Simplicity reigns in this bright and airy home designed by Eleena Jamil Architect in Ampang, Kuala Lumpur. With a crisp white palette set against a backdrop of lush tropical greeneries, it’s a pleasant home built with distinctive details.
However, this home, aptly named the Wangsa One House, hasn’t always been this way. The architect explains in detail: “Wangsa One House is a two-storey semi-detached house built more than 25 years ago and is located in the northeast of Kuala Lumpur city. The original house was in a state of disrepair and had been extended haphazardly over the years, resulting in dark and poorly ventilated labyrinth-like interiors. Recent refurbishment and reconfiguration were carried out with the aim of opening up the house to the gardens surrounding it and bringing in more natural light and air.”
According to the architect, the exercise included removing parts of the existing internal walls and floor and relocating the main entrance door to create a more open and fluid layout. To the rear of the house, the architect added a new simple rectangular extension with an internal courtyard slotted next to it.
Upon entering from the front gate, a laid-back vibe is accompanied by warm sunlight and light breezes. Light streaming through steel mesh panels creates gentle shadows on the concrete walls. On the side, the semi-outdoor space is furnished with a dining table – perfect for meals with garden views.
“Steel mesh panels and perforated concrete blocks are used throughout to make openings which resulted in brighter spaces and improved ventilation rates across the rooms,” the architect elaborates. “The use of these porous materials give the house an ethereal quality, as they reflect light and allow occupants inside to observe the activity and natural world outside.”
Images and architect’s quotes: Source
