Cover The front elevation demonstrates how the renovation addressed the original terrace house’s limitations through strategic extensions and the addition of the prominent mezzanine level
The front elevation demonstrates how the renovation addressed the original terrace house’s limitations through strategic extensions and the addition of the prominent mezzanine level
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NDC Design transformed a cramped 40-year-old terrace house in Kuala Lumpur for an expatriate couple by converting an old water tank into a serene mezzanine retreat
The third floor of this Ampang Hilir terrace house used to be a concrete water tank. Now it’s where an expatriate couple drink wine and watch the city lights with their young son.
Tan Kay Neth of NDC Design discovered the potential during his first site visit to the 40-year-old property. “On ground and first floor, the views are very typical of a conventional terrace house where you see neighbouring houses,” he says. “But once you go a floor above, the view suddenly opens up to an obstructed panoramic view.”
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The panoramic view from the converted mezzanine floor showcases the Kuala Lumpur city skyline that convinced the architects to pursue this third-floor addition
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The couple had outgrown their previous condominium but missed the elevated perspective. The husband, an expatriate married to a Malaysian, wanted larger rooms than the original house offered. The architects extended the front and rear within council setback requirements, then turned their attention upward.
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The street-facing elevation shows the complete transformation of the 40-year-old terrace house, with the custom-designed main gate and contemporary façade treatment contrasting with neighbouring traditional properties
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Converting the old water tank into a mezzanine presented engineering challenges. Soil tests revealed soft ground that would require expensive foundations for a traditional concrete extension.
Instead, NDC Design anchored a steel platform to the existing concrete slab, reducing structural loads while creating the additional floor space.
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Above The entrance hall leads through custom-designed timber doors into the extended ground floor, where natural light filters through the double-height void created by removing part of the first-floor slab
Above The transparent bathtub suspended in the double-height void exemplifies the nomadic voyeurism concept borrowed from Neri & Hu architects, creating an unexpected focal point visible from the living areas below
The entrance hall leads through custom-designed timber doors into the extended ground floor, where natural light filters through the double-height void created by removing part of the first-floor slab
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“As the owner used to stay in condominium, he feels that the mezzanine floor gives him the condo view yet still staying in a landed house,” Tan says. The space functions as a home office during the day and transforms into an evening retreat.
The extended living spaces flow seamlessly between kitchen, dining, and lounge areas, demonstrating how the renovation addressed the original house's cramped room sizes through strategic extensions and openings
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Below, the architects removed part of the first-floor slab where a toilet once stood, creating a double-height living space. Within this void hangs a transparent bathtub facing the hall below—a concept they adapted from Shanghai-based Neri & Hu architects, who call it “nomadic voyeurism.”
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Above The extended living spaces flow seamlessly between kitchen, dining, and lounge area
Above The double-height living space demonstrates how removing part of the first-floor slab created dramatic vertical volume, with the suspended bathtub visible above and natural light filtering through multiple levels.
The extended living spaces flow seamlessly between kitchen, dining, and lounge area
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The external treatment of the chimney-like mezzanine structure originally called for weathering corten steel, matching Neri & Hu’s Waterhouse hotel. Cost considerations led to metallic textured paint instead. “The client was pleased with the final result,” Tan smiles.
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The open-plan kitchen and dining area showcase the successful extension of the original terrace house, with the cooking island and dining table accommodating the family's frequent entertaining
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Aluminium louvres filter afternoon sun and provide privacy to the master bedroom. The architects designed custom details throughout, from the main gate and letterbox to windows and refuse chamber. “You may not notice it, but those are the things that are not repeated in other houses,” explains Tan.
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Above Custom brass pendant lights illuminate the suspended bathtub, with views through the glass walls to the garden beyond
Above The perforated steel staircase balustrade provides safety whilst maintaining visual connections between levels, part of the custom detailing that extends throughout the house
Custom brass pendant lights illuminate the suspended bathtub, with views through the glass walls to the garden beyond
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The interiors display objects gathered during the couple’s travels, including a World War II fighter jet propeller made from solid wood, found at a Vietnamese flea market. The expanded 3,500-square-foot layout accommodates frequent entertaining—something that has increased since completion.
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A secondary living space on the upper level features built-in timber furniture and expansive windows to the side garden, taking advantage of the end-lot's natural light benefits
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The installation of the mezzanine staircase required X-raying the existing roof beams to find suitable attachment points. “In many ways, it was even more challenging to renovate and preserve an existing house rather than build from scratch,” Tan says. “But the process and the end result was a rewarding one for both the client and us.”
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The first-floor hallway leads to bedrooms, with the glass-enclosed suspended bathtub visible through the void, creating visual connections between levels whilst maintaining the home's functionality
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The renovation succeeded partly because the clients trusted the architects’ vision. “90 per cent of the design input was carried out in the final outcome,” he says. “It came from them trusting in us, what we are capable of designing, and also being owners that are receptive to contemporary design.”
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The master bedroom showcases timber flooring and features aluminium louvres that provide privacy whilst filtering the afternoon sun
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The house now provides something the original structure couldn’t: natural light, cross-ventilation, and city views from what was once dead space above the roof line. The couple hosts more dinner parties. Their son has room to grow. And on clear evenings, the city lights of Kuala Lumpur stretch to the horizon.
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Jennifer Choo is Regional Managing Editor of Tatler Homes, covering architecture, interior design, and art across Asia. Based in Malaysia, she oversees regional content on luxury residential design and contemporary art collections. Legally trained but choosing to pursue her passion for design, she previously led notable design publications and worked as an interior stylist and art consultant for property developers, design firms, and private clients.
