Cover The full garden facade of this house in Janda Baik, with the pool and landscaped terraces in the foreground
The full garden facade of this house in Janda Baik, with the pool and landscaped terraces in the foreground
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Choo Gim Wah Architect has created a brutalist structure with dramatic features and an openness to nature in Janda Baik, Pahang
The Liù Lín Residence owes its name to a play on words in Chinese. There is a nod to the lot number itself (六零 liù líng means 6-0), but there is also a more poetic allusion to the fact that the house is surrounded by 6 parcels of densely wooded land (六林 liù lín means 6 forests). Given its location amidst the lush foothills of Janda Baik, Malaysia, it comes as no surprise that there was an emphasis on fostering a deep engagement with nature. At the same time, the close proximity to Kuala Lumpur (under an hour’s drive away) makes this the perfect site for a getaway devoted to entertaining friends and family.
Above The entrance forecourt, with stone paving leading to the lobby; the front facade viewed from the garden courtyard, with the upper-level living and dining areas open behind folding glass walls
The entrance forecourt, with stone paving leading to the lobby; the front facade viewed from the garden courtyard, with the upper-level living and dining areas open behind folding glass walls
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The bigger picture
Above A monolithic off-form concrete wall flanks the rear water feature, with a steel footbridge connecting the main structure to the surrounding hillside
Above The front courtyard swimming pool set against a backdrop of dense forest and the Janda Baik mountain range beyond
A monolithic off-form concrete wall flanks the rear water feature, with a steel footbridge connecting the main structure to the surrounding hillside
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Above The rear courtyard elevation, where open-plan living and dining spaces on both levels face directly onto the tree line and mountain horizon
Above A concrete bedroom volume rising from the landscaped grounds, its board-marked surface weathering naturally against the surrounding canopy
The rear courtyard elevation, where open-plan living and dining spaces on both levels face directly onto the tree line and mountain horizon
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Architect Choo Gim Wah had already known and worked with the client for the better part of 20 years. Liù Lín was going to be a different sort of project, though – not least due to the sheer scale of the whole undertaking. The client’s brief was that this residence should include at least 10 bedrooms, along with large, resort-style facilities. It was just as well, then, that the site itself extends over 1.03 acres. Eventually, the built-up areas ended up with a considerable footprint of their own, totalling 7693 sq ft for the interior spaces and 8112 sq ft for the covered external sections.
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Above The residence set into the forested hillside of Janda Baik, its off-form concrete volumes anchored beneath a single overarching steel roof
The residence set into the forested hillside of Janda Baik, its off-form concrete volumes anchored beneath a single overarching steel roof
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On his first site visit, Choo was drawn to the amenability of the geography: “here was an even, gentle contour, with nice big trees, looking out onto a horizon view”. The gentleness of the setting provided an ideal backdrop for a bold architectural statement, in the form of a monumental single-deck steel roof. Set at a slight incline, this vast 35m long slab unifies the whole composition. Choo enthuses: “underneath the single roof are different components and different spaces, such that there is a constant play between solid and void, void and solid.”
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Above The three pivoted steel doors of the entrance lobby, opened to dissolve the boundary between interior and landscape
Above The curved staircase, viewed from above, where steel plates were used as permanent formwork, oxidised over time, leaving a mottled, rust-toned surface on the sinuous structure
The three pivoted steel doors of the entrance lobby, opened to dissolve the boundary between interior and landscape
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The metal roof not only stands as a striking engineering feat but also contributes to the sense of expansiveness in the interiors. Lofty spaces are the order of the day, with the living room deserving a special mention, boasting as it does ceilings that reach an average height of 6 metres. That being said, the monumental scale is never allowed to intimidate or predominate. A contrasting effect is introduced through the use of nyatoh timber cladding for the ceiling and merbau timber finishing for the bedroom floors. The warm wood hues and textures create a softer, cosier ambience that balances out the industrial feel of the steel roofing.
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Open air
Above The upper-level living room, with floor-to-ceiling glazing framing an unobstructed view of the forested Janda Baik hills, with an open-plan layout flowing through to the dining area behind
The upper-level living room, with floor-to-ceiling glazing framing an unobstructed view of the forested Janda Baik hills, with an open-plan layout flowing through to the dining area behind
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One benefit of the tall ceilings is that the whole structure enjoys excellent ventilation. Indeed, several design elements contribute to a natural cooling effect, thereby falling in line with green design principles. For instance, the signature single-roof slab extends outwards, creating deep overhangs that shade the entire building.
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Above The living room, with ceilings reaching an average of six metres, nyatoh timber cladding overhead and merbau timber flooring below
Above The dining room, with a round marble-topped table and timber chairs set against full-height glazing
The living room, with ceilings reaching an average of six metres, nyatoh timber cladding overhead and merbau timber flooring below
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The open corridor is a concept that Choo has been experimenting with in his recent projects. The idea here is to release the corridor from its usual enclosed, walled-in position by externalising it into a series of terraces and balconies. The result is that these pathways now not only allow people to move from one location to another but also to come into contact with the wider landscape. Of course, the added openness of this kind of design means that air moves around more freely as well.
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Above An internal corridor lined with full-height glazing opens at its far end onto a timber deck walkway and the surrounding greenery
Above A shaded terrace off one of the bedroom volumes, with seating oriented towards the dense forest canopy that encloses the site on all sides
An internal corridor lined with full-height glazing opens at its far end onto a timber deck walkway and the surrounding greenery
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Liù Lín Residence’s two courtyards also play a part in mitigating the tropical heat. These pockets of green space circulate fresh air while also bringing temperatures down thanks to the evaporative cooling of the swimming pool in the front courtyard and of the water feature in the back.
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Above A covered upper terrace with nyatoh timber ceiling and merbau decking looks out over the forest canopy
A covered upper terrace with nyatoh timber ceiling and merbau decking looks out over the forest canopy
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Dramatic gestures
Above An aerial view of Liù Lín Residence at night, set within the wooded foothills of Janda Baik
An aerial view of Liù Lín Residence at night, set within the wooded foothills of Janda Baik
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This project boasts several dramatic moments. There is no ignoring the vast metallic slab of the roof, of course. However, other features stand out just as prominently. Even the broad expanses of the walls, consisting of panels of brutalist off-form concrete, refuse to blend into the background. An equally audacious flourish is the curved staircase. Normally, plywood is used as formwork for staircases; after the concrete has been cast, the plywood is removed and discarded.
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Above The entrance lobby from the garden, with three pivoted steel doors open and the curved staircase visible within
The entrance lobby from the garden, with three pivoted steel doors open and the curved staircase visible within
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With this project, though, Choo took a more distinctive approach: 10mm-thick steel plates were used as formwork and then left in place, permanently attached to the concrete staircase. Over time, the steel has rusted slightly, resulting in a sinuous structure whose mottled red surface is unabashed in its rawness and acceptance of ageing.
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Above The rear elevation at dusk, showing the off-form concrete walls and the back courtyard’s reflecting pool
The rear elevation at dusk, showing the off-form concrete walls and the back courtyard’s reflecting pool
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The entrance lobby is just as striking. Three imposing pivoted steel doors, each about 2m wide, stand guard here. When closed, they form a steel plate wall and convey a resolute air of impenetrability. “When all three doors are opened, though,” Choo then adds, “a through-void is created, as if the doors have dissolved, melting into the landscape, leading our eyes far and beyond.” And ultimately, this return to nature has been the underlying goal of the whole project: a way to honour the surrounding ‘six forests’ that give the residence its name.
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Photography: Pixelaw Photography
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