Clifton Valley Villa is a private, independent residential project designed with the concept of creating an inwardly open villa on a compact site.
The main design goal was to develop a spacious tropical villa on a small plot of land. Our concept reimagines the living space as an outdoor environment, subtly enclosed with BIM technology, allowing the owner to experience living within a garden. To enhance the sense of openness, we employed simple spatial techniques — such as strategically arranging openings, guiding visitors through a compressed entrance, and then entering a double-height living area featuring a pond.
Above the entrance, we positioned a “black box” cinema room, creating a sense of compression as you enter. A bedroom mezzanine overlooks the rear of the villa, forming a layered living space. The pond above acts as the central “breathing well” for the bedroom. All bedrooms are arranged around a vertical ventilation shaft. The master bedroom occupies the entire attic level, with this ventilation shaft centrally located to ensure airflow. Each room features windows opening into the shaft, allowing for cross ventilation even within private spaces.
Designing a home suitable for tropical climates is especially critical in this region. The villa faces east, with its long side oriented south—aligned with the prevailing wind direction during the southwest monsoon season. We positioned the main openings to face the southern winds and incorporated a central courtyard to promote cross ventilation.
Typically, semi-detached villas in Singapore have dark interiors due to shared walls blocking light. By creating an air duct, hot indoor air can escape, establishing a natural cross ventilation system. The courtyard features a glass sliding skylight that automatically closes during rain, maintaining comfort and usability throughout the year.
We developed a multifunctional screen system composed of double folding doors that can be fully opened without obstructing views. Within each door module, wooden slats rotate to adjust lighting, ventilation, and privacy. The slats can also be fully closed to create a sealed environment. This system is applied throughout the villa, forming the primary facade.
Drawings
Attic Floor Plan
Ground Floor Plan
Mezzanine Plan
Second Floor Plan
Project Information
Architect: Freight Architects
Location: Singapore, Singapore
Category: Independent Residential Buildings
Principal Architect: Kee Jing Zhi
Building Area: 540.0 square meters
Year Completed: 2017
Photographer: Darren Soh
Manufacturer: Lamitak
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