishes created in collaboration with SpectraOne hung above the Visionnaire Jason dining table and Bentley Harlette dining chairs.

Fostering a sense of comfort and personalisation, bedrooms are designed with soft furnishings and accent colours to cater to each family member’s style. Each bedroom also features some of the family’s most cherished objects and artworks. For instance, jade sculptures and petrified wood pieces sourced by the owners from China are woven into one of the bedrooms' interiors.

Read more: Home tour: A Good Class Bungalow with a modern Asian interior

This Good Class Bungalow’s design was governed by the Vitruvian principles of firmitas, utilitas, and venustas (“strength, utility, and beauty” in Latin), shares Rene Tan, co-founder and director of RT+Q Architects, who worked with design executive Lee Dong Suk on this project.

Hence the expansive roof that protects the walls and interiors from the rain and sun, sizeable rooms, and well-proportioned volumes with teak wood and stone accents. Metal-edged profiles give the roof a look of lightness, and pivoting aluminium screens let the breezes in but keep out prying eyes.

To dress up the interior spaces, the family engaged Architology Interiors. “We also asked for a lot of storage in order to keep our house neat, which is a near-impossible task given that we have four kids,” says the wife.

The living room opens to the pool and terrace; sunlight streams in through the double-volume windows. The grandeur of the space is accentuated by cladding an eight-metre-high wall in Arabescato marble, inspired by the pool’s ripples. “The marble was cut and laid such that its veins ‘flow’ vertically to mimic a waterfall,” says Bu Shukun, the firm’s co-founder and design director.

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The Metallicus by K2LD Architects is an elegant Good Class Bungalow in Singapore, designed for a family with two young children. Come nightfall, it presents itself to the street as a glowing box. Wrapped with aluminium screens in a bronze finish, these strategically placed and operable panels are both a weather and a privacy shield to the interiors and give the facade of this Good Class Bungalow a dynamic personality.

“The first storey can be enjoyed as one generous space or arranged into more private spaces for various functions,” says Ben Teng, director at the Singapore-based firm. One side of the entrance lobby leads to a high-volume living area where the full impact of the cinematic views unfurls. A sculptural spiral staircase connecting the first storey to the upper levels accentuates the tall space.

There are four storeys overall, with the basement and the first storey housing the social spaces of the abode. While the design provides drama, the materials convey a sense of rest and respite. “The main materials were chosen to express simplicity and restraint while making the home comfortable and cosy,” Teng explains.

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Interior designer Katherine Mazzali’s Singapore home is a Good Class Bungalow shared with her husband and three children. It is a fitting showcase for her interior design company Katherine M Interiors, which she founded to bring about a different sensibility among the sea of modern, minimalist interiors popular among many Singaporeans.

She gravitates towards American designers such as Bunny Williams and Mark D. Sikes. “I love classic, timeless styles that are refreshing and modern. I enjoy mixing patterns, but also making sure that the overall feel is light and comfortable,” she expounds. Her nomadic past comes into her work, “from the coastal feel of Los Angeles to the neoclassical designs of Louis XVI that I got to experience in Paris.”

As the 7,000 sq ft house is a rental property, she could not alter the structural layouts. But she relished putting together a coordinated atmosphere with furnishings, art, and decor. The living room mirrors this scheme with white seating, whose generous scale and depth invite lounging. The family room on the second storey projects a similar grace; each bedroom in the home is thoughtfully conceived to evoke visual calm.

Picnics in the garden, music sessions and lively parties—these are among the favourite hobbies of the multigenerational family that inhabits this Good Class Bungalow in Singapore’s leafy and exclusive Tanglin enclave.

With a generous site area of 17,717 sq ft, the team led by Angela Lim, founder and designer of SuMisura, had ample space to play with during the four-year-long project. In terms of spatial requirements, the family requested spacious bedrooms for their three children, the eldest of whom had recently become a mum. “It was a huge site with a very impressive frontage, and the fact that it sat on an elevated hill means there was a natural basement, which gave more space to the bungalow. It’s also located in a quiet neighbourhood, which lends some tranquillity to the site,” says Lim.

Full-length glass doors connect the living hall to serene views of the garden and pool. Furnishings from Minotti, accompanied by custom pieces, illuminated display cabinets, and a bookmatched Italian marble feature wall enhance the sense of luxury in the living area. These elements cater to the client’s preference for white marble, as well as the qualities that he liked in the show units that SuMisura had designed and styled for luxury condominiums in Singapore.

This stunning multigenerational home designed by KGID was inspired by the classic look of the Good Class Bungalow's exterior architecture. Boasting seven bedrooms and 11 bathrooms, the vast 16,500 sqft dwelling has ample entertaining spaces for the sociable homeowners, who love to host.

Using luxury furnishings that feature a varied material palette with a dynamic mix of colours and textures, the designers crafted a luxurious abode with bespoke touches.

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Located in Bukit Timah, this handsome Good Class Bungalow is home to fashion designer Elyn Wong and her husband. The residence features an alluring historic charm with classic details and a sprawling lawn. Tastefully decorated with the art-loving couple’s extensive selection of vintage furniture and antiques, the abode’s cross-cultural influences fill the space with history and character.

Designed by Designworx Interior Consultant, this Good Class Bungalow exudes a relaxed atmosphere with marine-inspired touches. Home to a family of four and their border collie, the abode was designed in accordance with certain feng shui requirements. Various luxurious accents such as an aquamarine shagreen feature wall and bespoke coffee tables adorned with seashells bring the aquatic theme to life with a glamorous flair.

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Set amid lush foliage, this verdant home features a unique U-shaped structure around the home’s central pool. With architecture by Guz Architect, Designworx Interior Consultants helmed the interiors. Blurring the lines between indoor and outdoor spaces, the design team amalgamated the living spaces and greenery throughout the home.

Acceding to the client’s preference for modern furniture with Asian elements, each room is thoughtfully curated with artworks and furnishings that deliver a colourful and personalised twist.

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