Kew
Thomas
The design for Thomas Street House began not with an image, but with a way of being together.
Conceived for a multigenerational family, the house explores how different generations can share a home while retaining their independence. A central core anchors two distinct wings, one oriented towards private life and the other towards gathering. Separate entrances and a sequence of thresholds allow daily routines to intersect without demanding constant togetherness.
Curved walls, arched openings and framed views establish a continuous spatial language, guiding movement while negotiating degrees of openness and privacy. Living spaces unfold around courtyards and gardens, while a cinema, bar and wellness spaces offer more intimate settings for gathering, retreat and restoration.
The relationship with nature begins with what was already there. The entry was repositioned to retain established trees, while courtyards, openings and changing light bring the landscape into everyday experience. Across the day and through the seasons, the character of the house shifts with its surroundings.
The design also draws on cultural memory without reproducing it literally. Rhythm, depth and composition informed by traditional Chinese painting are reinterpreted through contemporary space and material. Stone, timber and crafted details bring warmth and tactility to the architecture, while curved forms and carefully framed moments introduce an element of discovery and delight.
Thomas establishes a spatial framework for different lives lived together — providing both the structure for connection and the freedom for family relationships to evolve over time.
Interior Designer: Embrace Architects
Landscape Designer: Embrace Architects
