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By Tay Suan Chiang
At any given time during the day, the roar of traffic can be heard by residents living on Dunearn Road.
But it is an oasis of peace and calm in Jean Paul Ly's home, along the same road.
The director of Animal Recovery Centre lives in a two-storey house, which has several water features that help to drown out the noise.
The gift of visualisation
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In the front garden, water runs down the tiled walls.
By the side of the house, there is another similar water feature that connects to an 18m-long saltwater lap pool.
"I switch the water pumps on when I come home, and the sound of the water running down the walls dilutes the din of traffic," says Dr Ly.
This is the second time that the veterinarian has designed his own home in Singapore. The first was a Balinese style bungalow off Bukit Timah. This time, he has picked a Zen, Oriental theme.
"It fits in with the culture and climate of where I live in," he says. "Some of the houses I see have an European influence, which is unsuitable for the tropics."
He bought the house slightly more than two years ago, and had to gut it when the house was found to be infested with termites.
Although he had some help with an architect, Dr Ly designed most of the house himself.
Alterations to the home included doing away with the house's original curved staircase and replacing it with a straight one that leads to the second storey.
"Making it straight saved space," says Dr Ly.
Large windows and glass sliding doors were put in, in place of walls, to allow for light and air to flow through, thereby cutting down on the need for artificial lighting and air-conditioning, while making the 4,500 sq ft home feel more spacious.
The windows were strategically placed to avoid direct sunlight, thereby keeping the house fairly cool.
He also put in an airwell between the living room and the kitchen.
There is a two-storey high glass wall here, which tends to get warm during the afternoon. In the day, water runs down this glass wall, keeping it cool.
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