Greening the neighbourhood — one house at a time

When Kenneth Lim redeveloped his home and redesigned the garden of his corner terraced house at Jalan Bangsawan in 2006, it was his first project as a self-taught landscape designer and horticulturist.

His neighbours in Opera Estate began to approach him to design their gardens when they, in turn, redeveloped or renovated their own homes. He has designed gardens for at least nine houses along Jalan Bangsawan, and another 15 elsewhere within the Opera Estate precinct. And each of them is unique.

Here is a showcase of some houses which bear Lim’s signature.

Modern tropical-style garden

Lim’s next-door neighbour appointed him to design the garden and his architect, Weng Fong of Design by Weng, to design their new home.

The couple wanted a simple and easy-to-maintain tropical concept for the garden with a hint of Bali.

It is a seamless indoor-outdoor space, with the ground-floor living area opening to a patio overlooking the garden, says Lim.

Mediterranean rooftop garden

Lim designed a Mediterranean rooftop garden and landscaping for another corner terraced house in the neighbourhood. The house has a direct view of the Siglap Linear Park behind it.

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Modernist terraced house with a pool

This terraced house has a land area of more than 2,300 sq ft. In the latest renovation of the house, Lim increased the density of the greenery along the poolside to soften the dividing wall with the pool. It also provides a pleasing green tapestry when looking out from the living room to the pool deck.

Lim suggested that the owner install a rain chain to allow rainwater to flow smoothly from the gutter down into the collection bowl. The water can then be used to irrigate the plants.

Other houses that bear Lim’s signature design

These are some of the other houses along Jalan Bangsawan that were transformed through Lim’s landscaping design.