BackTop Homes
Dekton, the material of choice for easy-to-clean, UV and humidity resistant surfaces in a modern villa
Kyoob Architects
Location
Singapore
Material
Dekton | Sensa
Application
Façade, kitchen worktop, flooring and bathroom countertop and cladding
Thickness
12 mm | 20 mm
Architecture/Design
Kyoob Architects
Color
Bromo, Soke, Entzo | Black Beauty
End date
2022
Quantity
350 m2
Taman Permata, in Singapore, is a very unique place located a stone’s throw from the city centre and, at the same time, facing the Windsor Nature Park, more specifically, opposite the MacRitchie Reservoir, a huge lake just a few minutes’ walk away.
The Kyoob Architects team was therefore aware that the façade design project for a residential villa in Taman Permata would be exposed to difficult weather conditions.
“As the project site is on the edge of the reservoir area, we were concerned that the constant high humidity would wear down the exterior surfaces”, explains the studio. “Furthermore, the owners wanted to take care of the cleaning themselves, as they are not used to having help for this task. We therefore needed materials that were practical, durable and easy to maintain, both indoors and outdoors”, they further say.
Dekton Bromo for a dark, textured finish with hard-wearing properties
In addition to these two requirements, the material to be used had to be dark. “We were considering dark coloured materials for the façade cladding, such as stone, charred timber, textured paint, mineral paint… But then we came up with Dekton Bromo, which has the natural effect of black, slate-like stone and does not look flat”, say the architects.
Among the many features that attracted the professionals was the fact that Dekton, unlike natural stone, is a non-porous material, which makes it easier to maintain. They were also attracted by its maximum thickness of 12 mm, which is much thinner and lighter than stone and, therefore, easier to install. “It is also UV-resistant, which makes it suitable for use on the east-facing front façade”, they say.
After making sure that Dekton could meet all their requirements, they chose another Dekton surface to finish off the pitched roof. Specifically, they chose Soke, a colour inspired by classic grey cement. “We like the fact that it is stain-resistant and more durable than the original concrete finish”, the studio says.
Sensa Black Beauty, the star of the kitchen
Once the façade was decided, the project managers continued their research into Cosentino’s materials. “We are pleased that the Dekton series has so many colours, patterns and textures from which to choose. In addition to Dekton surfaces, we loved the look and feel of Sensa Black Beauty from the very beginning, and the dry kitchen was designed around an island with a 3-metre worktop in this material. It can be said that we are especially fond of dark colours”, the studio says.
“Sensa offers a wide range of stain-resistant, protected natural stone well suited for the functional kitchen island, which is also the hub for entertainment. There is no need to worry about placing hot pans directly on its surface or stains from accidental spills; it is another low-maintenance surface for which we are very grateful”, the studio explains.
Matt finish Dekton Entzo, the perfect replacement for marble in the bathroom
Another colour Kyoob Architects fell in love with was Dekton Entzo with a matt finish, which turned out to be the perfect replacement for the matt finish statuario marble and volakas marble originally intended for the bathroom cladding.
“In order to optimise the Dekton slabs, we used the same stone cutting process as with marble. As Dekton slabs are thinner and lighter, the process resulted in larger pieces that could be safely handled and fitted. We are very satisfied with the large slabs, which allow for fewer joints. As a result, it is very easy to clean”, the studio concludes.
