Smolhaven’s immense two-tier platform is also a homage to the Illinoian house’s split-level deck and projects over the lawned terraces. Coupled with a pitched roof with a 3.5m overhang and large foldable doors, the deck is a multi-purpose space that blurs the boundaries between indoor and outdoor living.

Material choices were deliberately restricted to exposed brick, off-form concrete and timber. This considered material palette together with dark grey steel structures and streamlined building geometries contribute to Smolhaven's minimalist aesthetic.

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DualSpace Studio transformed this ordinary terrace house in Shah Alam for a young couple who wanted their first home to be a sleek minimalist space. The designers worked based on that brief but added Bauhaus and mid-century touches. 

It's evident that simplicity doesn't mean basic for these designers especially in the living cum dining area which has minimal adornment yet exudes an appealing crispness through astute choices of material and meticulous detailing.

The statement staircase inspired by the Bauhaus era is the main feature of the house. To create a welcoming sense in the space, the designers softened the harshness of its form and finishes. Dark wood was used for the step feature at the bottom of the staircase to emphasise the level change and also acts as a seating area with hidden storage underneath.

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Once just another terrace house in Bangsar, award-winning Eleena Jamil Architect (EJA) transformed this '80s end-lot house blighted with low ceilings and awkward split levels. The designers came up with solutions to accommodate the couple and two young children in a comfortable family home with views of the city. 

Walls and floor slabs were removed and the staircase was reconfigured in a new location to create a better flow of space within an open plan configuration. This also allowed for more daylight and improved natural ventilation.

To ensure uninterrupted views of the city, a level was added on the rooftop. This new level was encased within the new facade featuring board-marked concrete walls. Large rectangular openings were punched into these walls to frame views of the neighbourhood and city skyline. 

Read more: 5 Malaysian Hillside Homes with Spectacular Views

Designed for a young couple by Keeyen Architect, this new build in Kuala Lumpur designed the four significant corners of the house to be pleasingly rounded. The three-storey house consisting of six bedrooms and a dance hall was awarded the Silver A' Design Award in the Architecture, Building and Structure Design Category by the International Design Academy in 2021. 

The four prominent corners of the house were rounded to soften the original allowed cubic mass. These rounded corners streamline the building form externally and the building mass was then configured in response to the tropics, designated programmes, and neighbourhood with subtracted volumes for open terraces and voids.

See also: 5 Terrace Houses in Malaysia with Amazing Renovations

Located in a corner two-storey unit in a guarded Kuala Lumpur neighbourhood, Fabian Tan Architect create a home that was minimalist yet comfortable to suit the client's family and personality. The concept was derived from the original space to embrace the site's light and views while heightening the spatial experience through materiality.

A prominently positioned stairway unifies the original architectural elements in the house through the wrapping of solid timber panels to connect the stair to the first floor mezzanine. This material continuity is carried through to the upper mezzanine with the addition of a galleria that extends the existing floor plate to wrap around the periphery of the double volume living spaces.

This space serves as a walkway with shelves, windows and storage which terminates in an end nook that houses a daybed cum study area that floats in view of the treetops.

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Inspired by the abundance of nature around this semi-detached home in Duta Nusantara, a leafy gated community in the well-heeled Mont Kiara neighbourhood, Pins Design Studio created a nature-inspired minimalist interior to highlight this two-storey family home and successfully transform the existing "dreary residence into a light and airy abode".

An open layout was implemented y enlarging the existing plan and extending the internal space. At the same time, touches of nature— sunlight, greenery, and air—were incorporated to enhance the key areas. 

One of the defining elements of this home is a tree that spans upwards to create a vertical dialogue with the upper levels. Rooted on the ground floor, the tree merges with a long counter that begins at a raised platform within an internal courtyard resembling a Japanese chabudai before extending horizontally to form the dining table.

Read more: 5 Exquisite Modern Asian Homes in Malaysia

Designed to suit the needs of its owners, EMPT Studio's renovation for a couple who had just had a baby was calibrated to grow with the young family. 

Located in Mont Kiara, the apartment was a generous 2.900 sq ft but had been neglected for a time the designers could see the potential of turning it into a "warm and lovely yet stylish home" despite the condition of the site.

The core idea was to frame each space within its section with a custom partition wall creating a uniform wall design throughout the shared space.

To this end, the designers excavated usable space for cabinetry and terminated the joining edge with half-cylindrical wooden strips to complement the classical setting.

See also: 5 Best Gated and Guarded Neighbourhoods in Mont Kiara and Sri Hartamas, Kuala Lumpur

Situated in Pantai Hillpark, Kuala Lumpur, the 1,450 sq ft apartment was transformed by Shini Raman of VSQ Design and Decorate into a space that would be devoted to family, friends, pets, and the good life with her signature luxe minimalist aesthetic.

To this end, the main living spaces now flow into each other and different uses blend into one another with no rigid divisions allowing for a pleasant integration of activities

The tranquil atmosphere of the apartment owes a lot to the way it feels, set apart from the hustle and bustle of the outside world.

The garden, in particular, has been integral in defining the whole space as a haven. Shini’s husband took this opportunity to plant trees and put together a little “eco oasis.

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