TROPICAL IDYLL

Located on Balmeg Hill, this apartment is literally a home in the woods. LYNN TAN experiences what it is like to be so close to nature.

- LYNN TAN

Stepping into this apartment feels like you are entering a tranquil sanctuary surrounded by nature. The balcony stretches across its entire length, connecting the living room and all three bedrooms, and overlooks the lush greenery of Balmeg Hill with neither a building in sight nor a traffic hum in the background – both rarities in our concrete jungle.

It comes as no surprise that the homeowners’ brief to Yanika Gunawan, design director of Parenthesis, was to bring in and connect with the surrounding greenery as much as possible in this renovation costing approximately $200,000.

“We wanted a home that welcomes the outdoor greenery, something with a tropical theme that is laid back yet elegant. Also, bright and airy with an air of sophistication,” says the wife.

As the space closest to the forested area just beyond the condominium’s boundary wall, the balcony is an important element in bridging the interior to the outdoors. The addition of decking not only raises the level of the balcony but also gives it a more rustic feel.