When COVID-19 hit, and we all retreated to our homes, the quality of the spaces that we inhabit came into sharper focus. It was a moment to reflect on the kinds of interiors we create for ourselves and others, to reimagine the home (and, eventually, the office) as a shared place where work and life need to be in spatial harmony.

In Singapore, L Architects note, many people took on an interest in horticulture during this time. So did the clients of their recently completed interior renovation, ‘In a Park.’ The home – a three-bedroom apartment located in the northeast region – reflects its owners’ love of gardening and nurtures it with a feature area dedicated to house plants and delineated by a low brick wall. It’s one of the many delightful idiosyncrasies in a home re-fashioned for a new perspective on living.

“During the initial design discussion,” the architects explain via a press release, “the client noted that although he loved plants, he did not “wake up to them.” This observation became a key conceptual driver for the project.” So the design team set out to envision a layout where “plants are not only decorative additions, but rather are integral to everyday living.”

Through this imperative, they landed on an ideal paragon: older public parks in Singapore that are distinctive for their employment of double-bullnose brick as a prime landscaping material. “Traditionally used in outdoor benches, walkway edges, and planters, this brick is closely associated with the character of Singapore’s parks of the past,” the architects say.

Because the building block had fallen out of use, the original factory no longer produced it. Luckily, the architects found a supplier with an inventory of 571 pieces that he was happy to provide for the project.

The integration of this material throughout the home – as a contoured bench that curves around a nursery and as a tessellated freestanding wall that separates the study from the living area – gives the home both its earthy texture and its innovative feel. Applied to an unusual setting, what’s old feels new again.

“Ultimately, ‘In a Park’ explores the beauty of everyday life through simple and evocative references,” the architects say. “By rediscovering the latent value of an ordinary material and re-contextualizing it within a domestic setting, the project demonstrates that innovation does not necessarily rely on high-tech materials. Instead, it highlights how thoughtful detailing and restraint can elevate the mundane, reaffirming a belief in the enduring relevance of humble, overlooked materials.”