IN GENTLE DARKNESS

This apartment in District 10 explores how a monochromatic palette can remain expressive and layered through thoughtful material choices and natural light

- By Asih Jenie

While bright, open spaces dressed in light hues may seem a fail-safe formula for tropical living, this dark and handsome family apartment in District 10 by interior design studio Arche challenges that notion with a palette of shadow and depth, one that speaks of rest, reflection and intimacy.

Completed after a yearlong overhaul for a couple with three children, the home is christened House of Kin, in Gentle Darkness—a name that aptly tells its origin story. “It came quite intuitively,” says studio founder Edward Seet on the evocative moniker. “House of Kin’ speaks of belonging, warmth, and shared moments. It is about a home built on connection, rather than just form. ‘In Gentle Darkness’ describes the atmosphere we shaped, that hushed, cocoon-like quality that makes you slow down and feel at ease.” Together, he elaborates, the title captures the duality the clients desired: a home that feels grounded, yet expressive.

REFRAMING THE FAMILIAR

The original apartment bore the hallmarks of an early 2000s interior: glossy beige tiles, parquet floors edged with wood skirting, ornate cornices, and a chandelier that once signified luxury. Time, however, had dulled its charm. Water seepage from the balcony had spread across the living area, compounding the need for a full overhaul.