Cover Entreprenuer and salvaged timber advocate, Gooi Kok Wah
Entreprenuer and salvaged timber advocate, Gooi Kok Wah
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Chengal House in Nibong Tebal, Penang, is an inspirational showcase of what can be achieved with salvaged timber
Before sustainability and adaptive reuse became buzzwords in design, Gooi Kok Wah built Chengal House almost entirely from architectural materials salvaged around Malaysia.
Gooi, who used to be an accountant, leaped into making a business of salvaging timber structures from disused railway quarters, sawmills and kampung houses, which led to renovating and restoring old buildings over a decade ago.
As his business grew, Gooi needed to build a multi-purpose space to serve as a storage showcase and workshop, as well as for weekend stays or possibly his retirement home in the future. Nibong Tebal was a natural choice as he had grown up on the very land Chengal House would be built on, which used to be an oil palm orchard.
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Steady growth
Above Entreprenuer and salvaged timber advocate, Gooi Kok Wah
Entreprenuer and salvaged timber advocate, Gooi Kok Wah
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“This location is right at the end of Penang state where the borders to Kedah and Perak are within a 3 km radius,” says Gooi. “Here, there’s clean air and blue skies all the time, and we still get fireflies at night. There’re permanent forest reserves at the back of this property and a Penang State Water Reservoir just behind the hill.”
Building took six months of consistent work, which this self-taught designer describes as a process of many experiments and trial and error. He adhered to the ideal ratio of 1: 3 for built-up to garden with approximately 3,200 sq ft of built-up space vs over 8,000 sq ft of landscaping.
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Above Entreprenuer and salvaged timber advocate, Gooi Kok Wah
Entreprenuer and salvaged timber advocate, Gooi Kok Wah
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The structure itself is a fascinating jigsaw puzzle of salvaged timber.
“We used several sets of roof frames from Methodist School Hall in Nibong Tebal, timber columns from a sawmill at Kuantan, Marseille terracotta roof tiles salvaged from a colonial house in Raub and window and door panels from an Ipoh hospital, the Little Sisters of Poor church in Penang, an Ipoh Turf club bungalow, Penang Casuarina Resort and Nibong Tebal railway station,” recalls Gooi.
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Above High ceilings are a feature of Chengal House
High ceilings are a feature of Chengal House
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A senior timber builder helped install the entire timber house structure and roof, after which Gooi continued the rest himself.
“The final result is unexpected, but I am not sure it has an overreaching concept. It is a total freedom of expression for myself, but assembling different components of architecture salvages together in the right theme was a serious challenge given that that space is limited,” muses Gooi.
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Above Goh’s collection of salvaged items includes antiques
Goh’s collection of salvaged items includes antiques
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“For example, all external and internal wall space needed to fit in all kinds of old doors and windows; this required engineering calculation, carpentry work, designing considerations, finishing touches and so on. I would say it’s easier to design from scratch. In this context, finding an adaptive use for each component requires a serious and in-depth study on-site, and I also had to keep referring to my inventory.”
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Home land
Above The patio is the venue for many parties and gatherings
The patio is the venue for many parties and gatherings
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Since Gooi moved in more than 13 years ago, Chengal House has matured and aged gracefully.
“The timber surfaces have aged further till a silver grey state. And the landscaping is thriving. I have added an open-concept kitchen and a few bee hives in the garden. Friends and family love to come here to relax and for gatherings and art talks. I have the opportunity to do some small-scale workshops and talks for the community.”
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Above A narrow veranda helps with natural ventilation
A narrow veranda helps with natural ventilation
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As Chengal House evolves, Gooi declares that he would like to expand his warehouse capacity as he believes architecture salvages are very relevant in the future. He also wants this space to be an essential source of supply, education and inspiration.
“I feel an important duty to spread and share the message to the community about recycling and the adaptive use of reclaimed timber and architecture salvages. Lately, I have had an opportunity to salvage old chengal logs from forest-clearing land. I would like to elevate the beauty of this species to another level by reaching out to architects and designers and opening their eyes to this.”
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Credits
Photography: David Yeow
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.
