Home tour: A serene family home in KL with a wraparound balcony

WHBC has crafted a Kuala Lumpur family home, bringing together design influences from across the world

While engaging with modernist ideas, this tasteful private residence also exudes a sense of welcoming charm. The main brief for this project was that it should serve as a home base for the entire extended family. The homeowner explains that they had asked for there to be “a self-contained, independent living space within the house for elderly relatives or grown children”.

Another request was that the rooms should each have a specific function and be conceived of on a smaller scale “to foster the idea of mindfulness in the age of distraction.” The crafting of sophisticated yet sociable spaces thus became a hallmark of the whole design.

Above The unique architecture was inspired by Frank Lloyd Wright and Geoffrey Bawa

Above The brickwork was meticulously done to form angled corners

The unique architecture was inspired by Frank Lloyd Wright and Geoffrey Bawa

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Located in a leafy suburb of Kuala Lumpur, this property’s plot of land measures 7,600 sq ft in total. The advantage of the site was that it was on a corner lot in a good neighbourhood. However, due to the increased setbacks associated with adjacent roads, there were some limitations in terms of space utilisation.

As it is, the house ended up occupying a built-up area of 7,265 sq ft. Architect BC Ang of WHBC explains that the spatial constraints necessitated a bit of creativity: “A strategic decision was made to concentrate all the bedrooms, spread across multiple levels, onto a compact footprint.” As per the original brief, “the design rationale instead prioritises ample room for family living and gatherings”.

Refined cosmopolitan

Above A circular motif is repeated throughout the house

A circular motif is repeated throughout the house

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Frank Lloyd Wright’s early American modernism provided an important touchstone for the whole project. This is especially apparent in the confident play on volumes.

On the one hand, we have the stark rectangular solidity of the structure for the bedrooms, and on the other, there is the lightweight asymmetry of the structure dedicated to the living areas.

With its broad balcony and doors in series, the layout of this latter space creates long sightlines that are consistent with the modernist preoccupation with openness.

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Above Lush greenery in planter boxes soften the hard surfaces

Above The brickwork was meticulously done to form angled corners

Lush greenery in planter boxes soften the hard surfaces

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The Japanese-style roof is, of course, influenced by Wright, who was a lifelong enthusiast of traditional Japanese architecture. Here, we find this reference in the low-pitched roof whose eaves jut out prominently at the corners, standing out against the sky like the bowsprit of a ship.

A second source of inspiration was the tropical modernism of Geoffrey Bawa. Many of the choices here were informed by the timelessness and elegant formality of this celebrated Sri Lankan architect’s design language. In particular, there was a concern for adapting modernist ideas to a hot and humid climate.

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Above The beautifully detailed doors mix concrete and terrazzo

Above The staircases feature custom lighting

The beautifully detailed doors mix concrete and terrazzo

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Thus, air moves easily through the broad verandahs and under the extensive eaves; breezes also pass freely around the porch, cooling the family areas from below.

Even the smaller-sized rooms help in addressing climate issues, since it is comparatively easier to cool them down. The abundant greenery, from the roof gardens to the trailing and climbing plants, helps to mediate the heat while also integrating the built structures into their local, natural context.

Detail oriented

Above The curved ceilings add a cozier sense of scale to the living area

The curved ceilings add a cozier sense of scale to the living area

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The careful selection of design references is evident in the detailing throughout the residence.

For instance, the porch’s tapered white columns hold the living area aloft while also introducing a deliberate nod to the Scandinavian simplicity of Erik Gunnar Asplund’s Woodland Chapel. Meanwhile, the bold geometry of the concrete door frames is reminiscent of Carlo Scarpa’s Brion Memorial.

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Above The owners are fans of the craftsmanship and essential lines of Scandinavian design

Above Simple black and wood finishes were used in the kitchen

The owners are fans of the craftsmanship and essential lines of Scandinavian design

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We consistently find a playfully modernist engagement with geometry here. Notice, for instance, the rhythmic repetition of squares in the wooden latticework of the balustrade; this square motif is, in turn, taken up by the windows for the staircase leading up to the bedrooms.

Elsewhere, the eaves of the Japanese-style roof rest on triangular braces while the vaulted ceilings of the living areas curve gently overhead. The bedrooms feature characterful circular windows which look for all the world like portholes in a ship’s cabin.

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Above The master bedroom has charming round windows

The master bedroom has charming round windows

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The materials, colour palette, and furnishing choices all work together in a coherent way to evoke the quiet sophistication of Scandinavian design. This can be seen in the black metals paired with warm woods and in the subtle greys and whites of the floors, walls, and ceilings.

Functional and decorative pieces were sourced over many years, but predominantly feature Danish designers, including lighting from Louis Poulsen and items from Fritz Hansen, Carl Hansen, Hay, Skovby, and Wendelbo.

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Credits

Photography: David Yeow

Topics

Home Tour WHBC Malaysian Architecture Malaysian Interior Design Designinspo Frank Lloyd Wright Geoffrey Bawa

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