Monocot Reimagines an HDB Apartment as a Minimalist Sanctuary

Designer Dan Chan of Monocot has transformed a conventional Singapore HDB apartment into an urban hideaway defined by concrete, timber and light

In Singapore, designer Dan Chan of Monocot has transformed a once-compartmentalised HDB apartment into a flowing, open home. Inspired by the rare perspective of the surrounding tree canopy, the design blurs the lines between inside and out through natural textures and shifting daylight. Concrete, timber and stainless steel form a tactile palette, their contrasts softened by carefully curated Danish and Japanese furniture. At the property’s centre, an open kitchen doubles as both a social hub and a place for daily rituals, while greenery extends into the living space from the yard, reinforcing the home’s connection to nature. More than an exercise in minimalism, the home embodies a way of living that is warm, lived-in and deeply attuned to its owner’s everyday rhythms.

Images by Studio Periphery