JALAN SENI HOUSE
A corner terrace transformed by ACO Architects into a nurturing family home, shaped by site conditions, greenery and thoughtful architectural detailing.
The project involved a comprehensive renovation of an existing "Balinese" semi-detached house. Beyond extending the current building envelope to add more rooms, the owner sought a complete overhaul to achieve a timeless, modern classical look with minimal maintenance.
The ground floor layout was entirely replanned to improve spatial flow and visual connectivity. The redesign carefully manages light, views, and circulation throughout the house and engages with the surrounding landscape. The living room now opens out to a semi-outdoor patio space overlooking the pool, providing for a relaxed and integrated indoor-outdoor lifestyle.
Existing walls on the first storey were removed to create a fluid layout. Full-height glazing along the length of the house allows the living and dining areas to open up to the surrounding greenery. The timber screen moderates sunlight and privacy for the upper levels, creating a layered facade that provides a treehouse-inspired experience. Timber panelling throughout the interiors further blurs the boundary between inside and outside.
Maximising space and light through sleek materials and expansive glass panels
Large-format white porcelain tiles are used on the ground floor to enhance the sleek, seamless aesthetic and to make spaces appear more expansive and uncluttered. Full-height glass sliding panels enclose the primary living areas, visually extending the space to the exterior. This design choice effectively mitigates the sense of confinement that resulted from the original structure's low headroom limitation. A triple-volume skylight along the stairwell brings natural light deep into the centre of the house while visually linking the different levels.
Seni House transforms through simplification and material precision
The facade was simplified by removing the original concrete mouldings and planters. In their place, aluminium sun-shading canopies and weathering ledges that are designed to look good and perform the important role of weathering in the local climate. The exterior palette is limited to white and black with accents in timber-grain powder-coated aluminium.
The Seni House demonstrates the power of simplification. Through careful planning and material selection, the semi-detached home was transformed into a refined modern-classical residence.
