In Chinese calligraphy, the word ‘san’ which means 3, is written in three strokes over three levels. It perfectly describes this three-storey terrace house in an urban area just off the central shopping district of Orchard Road in Singapore. Although the land, plot size, is rather small, just 6m wide x 22m long, the brief from the client was for a private house to accommodate his three-generation family consisting of grandmother, father and mother, sister, and the master with his wife, including a live-in maid. The first storey was dedicated to a separate living unit with three bedrooms, a pantry and a living area for the grandmother, parents, and sister with their own separate timber gate entrance.

A large staircase from the main entrance leads upstairs to the second storey where the main open-plan living and dining areas are located for the master of the house and is the main level where the master entertains. The impressive atrium staircase is lit by natural light from above through a glass skylight which is also the floor window of the swimming pool located on the third level where the master has his main bedroom, bathroom, and wardrobe, all enjoying the poolside views and a living vertical green wall which separates this terrace house from the next. The master bedroom is accessible via a spiral staircase from the front end of the living room terrace which also allows access to the pool for other members of the family or friends without going through the master bedroom.