House of a Thousand Leaves

Design Team: ZIVY ARCHITECTS
Size： 715 m²   
Location：Singapore

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Project - Nestled on a narrow 9m x 38m plot in Singapore, the House of a Thousand Leaves by ZIVY Architects reinvents the multi-generational home with an ingenious inward-looking design. Rather than segregated private zones, this three-and-a-half story semi-detached house fosters connectedness through shared spaces that encourage chance encounters between family members. The pièce de résistance is the soaring quadruple-volume atrium at the heart of the home. Oriented north-south, it capitalizes on natural ventilation with breeze block endwalls that create a wind-tunnel effect. The tapered concrete blocks filter dappled light and rain, completing the biophilic experience along with deep skylights and integrated greenery across levels. But the atrium is far more than just a sculptural centerpiece. It doubles as an open circulation core, with a continuous perforated metal mesh staircase that visually connects all floors. Full-height glazing along the interior atrium wall furthers sightlines and airflow into the adjoining living spaces occupied by individual family units. Sustainability prominently features, from solar panels to repurposed walnut chip flooring in the tea room. By cleverly intertwining nature and multi-generational living, ZIVY has crafted an adaptable tropical haven for occupants to grow together over decades to come.

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Design Team - Founded in 2019 by Loh Zixu and Evy Sutjahjo, ZIVY Architects is a Singapore-based practice guided by the belief that great design emerges through rigorous exploration and a keen attention to detail. The firm's collaborative approach places inclusive design sessions at the heart of every project, transforming briefs from ordinary to extraordinary. Led by Zixu and Evy, both Registered Architects with the Board of Architects Singapore and Corporate Members of the Singapore Institute of Architects, ZIVY's work prioritizes creating richly layered spatial experiences imbued with purpose and personality. Zixu's rational design process harmonizes with Evy's sensitivity for livability and poetry. Completing the core team are Architectural Associates Jean Lin and Pang Yun Jie, whose fresh perspectives further the practice's dedication to innovation. ZIVY's portfolio spans multi-generational homes, commercial/institutional spaces, and even product design - all unified by a commitment to crafting environments that empower inhabitants and elevate the human condition. Through close collaboration with industry consultants and academic mentorship roles, ZIVY actively enriches the architectural discourse. Their purposeful, people-centric approach positions them as an ascending force redefining Singapore's built environment.