She highlights that a master suite of this size is almost unheard of in Singapore. “This became a huge selling point, as the master bedroom is like a villa within a villa. [Overall, the super penthouse] has the size and lifestyle befitting [residents] staying in landed villas, made possible through [our strategy] in this project,” Tan elaborates. She also did the same to two other units, creating another super penthouse called Blossoms Villa.

The capacious floor plan not only exudes a sense of luxury but also gives Tan ample room for creativity. She solved the staircase issue by relocating the original staircase and replacing it with an elliptical one that was “sculptural in form yet visually lighter due to its glass balustrades,” she describes. The new design also allows for better appreciation of the double-volume living area where it curls up as a bronze architectural sculpture against the skyline outside the double-height windows. Open timber treads also made the staircase a light element within the space rather than being an obstruction.  

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“The pebble-inspired Saint Germain sofa from Poliform was chosen for the living room right next to the swimming pool, making this space feel like an extension of a pool garden,” Tan elaborated. The contours of a Royce armchair from SP01 adhere to the scheme, as does a Canasta Circular sofa from B&B Italia on the balcony.

A custom rug in the living area that resembles a watercolour rendering of a garden when looked at from above also “brings a lot of softness to the scheme,” while the Reef chandelier—a floating contraption of many little monochrome balls from French lighting company Designheure fills the lofty space.

Throughout the penthouse, Tan included many dark-coloured elements as a unifying strategy, as the original spaces featured timber elements of varying tones and to hide the uneven weathering of different components that had occurred over time.

Some examples are the carpentry in the master suite’s walk-in wardrobe, a black standalone bathtub in the master bathroom, and black-stained timber walls that cocoon the bed and dresser in the master bedroom. In the latter, these low, dark walls bring a sense of intimacy to the double-storey space.

A dark-toned wall acts as a portal into the dining area. It also frames the handmade Calico Wallpaper from New York with a pattern that uses gold foil to mimic dripping liquid. “The pattern honours the main design concept of fluidity and elements of flowing water that are celebrated throughout the home,” says Tan.

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She elaborates that designing the large space was akin to putting together “a three-dimensional experience of artistry”. Tan emphasises, “It’s not just about a wall or piece of furniture; every piece comes together like a stage set for people to build their lives around.” 

To solve the problem of the spaces that had no external views, these spaces were converted to the en-suite facilities of the master suite that did not need direct outside views. These include the walk-in wardrobes and a study-cum-lounge that can be converted into a guest bedroom.

A residual space between the living and dining was turned into a tea lounge. The eventual owners, whom Tan met, love spending time here, as tea drinking is one of their favourite pastimes. “The space is very relaxing yet adaptable to various [activities] such as reading or using the laptop,” Tan points out. 

The buyer was so happy with the property that they introduced a friend who bought the other unit that Tan designed. She remarks, “It turned out to be a perfect fit for each owner, as Oasis in the Sky’s darker [tones] had a more formal [character] suited for an older couple, while Blossoms Villa was fresh and bright, suitable for a younger one.” Watch this space for a story on the villa.

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