The ball is in his courtyard

Aug 16, 2008
The ball is in his courtyard
Michael Ngu's home has all his favourite features, because he built
it himself
By Tay Suan Chiang, DESIGN CORRESPONDENT

Architect Michael Ngu is known for designing high-end condominiums
such as Scotts 28 in Scotts Road, Cuscaden Residences in Cuscaden
Road and the Cosmopolitan in Kim Seng Road.

But when it comes to private homes, the president and chief executive
officer of local firm Architects 61 has done only one - his own.

That home is a two-storey plus attic semi-detached house in Tanjong
Katong built 10 years ago, which he and his family still live in
today.

The 52-year-old describes it as 'not outlandish, but real and
practical'. It incorporates features you would normally find only in
a commercial building - as befits a commercial architect - along with
some distinctly personal touches.

One such personal quirk includes having a living room with a glass
floor through which Mr Ngu, from the comfort of his sofa, watches koi
fish in a pond.

On the other hand, he has done away with curtains in the home, the
way that commercial buildings also do not have them. Roller blinds
are used instead to keep out the sun.

The five bedrooms have bay windows which look out onto the
neighbourhood - an idea he says he took from the design of Scotts 28,
which has the same feature and was completed in 1998.

The Kuching-born, Singapore permanent resident lives there with his
homemaker wife Mei and their three daughters, aged 13 to 25.

Although the home is 10 years old, it does not look dated. The family
keeps up with times by simply updating the furnishings instead of
changing the structure.

Building the home involved tearing down an old house on the site and
constructing the new one from scratch for $650,000 inclusive of
fittings, which he says was a big amount even then.

There was just one 'hitch' in the design process: His wife dislikes
big spaces. 'But I'm a modern architect and I like bigger spaces,' he
says.

* Koi pond is indoors

Visitors will note that the result is a compromise. The 3,200 sq ft
home is spacious, yet has intimate spaces.

For example, the living room is split into two areas: A bigger one
just by the entrance of the home allows guests to mingle. Slightly
off to this, left and up a few steps is a smaller, cosier living
area.

While most owners have endless wishlists of what they want in their
home, there were just two features Mr Ngu had to have: a courtyard
and a koi pond.

He says he likes how some old homes have a courtyard and incorporated
one in his that is the central attraction, separating the dining and
living rooms.

A 8m-tall water feature stands on one side, flanked by creepers and
plants that are lovingly cared for by his wife.

'The 'waterfall' not only cools the air, but the sound of water is
relaxing too,' he says.

He designed the bedrooms on the second floor and attic to look into
the courtyard. A piece of glass covers its top to keep out the rain,
but this has been designed to allow hot air to escape, keeping the
home ventilated.

As for the koi pond, most owners would site theirs outdoors in the
garden but not Mr Ngu.

He says he seldom goes outdoors, so he built his pond indoors. Part
of it is under a small section of the home, where the smaller living
area is, with its distinctive glass viewing floor.

To give the house a more homely touch, he used timber
throughout. 'Timber is seldom used in commercial residential
projects,' he notes.

He adds that the wood is no ordinary wood but 'selangan batu', a type
of heavy hardwood that was brought in from his late father's
timberyard in Kuching. His second brother, Stephen, 53, now runs the
company.

Ten containers of timber were shipped in. 'This timber is dense,
doesn't shrink much and is good for both outdoors and indoors,' he
explains.

While he loves his home, there are still some niggling complaints for
this perfectionist: for example, the dining room.

Although the room looks out onto the courtyard, it tends to be
dim. 'I would have liked to add another window but couldn't because
the maid's room is behind,' he explains.

The family is very attached to the house, especially youngest
daughter Francesca, 13. She once told Mr Ngu that if they ever had to
move, the house should be torn down so no one else could live in it.

'I told her she cannot be so selfish,' he says with a laugh. The
family, who moved to Singapore 18 years ago, are staying put.