Cover Haermana Sivamohan, the founder of Construct KL, whose craving for connection sparked the beginning of this intimate experience
Haermana Sivamohan, the founder of Construct KL, whose craving for connection sparked the beginning of this intimate experience
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Inside Construct KL, the city’s most intimate dining experience where strangers gather for pancakes and leave as friends
On a sunny morning in Bukit Tunku, the scent of butter and berries fills the air. Inside a softly lit apartment, Louis Armstrong hums through the speakers as we settle into Construct KL's cosy space. This private dining experience is operated right from the home of Haermana Sivamohan, the visionary behind Construct KL, whose passion for creating memorable, personalised experiences transforms the space into a welcoming retreat where every detail feels thoughtfully curated.
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Against one wall hangs a vivid cubist painting by a young Malaysian artist—her first work sold after graduation. Every detail, from the artwork to the music, has been chosen with care. “From the moment you walk in, you can smell butter in the air,” says Haermana. “There’s Julio Iglesias or Sinatra playing, and the night unfolds in rhythm. There’s connection, without it being forced. What I want people to take away is that moment of slowness and depth—in this incredibly rushed KL.”
This is the essence of Construct KL, a dining experience built on presence, nostalgia and human warmth.
The rise of sweet social
Above The first women's night hosted by Construct KL
The first women's night hosted by Construct KL
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Construct began out of a craving—not for sugar, but for connection. “It came about from me wanting something I don’t think I’ve ever experienced before,” Haermana recalls. “I was craving connection and meeting new people. I wanted a space where people could gather, slow down and share their stories in ways they otherwise wouldn’t in a social setting.”
In a city that thrives on speed and spectacle, Construct’s slower rhythm offers something rare. Guests don’t just dine, they linger. They share stories with strangers, and often leave as friends.
“I think this kind of changes what it means to gather,” she reflects. “For the longest time, having a social life meant going to the club or meeting friends for dinner. But this provides people the space to slow down, to find intimacy, depth and meaning in a world that’s very rushed and transactional.”
Her ‘Shared Table’ nights and ‘Women’s Night Wednesdays’ are intentionally intimate, drawing people who might never have crossed paths. The sense of community often spills beyond the table. Guests bring her small gifts, like a bottle of maple syrup from a Canadian traveller or a handmade colouring book from Singapore.
In an Asian community, although we welcome togetherness, there’s still a sense of weariness that comes with doing something out of the box. She laughs recalling how people often ask if it’s strange to host strangers in her home.
“I understand why they would think that, but people project their fears onto me,” she says. “ I’ve met some of the kindest, most generous people. Payment is made upfront, so I always joke—if someone pays and then robs me, they really need to change their MO.”
Indulgence as self-care
Above Conversations often flow freely at the gatherings
Conversations often flow freely at the gatherings
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While Construct’s social rituals are its heartbeat, the space also doubles as a sanctuary—a place where indulgence becomes self-care. “For dining to be self-care, it has to have a lot of presence,” says. “Once people pick up their phones, it becomes performative. Self-care comes when you can slow down, taste the food, notice textures and flavours.”
That philosophy is reflected in every sensory cue: the smell of butter browning, the low hum of Etta James, the unhurried service. Guests are encouraged to put their phones away, lean into the conversation and rediscover the quiet joy of eating with intention.
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Her connection to food is rooted in emotion and loss. “I went through a really rough year. I lost my dad, my dog of 19 years and two grandparents,” she shares. “What brought us together as a family was food. There’s a form of community and healing that can happen through it. I realised that if I wanted such a space, others probably did too.”
At Construct, that sense of emotional nourishment is served alongside the pancakes—golden-edged, crisp from the butter that pools at the pan’s rim, yet soft enough to soak in thick syrup. “It’s a recipe I’ve used since I was young,” she says. “I had to tweak it so it holds the syrup without losing that fluff and crisp edge. It took a really long time to perfect.”
Where comfort meets culture
For Haermana, pancakes are more than just food, they’re a vessel for memory. “It’s kinda childish, kinda playful, but it leans heavily on nostalgia,” she says. “I was inspired by my mum’s buttered toast before school; salted butter and raspberry jam. That combination is so simple but it just tastes so good. So I wanted to do a riff on that. Memories on a plate.”
That sense of nostalgia—simple, warm, sincere—feels distinctly Malaysian in spirit, even if the form is global. Construct captures Kuala Lumpur’s cultural rhythm perfectly: cosmopolitan yet intimate, contemporary yet rooted in the comfort of home.
A softer kind of togetherness
Above Construct's very own playing cards that aim to foster conversation
Above Just like one would at home, gatherings at Construct come with snacks that make the experience even better
Construct's very own playing cards that aim to foster conversation
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Construct’s growing popularity signals a quiet shift in the city’s dining culture. One that values sincerity over spectacle. “People want different things to do at night,” she observes. “Aside from clubs or restaurants, this gives people the grace to express themselves and talk about their lives with others they might never have met. If more places offered this, people would start developing a sense of depth. A shared need for connection.”
Haermana believes this longing for togetherness runs deeper than a trend. “People crave these kinds of spaces but aren’t given the chance to be softer or more intimate in a non-performative way,” she says. “I hope Construct provides a little bit of pause in a world that constantly demands performance.”
For her, Construct is more than a dining concept—it’s an invitation to reclaim what it means to gather. “I’d like Construct to be remembered as a turning point,” she adds, smiling. “A reminder that culture isn’t only found in galleries or concert halls, but over pancakes and conversation. It’s in the unspoken magic between people.”
In a city defined by speed and spectacle, Construct proves that slowness can be radical. Its rhythm—measured, tender, human—invites people to trade the noise of nightlife for the intimacy of togetherness.
Because sometimes, culture isn’t about what dazzles. It’s about what lingers: the scent of butter in the air, the warmth of a shared story and the sweetness of simply being present with one another.
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Credits
Images: Construct KL
As Senior Lifestyle Writer, Aina writes across the lifestyle vertical, covering wellness, travel, arts and entertainment. Based in Kuala Lumpur, she previously worked at CLEO Malaysia, where she headed the lifestyle, culture and entertainment sections.
