Architects in Singapore take the local architectural vernacular and expertly blend it with refreshingly clean and minimalist modern design principles to create a fresh new style that is as distinctive as it is beautiful. This cluster of islands, just off the coast of Malaysia, is home to the highest concentration of millionaires on earth, so there’s no surprise that houses here are lavish as all get-out. Designers have well-padded budgets to experiment with stunning open-air layouts that make the most of the sunny, balmy weather.

Singapore, often referred to as Garden City, boasts a tropical rainforest climate and a large number of nature reserves, parks, nature ways, and tree-lined roads, resulting in a botanical feel that is often carried right into the interiors of luxurious modern homes. There’s no shortage of examples showing off this approach, which blurs the lines between indoor and outdoor spaces. Many homes only have walls for private spaces like bedrooms and bathrooms, leaving the living spaces open to the air. That often means residents get to lounge on a couch while gazing at reflective swimming pools, palm trees, ferns, and climbing ivy?not a bad way to spend your day.

This large contemporary residence by Aamer Architects is a showcase of Singaporean modern style. Named the Queen Astrid Park House, it’s set on a plot of steep, undulating hills. The architects broke up the layout of the home into separate volumes that flow from the highest ...