Cover Modern classical style with a tropical twist

Known as The White Mansion, this sprawling home in Ampang Jaya is a modern classical creation that also showcases the owner’s love for cars

As the saying goes, a home should be a celebration of its owner's tastes and obsessions.

In line with this, Box Interior Design created a palatial home which honours its owner’s love for the modern classical style and penchant for exotic cars. Located in Ampang Jaya, a town straddling parts of the Hulu Langat District and Gombak District just outside the eastern border of Kuala Lumpur Federal Territory, the massive 24,000 sq ft land is used to host two adjacent bungalow lots.

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Photo 1 of 2 The designers eschewed flat roofs for pitched roofs
Photo 2 of 2 A glass roofed “tunnel” connects both buildings

“After the client approached us, we paid the site a visit. Initially, the client was looking to refurbish and extend the existing house. But in the end, the house was fully demolished and a brand new one was built because the existing structure did not not meet the client’s requirements of having higher ceilings and a much bigger built-up area,” says Lucas Fong, managing director of Box Design Studio. 

See also: Ask a Designer: How to Curate a Timeless Living Room

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Photo 1 of 4 A feeling of serene spaciousness permeates the home
Photo 2 of 4 A sense of arrival was an important part of the design plan
Photo 3 of 4 Natural light filters into the foyer through French windows
Photo 4 of 4 The grand staircase is beautifully crafted

OPEN HOUSE

The client had expressed his desire for a colonial-style bungalow and to cater to this, the facade of this sprawling 7,000 sq ft home showcases the characteristics of neoclassical design, namely the ornamental pediment, decorative copings, and lattice windows in symmetrical form. Instead of the conventional overhang pitched roof seen in most tropical regions, this 2.5-storey house is topped with a pitched shingle roof without overhang, which creates a vaulted ceiling and results in a cosy loft-like area inside.

 

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Photo 1 of 3 Luxurious materials were wisely deployed
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A sense of grandeur is evoked as guests enter the foyer that leads to an impressive staircase. This sense of spaciousness is further enhanced with an open concept layout that connects the living and dining areas, while the extensive use of panel windows and full glass sliding doors provide a seamless flow and visual connectivity for the entire floor.

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Photo 1 of 3 The dining room with its large table has a sense of grandeur
Photo 2 of 3 The tasteful colour palette starts from the living room
Photo 3 of 3 Carefully curated objet d'art adorn the shelves

TASTEFUL TURNS

Interior design was kept upscale yet tasteful with a precise curation of subtle colours and sleek lines to abet a sense of calm for its residents. Detailing is well-crafted with fine wainscotting and cornices to further the chosen modern classic aesthetic.

 

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Photo 1 of 2 The kitchen is as elegant as the rest of the home
Photo 2 of 2 The kitchen is a chef's dream with style and space to spare

“We used refined materials throughout the interior to imbue a sense of effortless luxury throughout the space. From using classy marble to genuine leather, sophisticated gold inlay to luxury fabrics and wallpaper, we picked from only the best,” explains Fong. No expense was also spared in the fixtures with Italian design sanitary ware by Gessi and custom made decorative lighting.

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Photo 1 of 5 Bedroom bedheads were meticulously detailed
Photo 2 of 5 Little details such as a movable panel for the TV were added
Photo 3 of 5 Neutral tones make for a restful bedroom;
Photo 4 of 5 The chic children's room in shades of blue
Photo 5 of 5 Bathrooms are classic yet modern

MECHANICAL POWER

One of the client’s requests was to have a dedicated area for his collection of luxury cars but there was a challenge in building a bungalow attached with a garage due to separate land titles. To solve this problem, the designer linked the bungalow with a glass bridge to a standalone building that houses a garage and then some.

“We made a stunning 4,000 sq ft space that houses 10 luxury automobiles as well as a private lounge. It was designed with full-height glass walls and perimeter windows so that the space is awash with ample natural daylight,” states Fong. 

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Photo 1 of 3 The client’s prized collection of luxury cars
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The lounge area is realised in a darker palette complete with red brick walls and herringbone timber flooring that add a touch of vintage English character to the private chill-out zone. While the results are nothing short of effortless, the startling detail in which the designer’s vision was realised belies the challenges they faced attempting to complete the project during the pandemic lockdown.

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It was a pleasure for the designers to discover that after moving in, the family, a young couple, their parents, and their child, relished having an abundance of space, especially during these highly restrictive times.

Fong sums it up: “The client is very pleased with the results as we fulfilled his desire for a relaxed and elegant multigenerational home that they can cherish for years to come with a layout carefully crafted to suit their lifestyle.”

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Credits

Photography  

Lawrence Choo

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