RESIDENCE 430
“What I'm interested in is basically the human experience,” “Creating something soft within that can come from the pride of craftsmanship, which in turn creates poetry. Distilling a form that becomes more pure, so that with very little, you speak volumes.”
POETIC EXPRESSION THROUGH FUNDAMENTALS
The emancipation of modest materials
When you step into Residence 430, there is an immediate sense of tranquility. The open space, generous light and understated elegance is not typical for a 5-room HDB unit, but architect Khai Toh has manifested these qualities with choice design decisions.
One of these was in the handling of material expression. From the generous display of wood grain in the giant frames around the living room window, to the light column sprouting from a setting of stone rocks, these elements contribute to a therapeutic presence in the heartlander’s flat. And while this rich use of textured natural surfaces convey an air of luxury, you’ll be surprised to know how attainable they really are.
“I wanted to celebrate the nobility of the ordinary with the use of modest materials”, said Khai. Sharing how the wooden frames were made from plywood - maple, specifically chosen for its pattern - and the glowing light feature actually a reimagined structural pillar, Khai’s investigation into ordinary materials came with an aim to discover their essence and virtues, and to make the home exceptional.
Part of this might have had to do with his education. Having spent most of his education and career in the United States, Khai attributes his curriculum at Harrington Institute of Interior Design, Chicago, for his leanings.
“It was very Bauhaus,” the architect shared. “You took up painting, furniture-making, the study of materials, and worked with a seamstress, a carpenter or a sculptor. The investigation into materials and art instilled in me an intimate appreciation of the differing scales in design, as well as craftsmanship.”
With this layer of education, Khai has imbued the 1,300 square feet apartment with an air of easy refinement, elevating overlooked materials with skillful application and attentive craftsmanship.
True change through interior architecture
Long synonymous with limited space and utilitarian design, transforming public housing in Singapore is often left to the hands of an interior designer. But with an education in interior architecture and architecture, Khai brings another realm of study to accomplish the design fluidity of Residence 430.
The designer saw beyond the four walls and was inspired by what he saw out of the windows, sharing that what drew him was “the surrounding landscape, the eye-level greenery, the distant views, and then the natural light.”
From this expansive perspective, Khai highlighted the natural light and invigorating views as design elements, and to draw them in, he took away the walls of one room to create a larger common area with an open concept.
“It invites dialogue from its inhabitants, and delivers an authentic expression of the light and the materials I chose,” he shared.
And truly, the design of Residence 430 does feel cohesive and harmonious - definitely more so than in thematic designs that can feel applied. And this choice play between planes, materials, and light showcases the benefits of interior architecture, in how it can offer a true reboot and deep transformation to a design.
“Interfacing these different materials and elements and how they interact together is very important to me,” as he explains an example of how he softened the obtrusive ceiling beams in the kitchen with sliding cabinets. “Similar to music where you have a main theme, a secondary theme, and their intermediate transitions, finessing those interactions is key to elegance and ease.”
With the feature squarely placed on the expression of natural elements and humble materials, Residence 430 exudes a rare form of calm luxury. The embrace of light and fascinating materials cocoons one in a deeply soothing oasis away from hectic buzz. This delivery of empathy and pride in design is clearly the DNA of Khai’s design.
“What I'm interested in is basically the human experience,” he said. “Creating something soft within that can come from the pride of craftsmanship, which in turn creates poetry. Distilling a form that becomes more pure, so that with very little, you speak volumes.”
The Common Man’s Santuary by LookBox_Living
residence 5455
Residence 5455 project is a renovation of a 100 year old brick building in Chicago, Illinois. It came with original wood floors, wall and ceiling construction. The existing layout reflects the the culture and lifestyle of the time with a maid’s chamber adjacent to the kitchen and pantry as well as as concealed passage way leading to a servery area An original pivot wood door with brass hardware separates the maid’s chamber from the dinning. The renovation also cleaned and preserved the original stained glass windows as well as wood cornices that would have been moulded on site.
The renovation is a careful insertion of contemporary elements into the space for contemporary living. Parallel the fine craftsmanship of the past, traditional materials of wood and stone were used and detailed with modern construction.
chulin residence
The Chulin Residence project is a renovation of a walk up residential unit located above a retail shop in a surburb of Singapore. The beauty of the site lies in its views to distant hill, high ceilings with natural light flooding into the interiors from the front and back. Naturally, a “porus“ 2nd floor was established to allow the landscape , light and wind to flow freely through the unit from the front to the back. Elements of history such as the exposed brick wall was found. It was cleaned and painted to become surface relived texture that is part of the wall.
Within the open plan, ensemble of furniture were composed that became the functional use of the place.
sj INNOVATION CENTER
This is a design of a 2000 sqm innovation and conference center for a corporation undergoing a fast paced expansion of merger and acquisition. It serves as a central meeting point for both internal and external facing clientele.
Visitors arrive onto a spacious welcoming reception area defined by a celebratory ring of light with soft individualised seatings. Flanking one side of the reception is a living wall of digital technology that introduces the prowess and businesses of the corporation to visitors. A processional gallery walk on another end lead visitors into the inner functions of the center - i.e. board room, collaboration areas followed by meeting and virtual reality rooms toward the rear. The collaboration spaces towards the rear afford flexible re-configuration for multi-purpose use i.e. internal and external seminars or as war rooms.
A virtual reality room towards the rear affords AI and virtual simulation to occurs in anticipation of enhanced services to clients
SKIN RESEARCH INSTITUTE OF SINGAPORE
This is a design of a new office and research laboratory facility for the Skin Research Institute of Singapore (SRIS) comprises of The National Skin Center, Nanyang Technological University and Agency for Science, Technology and Research (A*Star) located at the Health City Novena campus of Lee Kong Chian School of Medicine, Novena Singapore. The key research areas of the SRIS include eczema, allergy and inflammation, pigmentary disorders, wound healing, hair conditions and skin ageing.
