Functional architecture. The harmonious, symbiotic relationship between the  architecture of a building, its interiors, and the setting. Mies van der Rohe’s now  famous diktat: Less is more. Like an invisible hand, these ideals form the basis of modernist architecture and design that we take for granted. The legacy of a design philosophy  that began in the Bauhaus school founded by German architect Walter Gropius.

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A century later, the Bauhaus influence is far reaching and nowhere  more so than in Cuscaden Reserve. For SC Global and long-time collaborator Soo K. Chan of SCDA, the roots and influence of Bauhaus lie deep; for Cuscaden Reserve their vision was to create a unified and coherent ensemble where Bauhaus  principles were developed to suit modern needs. With changes in family structures and how people live, Mies van der Rohe’s open plan concept for the Farnsworth House is relevant once more,  as the paradigm of spaces defined by fixed partitions becomes obsolete and  new typologies emerge. Flexibility lies at the heart of Cuscaden Reserve, with apartments designed around a centralised core with sliding doors replacing walls  to allow the resident flexibility in how they to change the space at will.

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Just as Bauhaus practitioners took control of a project, SCDA’s team  curated the lush landscapes and designed all millworks, working with artisans to  craft bespoke cabinetry and woodworks. And in a gentle nod to Marcel Breuer,  the tower is lifted off the ground in a cantilevered fashion to allow the landscape  to literally flow under and through it.  The result is a seamless design experience in harmony with its location,  and a tribute to the centenary of the founding of the Bauhaus.

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