A look at a home influenced by design ideas around the globe.
A look at a home influenced by design ideas around the globe.
904sqf
Home for Joel Ang is a three-room HDB resale flat at Everton Park, a quiet estate that he describes as having a lot of warmth. In recent years, the quaint, old-school neighbourhood has seen cafes and restaurants set up shop, adding to the appeal of the area.
Joel was attracted to the area for its vibe and its convenient location. When asked about the aesthetic of his home, he referenced several key ideas. He loved the Japanese philosophy of wabi-sabi, the art of finding beauty in imperfection. Among other things, he believed that less is more. Overall, he wanted his apartment to have an oldmadenew, child-like feel.
Opting to design it himself, he cross-pollinated these ideas into his first home masterfully. Joel, an engineer in the aviation industry, also brought his exacting eye for detail into crafting each space with care. The result is a space that showcases his creative spirit. Rough-hewn concrete surfaces work with matte finishes to create an understated abode. The avid globetrotter also found unique decorative accessories on his travels, which now pepper the spaces.
Yes, I bought it when I turned 35. I came across this flat by chance. I was looking for a home in the town area. One day, I happened to be in the area to check out a cafe. I didn’t know that there were HDB flats here. So, very quickly, I searched online. Through one of the first agents I met, I saw this flat, and I liked it. I bought it two weeks after I saw it.
The combination of different styles reflects the homeowner’s carefree and outgoing personality. Grey and patterned cushions, both from Journey East.
London and Copenhagen gave me a lot of inspiration. For London, think the new Tate Modern wing!
I like the concept of wabi-sabi, but it’s not restricted to only Japanese aesthetics. The Danes have done a pretty good job at achieving a full wabi-sabi effect. It’s more cosmopolitan and less culturally influenced. An example is Restaurant Noma.
Basically, I want to project in my living spaces the energy of a city yet the peace that individual beings so desperately seek. Think Tokyo, bustling and always stimulating – yet with pockets of greenery, Zen gardens and minimalist interiors. So my choice of this apartment in a very old estate, hidden out of sight from the famous Pinnacle@Duxton, exemplifies city living while not being in the city centre. Think communal HDB living on a floor that has only four units. Very conflicting ideas, I know.
Because I designed everything, I had to decide every single detail. I had to visualise everything very quickly. There was also a lot of quick research and showroom or furniture shop visits for many on-thespot decisions. I had to know all the specifications and be very nimble. The worst was sourcing for materials myself. The tiles specially imported from Italy were a lot thinner than most tiles. Cutting into odd-sized tiles was difficult and I didn’t order that many spare pieces.
text ROSSARA JAMIL photography VERNON WONG art direction KAFFY TAN