Home tour: A modern manor in Selangor, Malaysia

At first, the clients had visions of turrets; but Nik Ida negotiated, offered suggestions, and ultimately nudged them towards considering an approach that was more nuanced. The design would borrow from the traditional while still being contemporary.

An important element that came to link these two styles is that of the arch: this most classical of geometrical shapes creates coherence by recurring as a motif throughout the house - from the tops of the balustrades to the outlines of many of the windows, from the display cabinets to the entrance of the main façade.

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In fact, this open and almost monumental façade is especially striking in its allusion to grand European architecture. The double-volume archway has a recessed foyer, which is reminiscent of the entrance to a cathedral or castle.

Adding to the sense of gravitas is the stone wall topped with heavy coping. The IDent_3 team went to great lengths to obtain just the right light-cream shade of stone so that the colour story would stand out.

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The overall sense of grandeur also lends itself to touches of drama. This is particularly evident in focal areas throughout the house.

For instance, the bathtub sits like a sculpture within a niche in the main bathroom; the TV is enthroned in its own alcove; and the stage is set for the bar area by an arch that is evocative of a theatre’s proscenium. Then there is the 200-year-old antique mirror sourced from India that draws awed visitors into the living room.

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One of the most spectacular details is the island in the dry kitchen. This consists of a single piece of quartzite marble that is lit from within and creates an eye-catching welcome to the space.

The marble slab’s odd shape and awkward angle did stand in some tension with the contrasting ripple effect of the oval ceiling motifs. This was resolved by installing simple crystal ball pendants that brought the whole composition together.

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The transitional zones at the top and bottom of the staircase are equally memorable. On the upper floor, there is a pair of old church railings which have been mounted to form a wall sculpture.

As the staircase descends, the wrought-iron balustrade transforms from the familiar arch motif into a much more expressive and stylised ornamentation. Nik Ida elaborates, “We wanted to create a 3D sculpture harking back to the art deco era.”

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Another strikingly dramatic idea in the whole design is that of the vaulted ceiling, which can be found in two areas: the foyer and the dining room. The construction was so demanding that IDent_3 had to call in a specialist - who usually works on similar projects for the Genting Highlands casino.

The foyer was a challenge because the ceiling had to extend from the original building to a new wall forming a semi-circle. As for the dining room, the vaulting was meant to be a playful allusion to old underground wine cellars found throughout Europe.

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IDent_3 made it a point to temper the drama and grandeur by introducing quieter, more understated juxtapositions. In the living room, for instance, the colour scheme is based on delicate tones and is broken only by the soft hues of the carpet.

At the same time, the room’s shapes and materials interact in subtle and unexpected ways, with a curved sofa embracing a more spiky, triangular coffee table. Nik Ida points out that “the furniture here has clean lines and the minimal throw pillows are all in the same colour.”

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As for the lighting, the design team steered away from the typical single-piece chandelier. Instead, they opted to play with varying groupings: from the regimented style in the foyer, to the clusters in the lounge and master bedroom, from the four-cornered formation in the living room to the simple row in the dining room and kitchen.

Ultimately, the whole project was about finding the right balance between inspiration and feasibility, majesty and subtlety, grandeur and playfulness. As Nik Ida puts it, “the beauty is in the edit”.

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