Shielded dwelling – by Create Architecture

Project type: 3-storey corner terrace house with attic
Floor area: 8,500sqft

The design creates a more private front facade, with the use of semi-enclosed courtyards to shield the interior from public view and to buffer against the tropical sun. A striking double-height balcony also extends from the second-storey entertainment room, creating a spacious outdoor retreat.

Reimagined from the ground up, this corner terrace house was completely rebuilt by Create Architecture to meet the evolving needs of a multi-generational family. While the structure is entirely new, the design preserves the original stepped terrain on the first storey. With five well-appointed rooms, the home balances private sanctuaries with communal spaces, fostering both connection and retreat for its residents.

A skylight floods the pebbled floor with natural light, enhancing the airy ambience of the home’s central circulation space. The staircase, featuring timber treads and sleek glass railings, creates a visual connection between levels while maintaining an open, understated elegance. This harmonious blend of materials and light reinforces the home’s seamless integration of nature and architecture.

Designed with a split-level configuration, the first storey features a higher front section facing the road and a lower rear section opening to the garden. Departing from conventional layouts, service spaces are positioned along the street, while private living areas at the rear embrace the lush greenery and natural downslope, enhancing both privacy and dialogue with nature.

The sloping public park and garden at the rear of the house inspired the open-plan design with clear hierarchies of spaces within a rectilinear form. The double-height living and dining areas feel expansive yet intimately connect to their surroundings, evoking a sense a calm.

Bathed in natural light, this serene bedroom suite is a study in understated sophistication, where warm, natural shades of brown and taupe contrast against crisp white surfaces. Thoughtfully curated furnishings, from the plush seating to the minimalist tables, enhance the sense of quiet luxury, creating a space that feels both intimate and refined.

Doorways frame lush green vistas, subtly integrating nature into the home’s interior. This visual connection fosters a serene and relaxed ambience, while warm timber finishes and clean lines heighten the sense of harmony and effortless flow between spaces.

Create Architecture

See all the shortlisted projects here