Who lives here

A bachelor

home A three-room HDB apartment

in Hougang

size 750 sq ft

F

reelance graphic designer

Chia Ching Kai bought

this 1975 HDB flat in its

original condition and decided

to take on the interior design

himself. “I was very clear about

the design concept, layout and

how I wanted it furnished. I also

knew exactly how the space

should function, both as a home

and for work. Having previously

collaborated with a reliable

contractor on a few smaller

renovation projects, I didn’t see

the need to involve a third party

in this case,” he says.

The original walls dividing

the two bedrooms and the living

room were hacked to create one

large space, much like a studio

apartment. This is Ching Kai’s

idea of “openness”, where there

are “no secrets, just airiness and

lots of natural light”.

The main living and work

area reflect a minimalist

approach, from the decor and

colour palette, to the furniture

and storage solutions. “It has

been distilled to what I need

in my daily life and work,” he

shares. The only furniture within

the space is a large worktop

that also serves as a communal

dining table when entertaining

guests. It is complemented by

three Hans J. Wegner Wishbone

Chairs and a long wooden

bench. An assortment of plants

are arranged along the windows,

with a solitary armchair placed

in the corner.

Instead of the usual

television console against a

feature wall backdrop, Ching

Kai designed a row of built-in

cabinets that stretch across the

full length of the space. The

cabinet doors are intended

to appear like a feature wall

when closed and he went to

great lengths to achieve this.

He wanted a raw cement look,

but practical considerations