G8A Architecture & Urban Planning

The Twin-Lah Residence

The Twin-Lah Residence
© Federal Studio

THE TWIN-LAH RESIDENCE

G8A Architecture & Urban Planning + ColliNFontaine architectes

STRUCTURAL ENGINEERING
Ingeni Sa

MANUFACTURERS
Autodesk, Noe France

CONSULTANTS
Archiwatt

LANDSCAPE
G8a Architects, Collinfontaine Architectes

DESIGN TEAM
Grégoire Du Pasquier, Manuel Der Hagopian, Nicolas Moser, Didier Collin, Blaise Fontaine

COLLABORATOR
Jérôme Mallon

PHOTOGRAPHS
Federal Studio

AREA
420 m²

YEAR
2019

LOCATION
Thônex, Switzerland

CATEGORY
Houses

The Twin-Lah Residence
© Federal Studio

Text description provided by architect.

Looking up towards the Mont-Blanc from Thônex (Geneva, Switzerland) The Twin-Lah isn’t just a project for a house, it is the narration of a story.

Since the very first sketches, the requirements of the clients led the narration and the process through which the house was designed. 

The Twin-Lah Residence
© Federal Studio
The Twin-Lah Residence
© Federal Studio

Living at that time in Singapore, one of the clients’ main wishes was to bring a piece of his hometown back to Switzerland, to contribute to the design of his home for retirement.

With the name “The Twin-Lah” G8A + collinfontaine wink at the colloquial Singaporean dialect Singlish; a mix of six languages that represent the cosmopolitan state of Singapore. 

And through the façade’s warm pigmentation and texture, is evoked traditional Singaporean shophouses.

The design of the residence establishes a dialogue with its surroundings, playing with strong contrast in order to take place within the neighborhood and the community. 

The Twin-Lah Residence
© Federal Studio
The Twin-Lah Residence
© Federal Studio

As requested by the client, the project includes a villa orientated to enhance the view of the Mont-Blanc and a smaller house to be rented.

Similar to the “Twin House” project completed 10 years’ prior, G8A + collinfontaine integrate rather than duplicate the houses producing a single entity with imperceptible separations.

The Twin-Lah Residence
© Federal Studio
The Twin-Lah Residence
Ground Floor Plan

The garden wasto remain untouched, so after discussion the house was finally set in a radical gesture, directly against the property’s boundary.

Then conceived as a stack of 3 “T” shaped structures, absorbing force from its surrounding context to articulate in and outdoor spaces.

The Twin-Lah Residence
First Floor Plan
The Twin-Lah Residence
Section

Designed as a sensitive object that responds to its context and to the personal narrative of its owner, this project appears as the storytelling of a Singaporean pink house conceived, adapted and placed, after careful consideration, at the foot of the Mont-Blanc. Powerful contrasts create architectural challenges that The Twin-Lah balances harmoniously.

G8A Architecture & Urban Planning
T +65 6221 4118
G8A Architecture & Urban Planning
#04-52 Hong Lim Complex, Upper Cross St, Blk 531, 050531, Singapore