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WRITTEN BY Ryan J While families may have a lot in common, there are always individual needs for each member; and the essence of good design is addressing those disparate needs under the same roof. In today’s home, we examined how a design firm emphasised “family togetherness” without overly compromising on individual needs. The result is this well put-together home in Bishan, a combination of efficient spatial planning and family warmth: The designers were given an open brief, which allowed them to exercise their own creativity. The family, which included the couple and two children, had only a few key requirements – but they were challenging ones: “ ,” the designers said, “ ” This meant versatile spaces, which could be adapted to various family activities. For the designers, this meant “ .” While open-ended, the brief also presented the main design challenge: designers described this as “ .” The designers conceived communal areas as the living room and kitchen, while “ .” The overall design philosophy was to support collective activity, but “ .” To balance the two, the designers said that:  “ .” At the same time, to address the need for personal space, they would incorporate “ .” One example is the use of partial dividers, bookshelves, and indoor greenery to subtly delineate personal spaces. There was a choice to avoid excessive use of partitions for these spaces, to allow for a “ .” The overall result balances the sense of family togetherness, without depriving family members of personal space. The outcome is described as a living space that is both unified and versatile, to cater to the varied needs of family life. Aesthetically, the design narrative also appears in features like the open kitchen and expansive kitchen island, and designers also leveraged the view of Bishan Park to give a bright and airy feel to the home.  The designers chose to remove the walls that divided the living, dining, and kitchen spaces. This openness helps to encourage a sense of togetherness and joint family activity, as mentioned in the brief. A few key areas were changed in the process: As for the entrance of the home, it was a conscious effort to ensure that the open expanse of the unit to be immediately visible; the aim being to set a welcoming tone, and “ .” This is both literal and symbolic, representing the unbounded nature of family life and interactions.  The designers opted to blend these areas into a single cohesive space: “ .” The balcony was placed beside the balcony to merge the sense of indoor and outdoor spaces, and having a good view of Bishan Park adds to the feature. The setup aims to “ .” Also note that the dining space is built to be versatile; besides dining, it can also support other activities like studying, in a pleasant ambience.  The smaller balcony in the living room can be used as a “ .” This is an example of creating niche spaces for personal activities, which are nonetheless integrated with the home’s wider, family-oriented spaces.  These are tucked away from the main living area, and they remain convenient and accessible but don’t butt into the overall ambience of the living spaces. This is certainly a useful trait in social gatherings, like dinner parties.  The designers opted to use adaptable furniture for the rooms, rather than increasingly common built-in furniture. This is a more forward-thinking approach, as it allows the bedrooms to evolve with the children’s needs and preferences as they grow.  For the master bedroom, the designers aimed to create a “ ,” which can support both rest and productivity. They noted the “ ,” which turns the area into a dual-purpose space.  The client did need some persuading concerning the highly open concept. Hacking away so many walls to reconfigure the space, and making it quite different from a typical 5-room flat layout, was a particularly bold move. The designers acknowledge that the approach “ .” The designers were able to convince the homeowners via a detailed explanation of the benefits of open-plan living, and the positive effect on their quality of life. They say “ .” The designers felt that the kitchen stands out as the most remarkable area of the home: “ ” The kitchen is equally catered to an individual making a small meal, to the family hosting large gatherings; and the layout allows the cooking process to be an interactive experience shared with guests. The kitchen goes beyond just culinary utility, and also becomes “ The clients were happy with the results, which closely matched their initial brief. The designers noted a significant shift from the original layout: “ .” However, the transformation was made possible due to effective communication and collaboration with homeowners. The designers attributed the success to “ The designers say their key piece of advice is: “ For more interesting interiors and homeowner journeys, follow us on .