5 homes in Malaysia with exceptional views

“Being constantly surrounded by the demands of fast-paced urban life, I wanted the new homeowners to be able to find refuge in a clean, ambient space but also have moments of individuality and character,” explains Nee Wong, Creative Director of Newcleus Design.

The overarching concept for the interior was to combine the clean and serene elements of Japanese and Scandinavian interiors with artful Parisian style. Minimalistic wood finishes encompass the main furnishings like the TV console table and dining table, as well as an ideated tea table that overlooked the scenic view.

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Meanwhile, wainscoting panelled walls and black-lined Roman blinds brought more character to the space that was reminiscent of a Parisian abode.

“The large wooden curtain pelmet with Roman blinds changes the spatial experience of the living area, compressing one’s view to the beautiful golf course ahead and creating a more cosy scale to the living experience,” explains Wong.

Read more here.

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The penthouse in the heart of downtown Kuala Lumpur was an initial blank canvas for Red Panda Design, who had the unique opportunity to shape each space from the ground up.

While the holiday residence was nicknamed Stardust to evoke the enchanting cityscape, the design concept was anything but merely aesthetically pleasing. The designer ensured all spaces in the 7,600 sq ft site were practical for the homeowners.

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Careful consideration went into the selection of materials and finishes that were more suited for the hot climate of Kuala Lumpur: marble flooring for a cooling effect in the vast living spaces, and timber ones in the bedrooms to create an inviting sanctuary in the heart of the city.

Not only that, the designer capped off the overall design with The Wind Chime, full double-volume height rotatable screens, bespoke to add a touch of elegance to functionality in the penthouse.

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Playing off the breathtaking views of the city skyline in the backdrop, the residence was also equipped with a theatre-in-the-sky in the formal and spacious living area that provided an immersive cinematic experience unlike any other.

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This bungalow in Setia Eco Glades, Cyberjaya had a unique element unlike many residences seen in Malaysia, in which the living and dining areas at the rear face the lake with plenty of natural ventilation. 

This became the natural focal point of the project for Matthew Lim Associates, when they were brought in to spruce up the home that was originally finished with marble floors and plain plastered ceilings.

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“It became the backdrop of our design and well connected to the interior,” explains Matthew Lim, founder and principal of the award-winning interior design studio. “We believe that there shouldn't be a very clear distinction between the interior and exterior; both should be connected as one.”

Hence, the designers crafted an open plan for the living and dining areas, fitting an immense folding glass door to invite the natural ventilation and landscape to be a part of the indoor spaces.

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The areas also formed an ongoing correlation with the outdoors, as the designers implemented furniture and built-in carpentry with natural finishes, such as timber veneer and natural stones, as well as textiles and design details in likeminded palettes of brown, grey and black.

All interior elements came together to exude a feeling of tranquillity that “the owners [would] feel calm when they come back to the home and want to spend more time in the space that we crafted,” muses Lim.

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For this modernist bungalow perched on the Bangsar hilltops, Design Collective Architects (DCA) were able to breathe to life a localised version of Pierre Koenig’s famed Stahl house with its Los Angeles views, immortalised by architectural photographer Julian Shulman.

The Kuala Lumpur skyline became the anchoring guide for the project when the team discovered a high-levelled but small toilet window captured the exciting panorama.

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Lead architect Chan Mun Inn recalls: “It was at this moment when we first saw what the project could be and how the old existing bungalow was preventing the owners [a couple with two teenage children] from actually experiencing the full extent of what the site could offer.”

The new build over an old abandoned bungalow was designed with a kink in the middle to a 210-degree angle, taking in views that started with Genting Highlands in the north; then in the east and south, almost all of the tallest structures in Kuala Lumpur; and finally, at the south-west, looking back towards Bangsar Hills.

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The main living spaces were fitted with a jumbo-size floor-to-ceiling sliding glass panel, measuring at 4.5 metres in height. It slides away completely to allow the sitting area, dining area and the dry kitchen to flow seamlessly with the large pool verandah with a sunken lounge.

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While the double-storey bungalow in Iskandar Puteri, Johor has a generous 15,274 sq ft land area to play with, its location in a resort-style township also boasts an idyllic stretch of parkland with a lake and tree groves in the backyard–a distinctive element of the property that S/LAB 10 could work on for their clients, a couple with their two teenage children.

“The moment we visited the site, we knew we were going to incorporate the parkland as part of the house,” says Hao Wang, co-founder of S/LAB 10. “We decided to make the ‘back’ (rear side of the site) become the ‘front’ (activities and opening for views).”

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The overarching design concept Wang had in mind for the 10,100 sq ft residence with eight bedrooms and seven bathrooms, was one that celebrates the joys of a “backyard lifestyle,” taking inspiration from the layout of a typical Australian house. 

This indoor-outdoor dynamic was showcased especially with the rotating louvred shutters, double-row wooden panels that stretched from one end to the other of the rear façade, where the 60-foot long swimming pool nestled amidst the lush greenery.

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The shutters, anchored at different degrees of opening, offered a high level of control for the homeowners, not only in terms of responding to the sun’s glare, but also the level of privacy the clients preferred whenever the mood strikes.

“‘Privacy’ and ‘openness’–these are two words that seem contradictory to each other but we believe can be achieved with creative design,” Wang says.

Read more here.

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