Cover The dining area combines British-India influences with contemporary elements
The dining area combines British-India influences with contemporary elements
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MJ Kanny Architect has crafted a Petaling Jaya residence that blends Malay kampung elements with contemporary green design
In Section 12 of Petaling Jaya, Malaysia, a modern residence demonstrates how traditional Malay design elements can harmonise with contemporary sustainability features.
“Upon my first visit, what was intriguing was the shape of the land,” recalls Melvyn Kanny of MJ Kanny Architect. What appeared to be a perfectly rectangular plot revealed itself as a trapezium on paper—an administrative quirk that would ultimately inspire the home's distinctive staggered design.
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The entrance showcases the home’s modern interpretation of traditional Malay architecture with perforated Chengal timber screens
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The house, built for a family of three, features three extruded stepped gable roof forms, creating a dynamic silhouette against the suburban skyline. Its defining feature is the modern interpretation of the Tebar Layar, a ventilated louvre system traditionally found in Malay kampung houses.
“Chengal strips of timber with punched holes acted as the Tebar Layar that surrounded the house to protect it from the sun as well to offer privacy from the neighbours,” Kanny explains.
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Above The bar's exterior view reveals how the Chengal timber screens work with the folding doors and water features
Above Vertical timber screens with punched holes, inspired by traditional kampung house ventilation elements
The bar's exterior view reveals how the Chengal timber screens work with the folding doors and water features
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The double-volume living room opens to a garden view through its high gable ceiling.
Here, practicality meets ingenuity with a 98-inch swivelling television that pivots 180 degrees, serving both the living and dining areas while functioning as a subtle room divider.
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The double-volume bar space opens to a garden, fulfilling the client’s request for an entertaining space accessible from outside
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For the homeowner, a member of the Hash House Harriers running club, a special request shaped one of the house’s most social spaces.
“The client wanted a space for the boys to enjoy a drink or two which could be accessed from the garden,” says Kanny. “We designed a double volume bar with folding doors that opened up to the garden and water feature.”
Above The living area opens to the garden through floor-to-ceiling windows
The living area opens to the garden through floor-to-ceiling windows
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The interior layout places the main living spaces, kitchen, dining, a guest room, and utilities on the ground floor. The upper levels house three bedrooms, a family room, and a gym, all accessible via stairs or lift.
The floating staircase required particular attention. “We were adamant to make it work,” Kanny notes, describing the precise engineering needed to support the glass railings.
Above The floating staircase with glass railings was a technical triumph for the architects
Above The space showcases the home's impressive gable ceiling height
The floating staircase with glass railings was a technical triumph for the architects
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Environmental considerations guide the design throughout. Solar panels top the Bluescope standing seam roof, while laminated tinted glass works with timber screens to reduce glare and heat gain.
The house employs natural ventilation strategies, including low windows beneath the dining room bench wall to draw in cool air from the garden. An EV charger, rainwater harvesting system and VOC-free internal finishes complete the sustainability features.
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The dining area blends modern and traditional elements, with a marble counter and geometric tiles
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The interior draws from the British-Indian style, with furnishings from Commune and King Living, while Oppein handled the kitchen and built-in works. Indonesian decorative pieces from Elementi House Decor add cultural elements throughout.
One adaptation during construction involved an off-form concrete wall intended for the staircase. “The workmanship was disappointing,” Kanny admits, “so we decided to tile it. The Spanish tile, however, has given it a different outlook but similar feel.”
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The family room showcases the staggered gable roof design that Kanny developed from the site’s trapezium shape
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Through careful consideration of sun paths, neighbouring properties, and natural ventilation, the house achieves what Kanny set out to create: “a tropical home that responded to the place and the neighbourhood.”
While the clients have yet to move in, the house illustrates how sustainability-minded homes can honour architectural heritage while accommodating contemporary living.
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Above The bedroomsfeatures merbau timber flooring and the signature Chengal screens
Above The bathroom exemplifies the home’s indoor-outdoor connection
The bedroomsfeatures merbau timber flooring and the signature Chengal screens
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The material palette reinforces the home’s connection to its environment. “Externally, the house was a combination of plastered walls and some facing brick walls for accentuation,” explains Kanny.
The interior flooring transitions from marble in the living and dining spaces to Merbau timber in the upstairs bedrooms. The standing seam metal roof creates clean A-shaped staggered forms visible from both outside and within, offering a modern counterpoint to the traditional elements that inspired the design.
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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.
