Transform 1 home to 2

Design Brief

Transform the 2-Bedroom Apartment into 2 separate living units, one for the home owner and the other for a new tenant on a minimum budget to achieve the following –

• Total transformation of each unit for independent living with 2 separate kitchens, dining spaces, bedrooms and bathrooms
• Enhance existing interior with new colour scheme, lighting design, furniture and appliances

Client Testimony

“The renovation was started and completed during the 2 months when I was hospitalised for my leg injury. I was very surprised to see the entire home transformed after I was discharged. Even though my space is now smaller, I am able to enjoy new furniture and appliances. After living in the flat for more than 20 years alone, I am very happy to have found a tenant who has now become a neighbour and a friend.”

– Mr Alan Lee

Design Concept

With independence being the end-goal of the client, we were tasked to innovate a solution to find a right balance between budget and spatial constraints to subdivide a 70 sqm apartment into 2 homes.

The aim of separating a single home into two – for two individual occupants with distinct lifestyles – seemed quite a challenge at first. Despite the unconventional approach required for the project to succeed, we thought out of the box and achieved the insurmountable by spearheading a design methodology that is currently rare for older flats in Singapore.

This project was challenging for our team due to 2 factors.

First, the small apartment had to be reconfigured and rearranged to fit two homes – apartments A & B – without any compromise on each occupant’s privacy.

Second, we needed to reconfigure the spaces such that each unit now has its own bedroom, bathroom and kitchen within an existing 2-bedroom apartment unit.

To overcome this challenge, we reorganised the spaces such that each subdivided apartment would comprise 2 zones – one for living and the other for sleeping.

The original kitchen of the first apartment was transformed into a bedroom. The new kitchen was shifted to the living space and compacted into an efficient  “L-shaped” counter. This kitchen-turned-bedroom thus became a private sleeping quarter that receives natural daylight. A partition wall was then added to separate the two newly distinct spaces, where the second apartment mirrored the layout of the first.

“This strategy enabled the 2 apartments to function independently without compromising on the functions and comfort of each separate unit, a distinction from  the conventional design of corridor-facing flats.  The outcome was a melodious pairing of 2 homes in 1, strategically separated and only made possible by innovative design.”

Beyond this spatial transformation, we were also mindful of the furniture and colour scheme for the new units. Due to the reduction in apartment size, we opted for light and flexible fittings that could be comfortably moved around should the need arise. The color palette was also updated to create a clean, bright and vibrant space for both units.

Despite the subdivision, the thoughtful design and carefully curated furniture worked harmoniously in this transformation. By optimising function and budget,  we created new possibilities for homeowners should they decide to downsize. As people grow and their needs change, we believe this methodology and strategy will be widely accepted not only in Singapore, but also the rest of the world.

Budget: $49,000

Timeline: 2 months