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First Resort

Given their resorts' reputation as 'sanctuaries for the senses', it is not surprising that the home of Banyan Tree directors Ho Kwon Ping (K.P.) and Claire Chiang is a domestic distillation of the same principles. Like the Banyan Tree resorts in Thailand, Indonesia, the Seychelles and the Maldives, it was designed by K.P.'s brother, architect K.C. Ho, with outdoor leisure and entertaining in mind.

Excluding the separate entertainment pavilion, the pool, tennis court and house occupy roughly equal space on the extensively landscaped site. "We wanted a full-size tennis court and pool, and it was their elon-gated shape that dictated the design of the house," says Claire, whose busy lifestyle includes being a Singapore Member of Parliament, an author and a mother of three. "The idea was to capture as much light and air flow as possible within the best of the Asia-Pacific's tropical architectural language and complement it with an interplay of hard and soft textures. We wanted a sense of place."

The result is indeed a sanctuary for this high-profile family and their guests. The well-used tennis court has been known to fit 20 tables of ten for formal events such as fundraisers for which the couple is known. Yet despite its lofty dimensions, the space is intimate enough to honour sentimental treasures such as a shrine to K.P.'s father, furniture from Claire's childhood and a gallery of newspaper clippings tracing K.P.'s public career-and unpretentious enough to feature a memo-and memory-laden study painted in Claire's favourite blue. Even the entertainment pavilion can be adapted to accommodate a second family if the owners' children decide to live there when adult.

The front garden is sheltered by three banyan trees imported from Malacca; one for each of the children. "With its notions of rejuvenation, strength and shelter, this magnificent exotic tree has personal as well as professional significance to us," explains Claire, who makes a point of using plants from her garden as accents throughout the house.

Custom made in the US, clusters of comfortable sofas and armchairs, like this one, are interspersed with family heirlooms including Claire's 80-year-old writing table from Malacca (unseen). The entertainment pavilion is accessed directly off the entranceway, ensuring the main house remains private.

Raffles-style rattan chairs and a footstool provide attractive yet low maintenance poolside lounging.

Welcoming gesture. A decorative iron hand made in Thailand holds flowers in a gracious grasp. "Like the English handshake, an open palm is a gesture of friendship in Asia-it means I have no weapon," says Claire. Available from the Banyan Tree Gallery, Singapore, the hand decoration (ideal for displaying business cards or jewellery) and heavy cotton throw, both from Thailand, rest on a colonial teakwood and wicker bench from Java.

Bold decorative statements like these hand-beaten iron candlestands on an Indonesian rice chest are points of relief along the imposing poolside walkway.

Symbolic meaning. At the end of a walkway between two koi (carp) ponds (auspicious in many Asian cultures), an elegant altar table from Malacca supports framed calligraphy representing both the Hos' last name and the phrase 'Harmony is priority'. An antique gilded phoenix screen with a mirror insert, from China, symbolizes good luck and prosperity and underlines the architect's motive of delaying a full-length view of the house until the inner sanctum of the pool area is reached.

Poolside repast. Half-glazed, cone-shaped cups on metal stands make exotic containers for flowers or refreshments. They stand on a teak and wicker tray from Thailand strewn with dried and pressed yang leaves. From the Banyan Tree Gallery, Singapore.

From India and Thailand, embroidered napkins, organza bottle covers, glasses and flatware lend new life to the old marble-topped kopitiam table at which Claire dined as a child. The Banyan Tree Gallery, Singapore items soften the high-tech Bosch kitchen, which, like the other rooms in the house, has a view of the pool.

Opening on one side to the pool and on the other to a koi pond shaded by melodically rustling bamboo, the minimalist dining room features a 12-seat treated teak dining table and chairs crafted in the Philippines. On the walls are two scrolls, one extolling the virtues of the banyan tree by the late Singapore calligrapher Pan Shou, and the other about the symbolism of life by a relative from Canton.

Net gain. Draped in creamy Indian satin, the oversized four-poster in meranti wood is the stuff of dreams. The painting at the head of the master bed is by well-known Singaporean artist Eng Tay. The bed linen is from Banyan Tree Gallery.

Chocolate-covered suite. Decorated in earth tones, the en suite master bathroom features Italian marble floors and walls, floor-to-ceiling teakwood louvres and mirror-image his and her vanity basins.

Claire's collection of small ceramic rabbits-the Chinese zodiac animal under which she was born-nestles beneath a medicine chest.

Used as an element of beauty and coolness, the entry to the house over two koi ponds at different levels, one dramatically cascading into the other, is an instinctive response to the climate. A white marble statue of Ganesh-worshipped in India, Indonesia, Thailand and Cambodia-sits on the small 'island' to the left of the teakwood walkway. Automatic chicks (unseen) offer protection from rain.