The parti (overarching principle) of the S House was to divide a long, thin suburban lot into two gardens – native to the east, exotic to the west, to suit the client’s respective tastes – and wrapping the house through them. This move challenged the conventional front and back yard diagram of the residential villa architecture that dot the heritage neighbourhood, but with its compact form and central circulation, the S-House provided a number of lifestyle benefits.

The elongated plan, for instance, allows greater connection to the landscape and solar penetration into the south-facing section. The entry, through a porch at one of the corners, connects to a singular spine corridor that expands and contracts as social spaces and garden connections require. The house, essentially, is an active space between gardens, affording and rewarding occupants with multiple views and sectional level changes as they move throughout the site.