When it comes to building materials, the humble brick has a lot going for it. It’s fireproof, low-maintenance, and durable in hot, humid conditions. When used thoughtfully as a finish, exposed brick can also create beautiful and cozy homes—like this apartment in Singapore.

One of the homeowners used to work in finance before he retired, and he now enjoys spending his time cooking and taking culinary classes. His partner studied at the National University of Singapore and is now a teacher. The latter approached one of his former classmates, Lim Shing Hui of L Architects, to renovate the apartment, as he appreciated Lim’s creative use of natural materials in their unembellished states.

“In our projects, we deliberately work with humble, everyday materials,” says Lim. “Through precise detailing and considered composition, we aim to elevate the ordinary, revealing the beauty within the seemingly mundane.”

Lim’s former classmate had become an amateur horticulturalist during the pandemic, and the compartmentalized layout of the existing apartment did not allow him to fully appreciate them. “He wanted to wake up with a view of plants,” muses Lim—so she started drawing up plans for a home that feels like a park.

In Singapore, bricks are often used for hardscaping features in public gardens—like short walls, benches, planters, walkway edges, and flooring—and some older housing estates feature double-bullnose bricks with curved forms. When Lim tried to source these, she found one supplier—but the bricks were no longer in production due to low demand. She happily purchased his remaining 571 pieces and used them all for this project, which she developed with architectural and interior designer Reid Tan.

Their first step was to demolish some walls in the existing three-bedroom apartment to create a more open layout. This gesture created a common area that runs the length of the house, with a long band of windows that brings in abundant natural light and breezes. “The natural light streaming into the living spaces creates a comfortable environment for reading and lounging,” says the homeowner. “The varying intensities of light filtering through the different spaces allow us to keep a good collection of plants.”

Next, Lim used the bricks to create two kinds of dividers: a screen wall with a tessellated pattern between the living area and study, and a low, curving bench between the study and the dining area. Sets of jalousie windows bring the bedroom suite a sense of airiness—and views of the potted plants adorning every corner of the common areas.

At the entry, Lim used brick slips to pave a straight path that visually divides the living areas from the kitchen. “We opted for an open kitchen because the homeowners enjoy hosting,” she explains.

Some of the bricks create the base for the kitchen island, while the countertop is Grollo Olivo limestone with a special treatment. “The leather finish combines a refined texture with an organic character, offering a tactile and visually appealing surface that feels both warm and authentic,” says Lim. The leathering process enhances the stone’s natural grain and sense of movement, but the matte, velvety surface reduces glare and will not retain fingerprints like a glossy finish.

The apartment’s footprint is not large, but the new, open layout makes it feel capacious. The homeowner particularly likes the cozy lounge at the front of the apartment. “It does not feel detached from the rest of the living areas due to the playful brick layout of the screen wall,” he says.

The new layout of the dining area and kitchen allows him and his partner to host large gatherings comfortably. “The low brick wall also acts as additional seating for guests who are still able to mingle with those seated at the main dining table,” he points out.

Speaking about the many applications of brick in the apartment, Lim emphasizes that it’s more than just a building material. “Brick carries with it a rich history and deep-rooted traditions,” she says. “Most importantly, it bears a connection to the earth from which it comes from. Made from clay drawn directly from the ground, brick possesses a natural, unaltered pigment that reflects its origins.”

This authenticity is central to the firm’s material approach, she stresses. “At the heart of our practice lies a commitment to rediscovering values embedded in simplicity—to find depth, meaning, and refinement in the understated.”

Related Reading:

A Curvaceous Brick Home Follows the Edge of a Forest Near Mexico City

A Singapore Home Forgoes Air-Conditioning (and Windows) to Take Living With Nature to an Extreme

Before & After: A Couple Crack Open a Cramped Brick House on an Oyster Farm

Project Credits:

Architect: L Architects / @larchitects.sg

Interior Design: Reid Tan

Lamp Manufacturer: Superstructure / @superstructuresg

Stone Supplier: Polybuilding / @polybuilding.sg

Photography: Jovian Lim / @jovian.lim