prow architects layers arena house to host events in singapore

prow architects layers arena house to host events in singapore
all images courtesy of prow architects

‘the arena house’ designed by singapore-based studio prow architects fuses the typology of an event with a residential home. located in singapore, the planning restrictions typically see common living spaces contained within the first storey, segregated from the private rooms located above. wanting to challenge this, the clients emphasized the importance of the living room for hosting large groups of friends for parties, screening movies and watching live sporting events. this resulted in a volume that takes the form of a layered cake – a high ceiling on the front side with stepped shelving mimics a seating bowl, overlooking an arena.

front view of house

on an event day when the owners’ guests congregate to enjoy the screening of a live sporting event or movie, the sliding doors of the bedrooms retract to become box seats. a large format 4.5m x 4.5m motorized projection screen lowers into the event space to provide visual entertainment and converts the high ceiling into a focal point. fully operable folding glass panels also extend the ground floor onto the carport for bigger parties.

view of the living room and stepped shelving system

on a regular day, the ‘arena space’ reverts back to its domestic scale. the curtains and sliding bedroom doors can be drawn to create a level of privacy for each family member. the seating structure, which was also designed as a stepped shelving system becomes the main living room. the building envelope is articulated with varying opacity levels to offer glimpses into the changing activities within.

a regular day – view of living room and carport

overview of the seating and box seats

view of event space from the box seats

Event day – View of event space from seating

Event day – View of event space from seating

event day – view of event space from seating

typology diagram

site plan

longitudinal section

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