With 3 differing entities housed within a singular facility, the challenge of the project is in creating an environment that would promote interdisciplinary collaboration that support the mission and vision of the organization. The design choreographed the daily circulation routes of researchers between the labs and the lab offices with pause spaces and amenities so there are opportunities for running into each other and thereby promote intellectual exchange of ideas and discussions. In addition, common amenities such as pantry areas are also centralized to become a daily gathering place for morning and afternoon coffee.
In this design, laboratories and offices are zoned separately on the northern and southern part of the building core respectively with separate air supply and return systems to ensure health and wellness of the staff.
Since its occupancy in 2018, “The SRIS labs continue to function well and it is a happy “space” to work in” said one of its senior management.
rlb office
Adaptive reuse for a sustainable future
This is a workplace design for a regional office of a global multi-national company. The project prides itself on creating a sustainable development, (that is one of the key pillars of its corporate responsibility) through adaptive reuse of existing space and materials.
In the spirit of a sustainable development, this project retained about 90% of its interior architectural existing condition. With the exception of the enhanced ceiling at the reception and the demolition of a few walls for spatial planning efficiency, a majority of the walls, floors and ceilings were retained, patched and re-used. Existing full height office glass storefronts at the executive suite area were carefully cleaned, reinstalled and re-instated.
Workplace environment was planned around the existing condition while creating an open conducive working environment with filtered light streaming in from the exterior. To enliven and animate the office environment, selected colored panels were sprinkered across panels of the workstation at the eye level. At the pantry, a “touch down” area was created that became a celebratory gathering place for staff and visitors.
Dignitaries and visitors’ path is choreographed from the moment of arrival at the reception through a gallery walk and onto the executive suites with a glimpse over the workplace area.
MASLAND CARPET SHOWROOM
The Masland Carpet showroom at the Merchandise Mart of Chicago was conceived and executed in 2004. Today, it continued to be a destination for designers and customers, for social gathering and businesses - a testament to the good planning and design that stood the test of time.
Sited at a remote corner of a large building floorplate of the Merchandized Mart, “light” as a concept was establish to attract and draw footfall to the remote darkened area. A minimalist white-on-white interior was conceived which allow natural light (from the exterior) to bounce around the floor, walls and ceiling before spilling over onto the corridors. The white interior, in turn, serves as the backdrop to the color and texture of products. Visitors are treated to a choreographed interior experience with the standard line at one end and the newest line of products at the other.
A pair of mobile units that float in the middle of the room was created. One serving as the manager’s desk and the other as a working platform for engaging designers and customers on color material selections. Their mobility allows the showroom to be re-configured for large and small events throughout the year. An existing column in the space, conceived negatively, was transformed into a piece of shadow sculpture cladded with frosted glass. All storages were concealed as part of the interior architecture.
NAIL addiction
The design aspirations for the spa center around crafting a serene sanctuary—a place exuding tranquility, peace, and utmost comfort. It's about creating an inviting space where guests can unwind, leaving the spa feeling replenished, refreshed, and ready to face the world anew.
Clean lines, sleek furnishings, and contemporary accents create a space that is both stylish and inviting. The minimalist interior allows the focus to remain on the quality of our services and the comfort of our clients, while still exuding an air of sophistication and refinement.
The neutral tone of the material/ color palette instill a sense of calm and tranquility from the subtle shades of colors, material and texture inspired by nature adorn the interiors, complemented by accents of warm metallics and earthy textures. This harmonious color scheme creates a serene backdrop for a pampering experience, allowing client to relax and unwind in an environment designed to soothe the senses.
Lighting plays a pivotal role in creating ambiance and mood within our spa. Soft, diffused lighting fixtures cast a warm and inviting glow, while adjustable dimmers allow for customizable brightness levels to suit individual preferences. Strategic placement of accent lighting highlights focal points throughout the space, drawing attention to decorative elements and enhancing the overall
The interior reflects a commitment to providing unparalleled spa experience for our clients. From modern elegance and tranquil color palettes to luxurious details and comfortable seating - transporting client to a world of blissful indulgence, where relaxation and luxury converge seamlessly.
ART:DIS
FORMERLY “very special arts (VSA)”
Khai Toh as designer for “Spatiality Studio Pte Ltd.”
This is a renovation and addition of the existing VSA (Very Special Arts) art space at Bedok, Singapore with a total area of approximately 300 sqm.
Designing a performing and visual art center for the special needs is a unique endeavor that requires empathy, sensitivity and a good understanding of the uniqueness of the users (hypo versus hyper-sensitivity) in relation to environmental factors i.e. light, sound, smell and touch as well as other humanistic experiences, among many others.
The design challenges the idea of “disability” by celebrating the abilities of disabled students. In doing so, empowers them through their arts, contribute to and integrate with the community.
NEIL ROAD RESIDENCE
LIVING IN ART
This project transformed a war-torned colonial shophouse, in the heart of the city, into a gallery residence for an art collector.
Housed in one of the much-revered pre-war colonial row houses in Singapore on a long and narrow lot. This particular unit was destroyed during the Japanese occupation of Singapore and its rebuilding entailed structural strengthening of the walls on both sides of the lot along its depth.
This design utilized the expressed half height structural wall to become a gallery shelving for the display of their collections. Back lighting along its entire length expressed the interior architecture, its depth and volume as well as their collections.
The house is retrofitted with universal design considerations for the elderly with ample spaces for maneuvering and socializing. Acoustically insulated window system isolates city noise from the interiors transforming the interior into a tranquil living environment.
