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The client requested a villa which broke with typical
Singaporean suburban formulas, whether modern or
classical pastiche. The brief also required optimisation
of a tight site and parking for nine cars.
The final form of the house suggests a never-ending
story which reflects its actual genesis. At the initial
design discussion a scale model of the new
Lamborghini ‘Gallardo’ suggested just the right kind
of radical solution. This inspiration led to the formal
idea of two inverted triangles, slightly offset from one
another. This idea was further refined as a geometric
form became transformed into a house. At
the rear, the point of one triangle was champfered and
rounded, providing shading to the bedroom
underneath. Conversely, the other triangle was
extended to form a dramatic car porch canopy
cantilevering out by twenty metres and supporting two
supplementary canopies providing additional
protection for the cars parked underneath. With these
canopies, like winged stabilisers, the house resembles
a spaceship more than a car.
Now the building begins to reflect its name, lambda,
the Greek letter used to signify the notion of a
wavelength, a triangulated formal composition of
apparent opposites held in dynamic tension. This is
emphasised by the habitable attic solution, providing
an extra storey, but needing to conform to local
regulations requiring a pitched roof for attic spaces.
The solution satisfies planning guidelines without
compromising the overall formal character of the
building.
The aluminium clad roof with the extruded flaps at the
rear of the third storey terrace was intentionally
designed to extend the spaceship metaphor, while the
doghouse containing the lift over run was made to
look like the air intake of an engine room. In turn,
these gestures support an overriding strategy of
generous eaves and canopies to provide privacy and
sun protection. The result is a house which is
simultaneously bold but mysterious.
MERCURIO DESIGN LAB S.r.l. (MDL) is an award-winning Italian design studio that creates avant-garde concepts inspired by the vibrancy of Asia. Since its inception, MDL has been a place for ideas and thoughts, with a high energy to generate architecturally meaningful works. The team is composed of passionate architects, engineers, designers and artists who integrate art with technology in their design process, while respecting the three fundamental criteria: the functional, the aesthetic, and the social.
International Design Awards. Architecture Residential Building Category. Bronze Award 2014
Asia Pacific Property Awards. Architecture Single Residence Category. Highly Commended (2013, 2014, 2016, 2017), 5 Star Best Architecture Single Residence 2016, Award Winner 2019
Asia Pacific Property Awards. Architecture Multiple Residence Category. 5 Star Best Architecture Multiple Residence 2017
Asia Pacific Property Awards. Interior Design Private Residence Category. Highly Commended (2013, 2017)
Asia Pacific Property Awards. Residential High- Rise Architecture Category. Award Winner 2018
International Design and Architecture Awards. Architecture Overall Development UK/ Europe Category. Winner 2014
International Architecture Award. Private Homes Category. Winner 2015
A' Design Award and Competition. Architecture, Building, and Structure Design Category. A' Design Award 2015, Iron and Silver Award 2016, [2x] Gold Award 2017, [2x] Silver Award 2018, Bronze Award 2019
A' Design Award and Competition. Interior Space and Exhibition Design Category. Bronze Award 2015, [2x] Silver Award 2019
A' Design Award and Competition. Arts, Crafts and Ready-made Design Category. Gold Award 2018
Muse Design Awards. Architectural Design, Residential Category. Gold and Platinum Winner 2019
Urban Design & Architecture Awards. House Design Built Category. Second Winner 2019
Urban Design & Architecture Awards. Housing Built Category. Second Winner 2019
Urban Design & Architecture Awards. Residential Multi-Family Built Category. First Winner 2019
LUX Life Designer Awards. Master Planning and Interior Design Category. Best Master Planning and Interior Design Studio 2019 - Italy
International Residential Architecture. Residential Built Category. First Winner 2019
International Residential Architecture. House Design Built Category. First Winner 2019
Novum Design Awards. Architectural Design. Silver Award 2019