Cover The open-plan kitchen and living area centers around a frameless skylight that floods the space with natural light
The open-plan kitchen and living area centers around a frameless skylight that floods the space with natural light
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Eleena Jamil Architect’s renovation of a Petaling Jaya terrace balances heritage with modern family needs
In Petaling Jaya, a mature suburb in Selangor, Malaysia, Tatler Malaysia Asia’s Most Influential alumni, Eleena Jamil, demonstrates how careful architectural intervention can transform a cramped, gloomy terrace house into a light-filled family sanctuary.
For Aaron Lim and Leou Zia Zia, moving back into Leou’s childhood home with their two young children meant confronting years of wear from previous tenants. But where others might have seen deterioration, Eleena, founder of Eleena Jamil Architect, saw possibility.
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Above The front facade during daytime reveals the thoughtful integration of traditional and contemporary elements
The front facade during daytime reveals the thoughtful integration of traditional and contemporary elements
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“I am always attracted to projects that revolve around working with existing buildings,” says Eleena.
“They’re a sustainable way of developing a house to meet new living requirements, and working with an existing building has far less environmental impact than building a completely new home.”
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Above Lush tropical landscaping surrounds the terrace, where terracotta-colored earth brick columns and wooden screens provide privacy while maintaining a connection to nature
Above The covered terrace showcases the architect’s innovative use of compressed earth brick columns and Balau wood ceiling panels
Lush tropical landscaping surrounds the terrace, where terracotta-colored earth brick columns and wooden screens provide privacy while maintaining a connection to nature
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The original 190 sq m house has been expanded to 240 sq m through strategic additions that respect both local building restrictions and the neighbourhood’s architectural rhythm.
The ground floor extension creates space for a shaded terrace, an en-suite guest bedroom, and utility rooms, while the attic has been cleverly transformed into an additional room accessed by an ingeniously designed alternating-step staircase.
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Above The open-plan living area features polished stone flooring and a brown modular sofa from Long Horn, while sliding glass doors connect to the shaded terrace
The open-plan living area features polished stone flooring and a brown modular sofa from Long Horn, while sliding glass doors connect to the shaded terrace
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The home’s most striking feature is its central double-height space, created by relocating the original staircase. Crowned with a frameless skylight, this void serves as the house’s heart, bathing the interior with ever-changing natural light.
“Wherever you are in the house, you are always aware of the natural environment outside - the changing sky and light levels, the sun and the rain,” Eleena explains. “This may sound a bit cliché, but this is not always possible in a typical terrace house.”
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Above The main staircase combines folded steel plates and warm bamboo treads, with a commissioned goldfish artwork adding a personal touch to the double-height space
Above A sculptural staircase featuring bamboo treads and vertical steel elements is illuminated by integrated LED lighting, creating a striking architectural feature in the home's central space
The main staircase combines folded steel plates and warm bamboo treads, with a commissioned goldfish artwork adding a personal touch to the double-height space
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The material palette was carefully chosen to create visual warmth while maintaining a connection to nature. The exterior features terracotta-coloured compressed earth bricks and local Balau wood screens, providing privacy while filtering light. Inside, polished natural stone floors in sandy hues complement wood veneer cabinetry, while bamboo flooring in the bedrooms creates what Eleena describes as a “more soothing ambience.”
A sculptural staircase, crafted from folded steel plates and suspended on rods with compressed bamboo treads, serves as both a functional element and an artistic centrepiece. “The contractor executed it with high craftsmanship,” Eleena notes with pride.
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Above The open-plan kitchen and living area centers around a frameless skylight that floods the space with natural light
The open-plan kitchen and living area centers around a frameless skylight that floods the space with natural light
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The renovation faced significant challenges due to local building restrictions. “Majlis Perbandaran Petaling Jaya has stringent rules on the extent of extension and remodelling allowed for existing terrace houses,” Eleena explains. These constraints led to innovative space planning, ensuring every square meter serves a purpose.
The home’s art collection includes commissioned goldfish paintings by local artist Cristjen Lai, while furniture combines existing pieces with new additions like Ambient Living’s Horn modular sofa system and Muuto’s Cover Bar Stools. Custom stools and side tables were crafted from leftover marble flooring, exemplifying the project’s resourceful approach.
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Above The dramatic double-height void crowned by a frameless skylight demonstrates the architect's emphasis on bringing natural light deep into the formerly dark terrace house interior
Above The space-saving alternating-tread staircase to the attic demonstrates creative problem-solving within spatial constraints
The dramatic double-height void crowned by a frameless skylight demonstrates the architect's emphasis on bringing natural light deep into the formerly dark terrace house interior
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While the house has exceeded expectations - hosting several social gatherings with ease despite initial concerns about space - Eleena sees room for evolution.
“I would very much like to revisit the house to see how the double-height space below the skylight is used,” she says. “We discussed how the space could become a lush indoor garden with sculptural artwork on the wall, and I hope this idea will take root soon.”
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The minimalist bedroom showcases bamboo flooring and custom wood paneling with integrated lighting
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For now, the home is exemplary of a thoughtful renovation that honours both past and present.
As Eleena reflects, “Working “with an existing structure is more complex than designing from scratch. The constraints of working within the tolerance of an existing structure are exciting, as they challenge me to explore all the different ways to achieve a set design goal, almost like a puzzle.”
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Photography: David Yeow
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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.
