Glade House occupies a generous plot in central Singapore with a broad street frontage, using a layered façade to screen its family’s lives from the public realm while maintaining a strong connection with its environment. The house remains breathable and cool despite the tropical climate, allowing for comfortable living.

Louvered aluminium screens shield its upper floors from the street while modulating sunlight through them, maintaining an intimate connection with nature. These operable screens work in tandem with deep roof overhangs that encourage cross-ventilation from end to end, maintaining thermal comfort even through the monsoon seasons. A row of towering, mature rain trees form a green perimeter around the property, softening light and cooling their surroundings. Native to the tropics, they further connect the house to its climate.

A 25-meter lap pool sits at the heart of Glade House, wrapping around the building’s side and back. It reflects the family’s passion for swimming and the integration of their lives into their home, encircling the dining and dry kitchen spaces. This gesture allows the architecture to embrace water as an experiential element, immersing daily life in ephemeral movement, reflection and sound. Additionally, it acts as a convenient way to cool down on a hot day. 

The use of materials reflects the tropical climate in which this house sits. Warm Bulgarian limestone clads its walls, mirroring the intensity of sunlight throughout the day. Oak panelling is used for both the exterior and interior, acting as a consistent natural texture that connects living spaces with the surroundings. Yet, black aluminium screens contrast the lightness of the limestone while providing environmental protection. The combination of these materials for both aesthetic and practical purposes remains mindful of the unpredictability of Glade House’s environmental context.