Wrecking Ball

A little imagination goes a long way in reviving old HDB flats.

- Joyce Yang

Can a 3-room HDB flat be turned into a home for four? The answer is yes for a couple in their 30s living with their newborn and live-in helper. With backgrounds in media and the creative arts, they saw beyond the dated layout and engaged Evelyn from Meshwork Studios to reimagine it with a mid-century modern twist.

For Evelyn, the first order of business was to tear down all the walls.

“The couple wanted modular and multi-use spaces for practicality. So we demolished all the existing walls to resize the rooms according to their uses,” she said.

A sense of openness greets visitors the moment they step inside. Beneath the window, a recessed niche that came with the flat is converted into a discreet shoe rack. A study table makes the most of the natural light in this area while the glass blocks above sets a retro tone for the rest of the home.

“Usually, one would enter the apartment into the living room, but we converted the space into the dining room so it’s larger.”

This made room for a round dining table that seats up to six when the homeowners have family or friends over. Nearby, a mid-century style drinks cabinet serves as a bar cart and completes the social hub of the home.