Inside a sprawling residence in Singapore inspired by New York memories
This award-winning house masterfully blends the cosmopolitan vibes of the Big Apple with the Singapore’s tropical charm.
Nestled within an exclusive housing enclave in Singapore lies an architectural gem that blends tropical design with modern sophisticated living. Nicknamed the House with Verandahs, this stylish residence is home to art curator Cecilia Tay and her husband, Sam.
Designed by award-winning firm RT + Q Architects, this sprawling 20,000-sq-ft property, characterised by its breezy, inviting verandahs, has even won the prestigious SIA Design Award in 2023.
“If I had to describe my house in three words, it would be ‘artistic’, ‘lush’ and a ‘sanctuary’," said Tay.
Drawing inspiration from their lifestyle in upstate New York, where they lived for 15 years, the couple wanted to incorporate the element of wide open space and abundant nature into land-scarce Singapore. The verandahs, Tay observed, were an inspired way to infuse a touch of countryside charm into the urban landscape of Singapore.
There are three verandahs surrounding the home – the front one is outfitted with a swing and a durian tree taking pride of place in the garden, making it an ideal spot for a morning cuppa. The back verandah exudes a Mediterranean vibe, thanks to strategically planted olive trees.
Then there is the basement verandah, which functions as the family’s gathering space and opens out to the swimming pool, which their two young children especially enjoy. She reminisced: “When we were in New York, there were a lot of special memories formed in the house where we had a lot of parties. So, coming back to Singapore, we wanted to recreate that and use this house as the base for great memories.”
The family’s transition to Singapore has been even more meaningful because they are now closer to Tay’s parents, who have also moved into the residence. With a touch of humour, Tay quipped: “Grandparents tend to over-love the grandkids by spoiling them. So ever since coming back, my children have found their personal chef and personal driver – granny and grandad.”
On a more serious note, she added “As a working mother, I can have the peace of mind that my parents are always there for the kids.”
Her vision for her family home was brought to life by the architects. “Our brief to them was very simple – to understand the international nuances of our lifestyle as well as the fact that we needed a multi-generational home, coupled with lush gardens and white walls,” said Tay.
Additionally, as an art curator, she envisioned a home inspired by art galleries found around the world with plenty of space to house the family’s contemporary art collection. This global exposure to art, gained through visits to museums during her travels, laid the foundation for the artistic essence of their home.
Within the light-filled interiors of the abode, various art pieces – many of which represent meaningful life moments for the family – are prominently displayed for all to admire. For example, there is a painting of twin popsicles by American artist Nolan Simon.
“I bought his painting in November 2019 and in December I conceived twins. So, it is a standing joke between the artist and myself that it is lucky I did not buy the triple popsicles painting or I would have triplets,” she laughed.
The different floors of the house have been thoughtfully planned with different purposes, such as the basement for the family and the more formal first floor for art. The second floor is kept as a private retreat with the bedrooms located here.
This is also where Tay’s enviable walk-in closet, which houses her collection of designer handbags from labels including Hermes and Chanel is located.
“I needed to create space for my ever-expanding wardrobe and the way we thought about it was to create a room within a room,” explained Tay. In this jewel-box inspired space, the interplay of materials like glass panels and wood slates allow natural light to filter into the wardrobe.
“I go in there and I start playing like a girl again, figuring out what I want to wear the next day for work and all that,” she said with delight.
Her husband Sam also has his own favourite corner in the home – his wine cellar and private bar, where his extensive wine collection is safely stored. Designed like a free-standing wine rack to evoke the atmosphere of a large space, the wine cellar also has a tasting space for Sam to host his friends and colleagues.
Tay is looking forward to embracing the warmth and comfort of life in Singapore with this new home that has been lovingly built for the family.
“Living in New York for 15 years, we had a wonderful experience, so we wanted to recreate that. One of the key things was that we wanted the house to be a depository for all our fond memories,” she said.
“We achieved that with all the special spaces created for entertaining, but the icing on the cake is that right now we have my parents living with us. This house at the end of the day would offer an even broader spectrum of fond memories.”