Cover The 30-metre lap pool runs between the concrete staircase tower and the original house
The 30-metre lap pool runs between the concrete staircase tower and the original house
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In Kinrara, Selangor, NDC Design created a pavilion where covered walkways connect separate structures across water
When Tan Kay Neth of NDC Design first visited the site at Kinrara Ambrosia Residence in the Klang Valley, he found 380 square metres of empty land adjacent to an existing corner lot house. Behind the property, a secondary forest offered natural privacy. The clients, a multi-generational family who entertain frequently, set a budget of RM 1.5 million and gave Tan something uncommon in residential work: complete design freedom.
Above An aerial view shows the pavilions organised around the lap pool with the rooftop garden visible
An aerial view shows the pavilions organised around the lap pool with the rooftop garden visible
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Rather than adding onto the existing house, Neth separated the new programme into distinct pavilions. Four bedrooms with ensuite bathrooms, a KTV room, a gym, and a rooftop garden each occupy their own pavilion, connected by covered outdoor walkways. Instead of rooms sharing walls and corridors, each space exists as its own volume.
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Above The cantilevered upper level with timber cladding sits above the cylindrical concrete staircase
Above Raw concrete walls with formwork texture frame tropical planting and the secondary forest beyond
The cantilevered upper level with timber cladding sits above the cylindrical concrete staircase
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“From the outset, we have this unconventional idea that the ‘house’ comprises a series of components that are separated yet connected through covered walkways that blend indoor and outdoor living,” Tan says. “And with the pool as the main requirement, all the spaces are designed as individual components/villas that get to enjoy the body of water.”
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The lap pool organises the site, connecting the separate pavilions
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The 30-metre lap pool organises the site. The husband swims daily, but the pool also connects the separate pavilions. A shallow reflecting pool extends from the main lap pool, and to reach the bedrooms, residents walk across it on an elevated pathway. The forest behind the property provides a soundtrack of bird calls during these crossings, while the pool links what would otherwise be separate buildings.
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Above The spiral staircase leads to the rooftop garden with forest views beyond
Above The covered walkway creates a transitional space between indoor and outdoor areas
The spiral staircase leads to the rooftop garden with forest views beyond
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At the centre sits a staircase in raw circular concrete, its unfinished surface showing the texture of formwork. Skylights above direct light down through the space. The gym occupies a higher level with views across the pool to the forest, its floor cantilevering over the water below. The engineering required careful calculation within budget constraints, as Tan worked to balance the clients’ preference for floating volumes against structural and financial realities.
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The same entertainment space reveals a television behind the retractable screen
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Above The black metal spiral staircase connects the pavilion levels
Above Looking up through the spiral staircase with its cylindrical metal cage
The black metal spiral staircase connects the pavilion levels
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An outdoor covered walkway connects the new pavilions to the original house, allowing guests to reach the karaoke room and other entertainment spaces without passing through the family’s private quarters. For hosts who entertain regularly, the separation proves practical. When the couple and their extended family both have friends over, the arrangement lets multiple groups occupy different areas without crossing paths.
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The home theatre room features curved seating and ambient lighting
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Above The shower areas open to the forest through high windows
Above The bathroom design frames views of the secondary forest behind the property
The shower areas open to the forest through high windows
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The clients chose the 632-square-metre plot specifically because it faced the forest. Ambrosia Residence at Kinrara is situated next to the 3,084-acre Ayer Hitam Forest Reserve, and that natural buffer shaped how Tan could distribute the programme across the site, using the pool as the linking element. There’s minimal landscaping as the architecture and water occupy most of the land, while the forest serves as the “garden”. Adding a rooftop garden provides views across the canopy.
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Above The new pavilions connect to the existing corner lot house with the forest providing a natural backdrop
Above Concrete walkways traverse the pool connecting the separate pavilions
The new pavilions connect to the existing corner lot house with the forest providing a natural backdrop
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Above The elevated gym pavilion with floor-to-ceiling glass opens to forest views
The elevated gym pavilion with floor-to-ceiling glass opens to forest views
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The covered walkways between pavilions create transitional spaces that are neither fully enclosed nor open to the weather, a response to Malaysia’s climate. Moving from the bedroom to the gym or entertainment space means stepping outside and crossing the pool on elevated walkways. The house functions as several buildings with water running between them, where circulation is its own experience. Light filters through the walkway roofs at different times of day, and the subtle sounds of water accompany movement through the compound.
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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.
