Singapore is well-known for its public housing that are popularly known as HDB flats. Their design follows a cookie-cutter approach, but owning a HDB flat doesn’t mean having to conform to most Singaporeans’ standard way of living. Its interior, regardless of size, can be recreated aesthetically and yet remain functional with unconventional design methods. I wanted to showcase the strong visual appeal HDB flats can have by using simple materials or even unassuming objects to create the “sparks” that give homeowners a sense of ”wondrous magic” when they step into the house.

This 969-sq-ft public housing flat in Sengkang West Avenue reinvents a new space typology that achieves openness, versatility and organised storage with striking design aesthetic. Its focal point is a unique structure that resides in the middle of the flat and provides the convenience of daily living. Measuring 9 m long, 2.4 m wide and 1.9 m high, the “Wonder Box” conceals the bomb shelter, access to air-conditioning ledge, two bathrooms and ample storage space for the family. It also houses wardrobes for the parents and child, the television and audio visual equipment cabinets as well as kitchen and dinnerware.

The “floating” box is suspended and stretched from the kitchen to the sleeping areas, ensuring a visual continuity within the home. Its glossy laminate finish plays off the surrounding light to achieve a spacious visual effect, making the apartment appear larger than it looks. Tube lighting illuminates at night, and showcases the box’s elegance to superb effect.

Besides the box, the original walls for the three bedrooms were hacked to free the space along the passageway and convert into the master bedroom and the children’s room. Panels of large sliding doors double as privacy screens, outline the sleeping areas, and control the openness of space, light and wind. The primary materials used include natural cement screed, glossy laminate and satin stainless steel finish.

Today, new HDB flats have confined people in their home, affecting their quality of life and preventing higher interactivity. Living spaces are getting smaller such that one can’t even fit in large furniture like a proper dining table set without feeling the squeeze. How can we make a 900-sq-ft flat work as if it was a 9,000-sq-ft living space? I hope Wonder Box inspires everyone to think about improving the urban liveable area in Singapore. My philosophy is to redesign existing space to make HDB flats a more ideal home for the modern family, as well as improving the quality of human interactions and their relationships.

In 2012, Wonder Box received the Design of the Year from the President*s Design Award, Singapore’s highest honour for designers and designs across all disciplines. Below were the citations it received:

Jury citation

Wonder Box exemplifies the “small is beautiful” concept. The designer has demonstrated a meticulous understanding of the client’s needs for extra storage by encapsulating the back of house, wet areas and bomb shelter into a compact whole. The contents within the box unfold, telling a story of the homeowners’ lives as they eat, live and play.

This is a brilliant piece of crafted design. The designer sacrificed some space to achieve a more significant overall result. As a pristine yet humble solution, Wonder Box, delivered on a low budget, is a huge achievement.

Through clever use of resources, Wonder Box redefines the space of an HDB flat and changes the experience of living in one. It will inspire other HDB dwellers and homeowners to improve their quality of living through exploring and adopting good home design. This is a scalable precedent for mitigating restricted space provision in Singapore housing.

Nominator citation

Built to conceal a bomb shelter, two bathrooms and storage areas, the Wonder Box is an innovative design solution that showcases both form and functionality. Singapore’s HDB flats are often presented with common, stereotypical design options. However, Wonder Box is proof that high-rise living can be made far more interesting, with the right concept.

Wonder Box makes a strong visual statement from all angles, whether you view it from the living room or from any other areas of the home. The glossy black laminated box-like structure fully uses the narrow layout of the HDB flat, without overwhelming its 969-sq-ft space. By extending its length horizontally, the visual weight of the box is greatly reduced, giving a sense of aesthetic balance to its surroundings. Its intelligent design also allows the homeowners to do away with door handles, which enhances the sleek space as a result.

Sitting in the centre of the flat, Wonder Box looks even more striking when it is lit at night. I like the idea of a box that keeps everything out of sight, because having an uncluttered home gives you peace of mind.

Would you have imagined having a “floating” box that is capable of concealing the existing areas including the homeowners’ wardrobes, TV cabinet and even the AC ledge? I would have never thought it was possible until I saw this. It really is a solution that gives anyone who steps into the HDB flat a sense of “wondrous magic”.

Wonder Box deserves the President*s Design Award for its unconventional approach to maximising an HDB flat’s space that is executed on a modest budget.