AT H O M E W I T H
Eat, sing and be merry A meal prepared by architect Warren Liu in his home involves good food, much cheer and opera music as dessert. By Low Shi Ping
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Designed for gastronomy The four-storey terrace house the Lius live in is clearly set up for entertaining. As an architect and head of his own practice A D Lab, Warren personally saw that its design would be conducive for mealtime gatherings. The main door is on the second floor, accessible via a flight of stairs in the front garden, opening directly into the living room. A balcony flanks it, fitted with artificial grass and outdoor furniture, making it the perfect space for a pre-dinner apéritif.
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In the middle of the house is an internal courtyard with a planter box built into a pond, from which a ficus tree grows. A money plant hangs down from the bannister on the third floor, giving the home a leafy, green heart. On the first floor is the dining room and kitchen, seamlessly connected by a sizeable island that doubles as a food preparation station and table that sits nine. Consideration is even given to friends with children – the little ones have their own seating area recessed into the ground by the courtyard, overlooking the pond and decorated with colourful cushions.
PHOTOGRAPHY MUNSTER
uests who are invited to a meal at Warren Liu’s home know that they are in for a treat. Warren, the head of the household, is the chef; his wife Marlene and daughter Shan serve the food. Blessed with an operatic voice, Shan usually sings for guests at the end of the meal. If they are lucky, Marlene, from whom she inherited this gift, joins her. The private performance is like a rich dessert at the end of a wonderful repast. It’s no wonder that their guests (typically relatives of Marlene’s from Canada, where she is from, and friends) eagerly anticipate their warm hospitality.
