Cover The multi-layered open plan
The multi-layered open plan
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An architect couple’s drastic renovation of a Petaling Jaya terrace house into a cosy Malaysian family home with a distinctive pitched roof
Founders of Paperspace, an architecture and interior design studio, Winston See and Amy Ang, could see beyond the dilapidated state of this terrace house in Petaling Jaya to create a warm, welcoming home for their young family.
“It’s always a designer’s dream to design their own home. In this case, as designers, we designed it together as a couple for us and our three lovely kids,” states Ang.
“The house had been left in its original state since it was built in the ’90s. Therefore, it was in an exhausted state where the roof was leaking, the walls were cracking, the pipes were rusty, and the electrical was insufficient to support modern appliances running at the same time.”
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The facade is completely transformed
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Yet the couple saw potential in the house as it was the corner lot of a terrace block. “What’s interesting about this site is that it’s an end lot but it looks tight at the front.
The site is shaped like a trapezium where it grows wider at the end. We found tremendous potential with this extra land at the side of the house,” explains Ang.
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The "peephole" window
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At the beginning of the design process, the couple looked at what the site lacked and provided, and just like any other urban terrace housing, they faced similar issues such as privacy. “The window design was repeated in every house, thus, we were visually exposed to each other, which reduces privacy and compromises security.”
Moreover, the external road was extremely narrow, which forces the neighbours to double park. “Gone are the sidewalks for us to take a stroll with the kids, as it's all replaced with cars and creates an unsafe and hostile environment for pedestrians,” opines Ang.
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The main entrance has been shifted
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With these points in mind, the couple knew they needed to create an inward-looking home since there was extra space at the side. To this end, they eliminated all the openings towards the front and directed their attention to the side by introducing a courtyard garden. “We decided to omit the gate to allow for a spacious car porch where we can have tandem parking without obstructing the public road,” states Ang.
Since there would be no gate, the main door is tucked away so that it’s obscure and opens into the courtyard garden instead of allowing direct access into the house.
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The patio
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“Ultimately, we wanted to highlight the experience and journey through our architecture. We didn’t want an obvious and conventional house. The mystery of the front façade allows our friends and family to explore and feel our way of life as they walk through the home,” says Ang. Additionally, the façade is a homage to the Rumah Panjang, a type of vernacular architecture from Borneo that references Ang’s Sabahan roots.The simple gable roof profile is also functional, as it minimises the possibility of future leaks.
The facade’s dark green colour was chosen not only for its soothing quality but also to blend in with the trees they planned to plant in the front of the house.
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Wood was used generously
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As for the interior, the couple prefers an open plan, which is why they have minimal internal walls, especially on the ground floor. “We went with solid wood flooring to give warmth to the spaces. We like playing with patterns and geometry hence the choice for herringbone wood flooring and the different textures and patterned tiles in the bathrooms,” explains Ang.
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The pitched roof is echoed in the door frame
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The rustic element of the architecture continues throughout the interior design via patiently curated and customised furniture, door hardware, and detailing. “We utilised a lot of reclaimed wood recycled from old weathered train tracks and bridges as racks, stairs, and structural support, especially in the home office where we store and display materials and samples,” says Ang.
“Some of these materials and samples are so heavy and difficult to manoeuvre around, and using weathered woods, which have so much imperfection, makes them a perfect material.”
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The multi-layered open plan
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As for green initiatives, the couple’s rationale behind the design was sustainably grounded. For example, the front façade that faces east is entirely solid with the exception of the round window functioning as a peephole, reduces heat gain and maximises natural ventilation, which leads to less AC usage and omits the presence of mechanical exhaust fans.
The interior of the house is also well-lit throughout the day, so the family doesn't need to compensate with artificial lights. “Especially on the ground floor where we spend most of our days in, we have large overhangs that shield us from direct sun and allow us to open our sliding doors entirely to enjoy the natural breeze. We recycled as many existing structural components as we could to reduce the carbon footprint as well,” states Ang.
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Open plan living
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Being both architects, the couple had clear ideas of what they wanted to achieve and were not averse to experimenting with materials.
“We completely reconfigured the layout to optimise our way of life. We have introduced an integrated indoor and outdoor space with large glazings. It simply makes the interior look way more spacious than it is. At the same time, we can keep our eyes on the kids and provide a haven for them to play and run around without worrying about traffic," says Ang.”
“We positioned the laundry room upstairs with the bedrooms, which is very uncommon yet so logical! It makes doing laundry so much easier and more convenient.”
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Open plane kitchen
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Their experiments with detailing were to obtain the desired visual effect economically while maximising durability.
One example is the architectural façade where PVC groove lines were used in intervals to create the timber weatherboard effect: “It is in fact just plaster and paint which are so much more durable and easier to maintain compared to a real timber weatherboard.”
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The barn door upstairs
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The couple admits they took a long time to source all the furniture, decor, lighting, rugs and art. Locally, they found great products that suit the overall concept at Thecraftsmanty, Nabo, and Dadswoods.
This was complemented with imported pieces from King Living, District Eight, Commune Home, HK Living, GAV Design, Loloi Rugs by Loom & Stone and Ikea. The final touch was artwork from international and local artists like Carly Williams and Izwa Ahmad, which were generously gifted by clients.
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Cosy master bedrrom with it's porthole window
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With the renovation now complete, the couple has nicknamed the home Kami, which means “Ours” in the Malay language. And this home is truly a home for the whole family: “We often ask our 3- and 5-year-old about how they feel about the house and they love it. In the end, that’s all it matters because it is Rumah Kami.”
This unabashed joy has made all the challenges the couple faced during the construction throughout the multiple pandemic lockdowns worth it: “There were a lot of heartaches when it came to timeline and labour, but we are so glad that we never gave up, never compromise on the detailing, or took the easy way out. Architecture is a marathon, not a sprint. We stuck by this principle and have realised our dream home.”
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Photography: BricksBegin
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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.
