In-Between House by Super Assembly: A Biophilic House Design in Singapore That Blurs Architecture and Landscape

Redefining Living Spaces Through Biophilic House Design

In the lush urban context of Singapore, In-Between House by Super Assembly offers a transformative approach to contemporary residential living through biophilic house design. Composed of four distinct cuboid volumes, the 600-square-meter residence is defined not just by what is built, but by what is left unbuilt. These carefully choreographed voids—open spaces between architectural masses—invite landscape, light, and ventilation deep into the home, creating a spatial rhythm where nature is not merely an addition, but an integral design element.

Architecture of the In-Between: Embracing Void and Volume

Led by architect Iskandar Idris, Super Assembly’s concept of the “in-between” is more than a formal strategy—it is a philosophical stance. Rather than sealing off interior life from the outdoors, the home embraces the void as a generator of spatial richness. Pockets of greenery, water features, and planters animate the in-between zones, mediating the transition between interior and exterior. These interstitial courtyards and garden pockets not only soften the rigid geometry of the volumes but also bring in natural daylight, casting patterns that evolve with time and season.

Living Among Trees: Vertical Biophilic Integration

Biophilic design takes vertical form in this residence. At the carport, a tree pierces through the roof, setting a precedent for the intimate integration of nature and structure. Within the house, another tree punctuates the interior floor beside a custom altar, introducing a spiritual dimension to the natural elements. At the heart of the home lies a central courtyard, planted with shrubs and slender trees that grow freely into a double-volume atrium, crowned by skylights that channel natural light through floating planter boxes and overhead greenery.

Immersive Interior Design Rooted in Nature

The material palette strengthens the home’s biophilic intent. Inside, vertical timber veneers and woven wall coverings create textural depth that echoes tree trunks and organic surfaces. The reddish-toned terracotta cladding from the exterior continues indoors, blurring spatial boundaries and grounding the structure in a warm, earthy tonality. The interplay of materials, textures, and tones reinforces a sensory continuity, where the experience of nature is carried throughout the home—not as decoration but as atmosphere.

Dissolving Boundaries Between Inside and Outside

Movement through the In-Between House is a journey through layers of nature-infused architecture. The house reads as a series of interconnected garden rooms, where the distinctions between built and unbuilt spaces dissolve. This seamless integration fosters not only visual and spatial openness but also improves environmental comfort by promoting cross ventilation and thermal balance. The use of voids as connective tissues challenges traditional notions of solid architectural massing and instead prioritizes breathable, living environments.

A New Urban Typology for Tropical Living

In-Between House reimagines tropical residential architecture in Singapore by focusing on how void, vegetation, and form can coexist. In a dense urban fabric, the home’s design resists enclosure in favor of porosity. This porosity allows for dynamic interaction with light, air, and plant life, resulting in a living experience that feels open, grounded, and intimately connected to the rhythms of nature. It serves as a compelling case for biophilic house design as not just an aesthetic choice, but a necessary strategy for sustainable and soulful urban living.

Biophilic House Design as Architectural Language

Super Assembly’s In-Between House is more than a striking residential project—it is a manifesto for how architecture can create meaning and well-being through the intelligent use of space, light, and nature. In a climate where sustainability and quality of life are increasingly intertwined, the project stands as a model for future-forward biophilic house design in Singapore and beyond. It teaches us that the spaces we leave open can be just as powerful—and even more life-enhancing—than those we build.

All Photographs are works of  Finbarr Fallon