Cover The dining area opens completely to the expansive central garden, becoming an extension of the outdoor space
The dining area opens completely to the expansive central garden, becoming an extension of the outdoor space
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Architect Melvyn Kanny’s sustainable Shah Alam residence features seamless garden integration, exposed concrete aesthetics, and décor inspired by the family’s expatriate years in Africa
In the gated community of the Enclave in Bukit Jelutong, Shah Alam, a family of five has found harmony in a home that challenges conventional Malaysian residential architecture.
This 6,000-sq ft residence, designed by architect Melvyn Kanny of MJ Kanny Architect, dissolves the boundaries between indoor and outdoor living, a space where every room extends into the surrounding landscape —and a home that combines raw materiality with sophisticated design principles.
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An exterior twilight view reveals the home’s one-and-a-half-storey design that flanks the central garden
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“The client wanted a home more than a house, not something ostentatious but a comfortable space for the family,” explains Kanny. Having lived as expatriates in Africa for several years, the family—comprising husband, wife, two daughters and a son—brought a more adventurous perspective to their housing needs, embracing Kanny’s vision of a residence that opens entirely to the outdoors.
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The main living area showcases the gabled roof design with ventilated eaves at the apex, allowing hot air to escape
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The relatively flat 15,000-sq ft site presented an opportunity to challenge the typical double-storey approach common in Malaysian residential architecture.
“We convinced the client to go with a single-storey house instead,” Kanny says. “By doing this, we could create a house that engaged with the garden where each room could be an extension of the landscape and vice versa.”
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Above A corridor featuring the distinctive concrete vent block walls that provide natural ventilation throughout the home
Above Another view of the corridor shows how the concrete vent blocks create a perforated pattern that allows light and air to filter through
A corridor featuring the distinctive concrete vent block walls that provide natural ventilation throughout the home
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The result is what Kanny describes as a “one-and-a-half-storey home” that flanks a large central garden. The design draws inspiration from the work of Geoffrey Bawa, the renowned Sri Lankan architect known for blending buildings with their natural surroundings.
“Courtyards and water features could be used to link all the spaces together with a meandering walkway,” notes Kanny.
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The shallow reflecting pool with a small tree creates an unexpected outdoor experience within the home
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Upon arrival, visitors encounter a water feature that continues the experience past the main entrance, where another water element and a frangipani tree create the unexpected sensation of still being outdoors.
This transitional space leads to a windowless dining room that extends to a deck overlooking the expansive garden—the central focus of the home.
The kitchen opens directly to the garden through full-height sliding glass doors, showcasing the home's indoor-outdoor design philosophy
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The layout unfolds as a series of what Kanny calls “positive and negative spaces.” The former comprises the actual living areas and bedrooms, while the latter consists of discrete courtyards that connect all spaces together. These transitional areas can be opened entirely via full-height glass folding doors, requiring closure only during heavy downpours.
“The water-feature courtyards are probably my favourite part,” Kanny admits, “as they give an unexpected experience of the outdoors suddenly appearing while you walk through the house.”
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Above The exposed concrete walls frame the space, demonstrating how the home creates unexpected outdoor experiences within its interior circulation paths
Above A detailed view of the roof construction shows the deliberate exposure of structural elements that embody the home’s honest material approach
The exposed concrete walls frame the space, demonstrating how the home creates unexpected outdoor experiences within its interior circulation paths
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Materials were chosen to emphasise a natural, unfinished aesthetic. Load-bearing hollow concrete walls were left in their natural rugged finish. Concrete vent blocks form walkways that provide natural ventilation throughout and contribute to the home’s distinctive appearance.
Concrete beams and structures were executed in off-form concrete, and plastered walls were deliberately left unpainted. The gable-style roof reveals an exposed steel structure and the underside of roof tiles, complemented by epoxy concrete flooring.
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Above The dining area opens completely to the expansive central garden, becoming an extension of the outdoor space
The dining area opens completely to the expansive central garden, becoming an extension of the outdoor space
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Sustainability was a key consideration in the design. The modular load-bearing concrete wall system eliminated the need for concrete columns and formwork.
Natural ventilation was prioritised by removing ceilings, allowing hot air to escape through exposed clay roof tiles and ventilated gable ends. Additional eco-friendly features include a rainwater harvesting tank, roof solar panels, and LED lighting.
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A master bedroom that opens entirely to the garden through full-height sliding glass doors, eliminating the boundary between interior and landscape
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The absence of extravagant details is intentional. “Sometimes less is more,” Kanny observes. Careful attention was paid to concealing mechanical and electrical services within the exposed roof structure.
Integrating mosquito netting with the vent-blocked corridors and the cavity sliding doors that disappear into walls creates the seamless indoor-outdoor effect Kanny envisioned.
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The family room features exposed terracotta roof tiles and steel structure overhead, embodying the home’s raw aesthetic approach
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The family has embraced their unique home. “The husband loves the garden as he loves gardening, and the wife and children love the outdoor dining and water features, along with the close connection of the house with the greenery,” Kanny says.
The African-themed décor, collected during the family’s time abroad, harmonises with the home’s overall mood, creating a personal sanctuary that honours architectural innovation and the family’s journey.
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Photography: Pixelaw Photography
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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.
