Cover This Penang condominium features a sectional sofa is dressed with mixed cushions and a knit throw, seen past a pair of sheepskin chairs
This Penang condominium features a sectional sofa is dressed with mixed cushions and a knit throw, seen past a pair of sheepskin chairs
1 / 1
Chaos Design Studio reworked this Penang condominium around contrasting textures, turning a standard high-rise layout into a considered material study
Located in the Middleton condominium in Minden Heights, Gelugor, a 1,410 sq. ft. unit that once held a fairly standard mix of living room, dining area, dry kitchen, three bedrooms and a utility room has been reworked by Chaos Design Studio for a single resident, with one bedroom converted into a study and another into a walk-in closet.
Chaos Design came to the project through a referral. Charles Khor, the studio’s creative director, said the appeal was the unit’s departure from the layout typical of high-rise apartments. “We were immediately captivated by the unit’s potential to transcend the rigidity of typical high-rise floor plans,” he said. Site analysis led the team to abandon the existing compartmentalisation for what Khor called “a fluid, bespoke environment that mirrors the client’s lifestyle and personality.”
Read more: The natural: Robert Cheng of Brewin Design Office on designing Capella Kyoto
Above The living room, with a sectional sofa, sheepskin armchairs and a swivel-mounted television, faces a wall of curtained windows
The living room, with a sectional sofa, sheepskin armchairs and a swivel-mounted television, faces a wall of curtained windows
1 / 1
Above A round dining table pairs leather-seated chairs with an open shelving unit displaying books and a framed print
Above A detail of the sofa corner shows an adjustable floor lamp, a brass table lamp and a child's building blocks on the coffee table
A round dining table pairs leather-seated chairs with an open shelving unit displaying books and a framed print
1 / 2
The design rests on an idea Khor terms a “sanctuary of textures.” Timber-clad ceilings sit against hand-applied plaster walls, a pairing that recurs through the open-plan dining and lounge areas. Khor said each transition between materials was meant to register as “a rhythmic, sensory experience rather than merely fulfilling a functional requirement.”
Oak stained in a walnut tone is paired with marble throughout. Khor said the combination was chosen for its tactile quality and its capacity to produce “a warm, organic atmosphere,” forming what he called a “cohesive visual language” across the interior.
See also: Home tour: Kelly Hoppen transforms a London townhouse into a light-filled sanctuary
Above A wide view of the living and dining area shows the wood-clad ceiling, sheer curtains and sheepskin seating grouped around a games-topped coffee table
A wide view of the living and dining area shows the wood-clad ceiling, sheer curtains and sheepskin seating grouped around a games-topped coffee table
1 / 1
The studio addressed sustainability through material choice rather than as a separate feature. The studio used low-VOC finishes and high-efficiency lighting, and Khor said non-formaldehyde laminates and glue are now standard across Chaos Design’s projects, a practice he tied to the longevity and circularity of the materials used.
Don’t miss: Cool snooze: 7 considered mattresses and bedding for a better night’s sleep
Above The kitchen’s oval ceiling recess echoes the one over the bar, set above open shelving, stainless cabinetry and a marble-topped island
The kitchen’s oval ceiling recess echoes the one over the bar, set above open shelving, stainless cabinetry and a marble-topped island
1 / 1
Above A sculptural bird form sits on a stone plinth where floor-to-ceiling curtains wrap the corner of the living area
Above Wall-mounted lights resembling smooth river stones illuminate a built-in bench used for shoes and bags at the entry
A sculptural bird form sits on a stone plinth where floor-to-ceiling curtains wrap the corner of the living area
1 / 2
Several details are functional rather than ornamental. Power sockets are set flush into marble surfaces, part of what Khor described as “invisible technical integration” aimed at a minimalist silhouette. In the bathroom, curved timber-panelled cabinetry offsets sharply vertical tiling, while in the kitchen a recessed circular ceiling feature, lit from within, anchors the room.
Furniture choices are similarly specific. The dining area centres on the M-Round Dining Table by Daniel Boddam, lit by an Artemide Tolomeo Sospensione Decentrata pendant.
Read more: Built in bamboo: 5 fantastical resorts by architects around the world
Above The kitchen island, topped in patterned marble, anchors the cooking area beneath the round ceiling feature
Above A dark stone sink in the powder room opens onto the adjoining living area, furnished with a sheepskin-covered armchair
The kitchen island, topped in patterned marble, anchors the cooking area beneath the round ceiling feature
1 / 2
Not everything in the existing structure could be changed. A ceiling beam limited clearance height across the flat, and while Khor said the studio worked the beam into the design rather than concealing it, he noted it remains “the primary element that restricted our ability to achieve a more expansive ceiling volume.”
See also: Harry and Meghan in the UK: the regions where they could set up home
The bedroom, seen from the doorway, with the upholstered bed set against louvred blinds and floor-length curtains
1 / 3
The kitchen sink counter, with the household dog seated at the window
1 / 3
The main difficulty during the project was managing the client’s decisions on high-specification finishes. Khor said the studio relied on physical material samples so the client could handle textures directly before choosing between them.
Khor named the layout itself as the part of the finished project he is most pleased with, citing “the non-traditional layout, which is punctuated by bespoke detailing and carefully curated art pieces.” According to Khor, the client is pleased that the finished design matches the vision set out at the start of the project.
NOW READ
8 neoclassical buildings around the world that are still in use today
Olafur Eliasson on art, technology, and the luxury of uncertainty
New quarters: inside the restoration of 1926 Heritage Hotel Penang
Credits
Photography: TWJPTO
Topics
Best of Tatler Asia video highlights
Featured videos from around Tatler Asia: Get exclusive behind-the-scenes look at the interviews we do, the events we attend, the shoots we produce, and the incredibly important people who are part of our community
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.
