More than just a screen for privacy and sun‐protection, the concrete brise‐soleil captures and intensifies nature along the perimeter of the house a series of lush, landscaped verandahs immediately adjacent to the indoor spaces. Every single room at the upper levels looks into its very own private garden; one with a semi‐outdoor bathtub that is literally outside, yet visually protected and well sheltered from the elements.
The pattern of the screen follows an underlying grid, but skips certain intervals to produce a composition with rhythm and a more asymmetric sense of balance. Other parts of the screen also form planter boxes, allowing more layers of green to grow and slowly reveal itself over the concrete.
Landscaping continues into other parts of the house. A courtyard at the second storey next to the staircase allows air and light into the central part of the house. The blues and greens from the pool and the heavy planting along side dominates the main living spaces on the ground floor, again celebrating nature as an integral part of ones dwelling place.

Name: Verdant Verandah
Type: 2 storey semi-detached house with attic, basement and swimming pool
Location: Princess of Wales road, Singapore
Site Area: 320 m2
Gross Floor Area: 549 m2
Status: Completed 2018
Architect: HYLA Architects
Principal Architect: Mr Han Loke Kwang
Assistant Architects: Ann Tipnipa Pantipjatuporn, Tran Thi Thu Trang, Monero Rochelle Abanes, Thomas Ong
Main Contractor: : Praxis Contractors Pte Ltd
Structural Engineer: GCE Consulting Engineers
Photographer: Derek Swalwell