“We evaluated a few sites before we decided on this one. Although this site presented more challenges compared to those we visited before, I also saw the opportunities that came with it,” Wooi recalls.

“I imagined that if we were to create a living platform at the higher level of the land to relate to the greenery at the back, the front would afford the bungalow a panoramic view of the city. This duality of its character will bring many possibilities to my clients’ daily lives.”

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Inspired by the clients’ adventurous spirit, love for nature, and photography, the Oculus House blends functionality and aesthetics. The rectangular open box on the highest floor houses the living and dining areas, framing a breathtaking cityscape.

Below, a square gallery with a collapsible window—the ‘oculus’—serves as a photographic exhibition space and a venue for social gatherings.

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In keeping with the “authentic” theme, raw local materials such as concrete walls, floors, and Yellow Balau ceiling adorn the interior, providing a genuine and economical touch.

Sustainability has always been a hallmark of Wooi’s work, and the Oculus house is no different, with the entire house naturally ventilated and designed for ample natural lighting. The U-shaped layout encloses a natural pool and connects the occupants with the natural surroundings.

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One feature of this project that differs from Wooi’s previous work is rethinking building on a slope that eschews the most conventional approach of terracing the slope into steps.

“Oculus House has a narrow vertical structure in the front, thus minimising the cutting and earthwork required. The clients eventually developed the undercroft of the building into a “secret garden” for urban farming. It has become another popular gathering place, and the idea for this garden is a credit to my clients,” explains Wooi.

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The architect’s favourite aspect of this project was the transformative journey from concept to the final structure: “The process of making the concept into the final building is the enjoyable part for me because what is conceived in mind or on paper were regularly challenged by the realities on site. Hidden views and breezes were also discovered as the construction progressed, which added to the overall design, although these necessitated some alterations.”

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