Blog :

Living with Cats in a Beautiful House in Malaysia

Living with Cats in a Beautiful House in Malaysia

/ Petaling Jaya, Malaysia /

/ Story: Wuthikorn Sut / English version: Bob Pitakwong /

/ Photographs: Sitthisak Namkham /

Ever wonder what a dream house for cats looks like? Here’s a perfect place to find happiness and fulfilment in life for kind pet owners and their feline friends. This new house in Petaling Jaya, Malaysia is obviously designed with cats in mind. The front façade is wrapped in galvanized expanded metal mesh from top to bottom to protect the cats from wandering off or going into harm’s way.

Petaling Jaya

Sharing his slice of paradise, Chan Mun Inn of Design Collective Architects (DCA) said: “I live with my wife and our seven cats in this house.

“There used to be only four, but I adopted more cats. So I ended up with seven of them. They were the reason that we left our old apartment in the city and built a new home in the suburb.”

Petaling Jaya

He made the right decision. The apartment back in Kuala Lumpur was a bit chaotic. The new house in suburban Petaling Jaya, Selangor turned out to be a convenient and practical solution. Now he can work in the comfort of his new home and occasionally go to meetings in the city.

In the process, the quality of life for him and his family, as well as that of the cats, has improved markedly.

Petaling Jaya

Petaling Jaya

The overall design got its inspiration from Rumah Melayu, or the vernacular dwelling of the Malays. The new place of residence differs from traditional residential design in that it’s built of modern materials, utilizing new technologies.

The new home boasts high ceilings for a light and airy feel. Correct orientation allows it to take advantage of certain aspects of the surroundings. Take for instance, the pinnacle of the steeply pitched roof, which is set at an angle that effectively shades the house from the scorching afternoon sun.

This results in thermal comfort in the interior living spaces. Like the house on stilts done in accordance with tradition, the ground floor is set aside for a carport, storage spaces, and a gym, while the entire upper floor provides ample spaces for modern living.

Living with Cats in a Beautiful House

The front façade covered in expanded metal mesh is built that way for a very good reason. It protects the cats from wandering off, getting lost or going into harm’s way.

In the meantime, they keep the domestic feline population from coming in contact with stray cats. Plus, attention to detail ensures that every door closes securely. Even door knobs are carefully thought-out so that no cat can open them.

Petaling Jaya
The entire wall is covered in beautiful brickwork. Natural tones and rough textures make the 10-meter-high wall look very interesting.
The home office offers maximum workspace, while the bedroom is cool and restful. Unmistakably very good ideas!
The home office offers maximum workspace, while the bedroom is cool and restful. Unmistakably very good ideas!

“The view from my bedroom will be the same until someone buys those hills,” said the architect.

Thoughtful design ensures that surrounding landscapes can be seen in full view from the master bedroom. Well, at least for now. Everything changes. “The view from my bedroom will be the same until someone buys those hills,” said Chan Mun Inn with a smile.

This has been the story of kind pet owners and their feline companions, who had to choose between suburban and city living. With less traffic and more natural surroundings, they have made the right decisionb. In such a beautiful home, they can live happily ever after.

Living with Cats in a Beautiful House

Living with Cats in a Beautiful House


Owner/Architect: Chan Mun Inn of Design Collective Architects


You may also like…

Fresh Air, Sunshine and a House Built around a Tree

Twin Houses for Twins Strike the Right Balance

All-in-One Creative Space

All-in-One Creative Space

Great ideas don’t just happen. They come from having a creative work environment, which is vital in the innovative process. An all-inclusive workspace, such as this one, can make a difference in your projects, too.

/// Malaysia ///
Story: LivingASEAN / Photography: Sitthisak Namkham

CM05

CM02

For the past half-century, the printing factory at Art Printing Works has stood in Bangsar, a suburb on the outskirts of Kuala Lumpur. Recently it has been transformed into an all-inclusive workspace called “APW Campus”. Among its objectives: Combine the art, business, and technology and put them to work together in one creative environment.

creative space

Having a fight with colleagues? Vent your fury and settle it with Street Fighter machines instead.
Having a fight with colleagues? Vent your fury and settle it with Street Fighter machines instead.
No reception counter, no problem! Use an old printing press instead.
No reception counter, no problem! Use an old printing press instead.

The 6,500-square-meter workspace on the property was redesigned to allocate resources in a different way without any change to the existing structure. A co-working space, appropriately named “Uppercase,” is on the second floor, right above the printing factory that still prints reputable books and magazines.

Pulp by Papa Palheta, an on-site café
Pulp by Papa Palheta, an on-site café
Paper Plates Food Court
Paper Plates Food Court

Whilst there, visitors can also get some grub to refresh their creative energy. A caffeine boost is available at Pulp by Papa Palheta, an on-site café offering all kinds of specialty coffee, while Paper Plates, a food court favorite among locals, serves a wide array of fine foods and drinks.

The surrounding areas, both indoors and outdoors, can be used as venues for extracurricular activities, from art exhibitions and product launches to cooking classes and outdoor rock concerts. The all-in-one creative space is designed to showcase a thousand ways to inspire new inventions and the innovative process.

 

A Modern Country House among the Fruit Trees in Rayong

A Modern Country House among the Fruit Trees in Rayong

/ Rayong, Thailand /

/ Story: Wuthikorn Suthiapa / English version: Bob Pitakwong /

/ Photographs: Rithirong Chanthongsuk /

Forget big old mansions. There are ways to make your home feel cozy, warm and welcoming without burning a hole in your pocket. Carefully thought out, an ordinary place of abode can transform into a salubrious holiday destination. Here’s one picturesquely situated among the fruit trees in the lush countryside of Rayong, a coastal province made famous by fruit orchards about two hours’ drive from Bangkok.

modern country house Rayong

The country house with contemporary flair stands in perfect harmony with its natural environment. For the homeowner and his family, time spent among the trees is time never wasted. It’s easy to get why they have long wanted to grow a fruit farm in this part of the country.

Here, the spiny Tropical fruit with a creamy pulp called “Durian” is an agricultural crown jewel. So upon acquiring the land, the homeowner asked an architect friend of his to design a wooden house set in the most beautiful surroundings. And the rest was history.

modern country house Rayong

modern country house Rayong

Proximity to a large water body made it necessary to position the house facade facing west and confronting the afternoon sun.

To dissipate heat and prevent it from entering the home, the architect stepped up to the challenge by putting in a terrace in front of the building and planted leafy trees to shade the area. It turned out to be a clever solution that maintained a comfortable indoor climate all year round.

Rayong

modern country house Rayong

Technically speaking, the modern country house among the trees is made up of four modules — three bedrooms and a living area with open air kitchen. They are conveniently connected via a system of corridors that also double as multi-use spaces.

The wooden walkways are raised a good distance from the ground to improve ventilation beneath the floorboard, resulting in thermal comfort in the interior living spaces.

modern country house Rayong

Sharing her experience with us, architect Kanika Ratanapridakul said: “Had I designed it differently, the interior living space would have become very uncomfortable. So to create efficient ventilation, I put in plenty of windows and chose a high-roofed design.

“If it were one big building, the house would have looked bulky and taken up too much space. I took advantage of the space that we had to craft a house consisting of four separate modules, each of which served specific functions.

“And the result of all this was a charming country house with contemporary flair, one that was designed for cozy and comfortable living. On the outside, the spaces between different modules provided peaceful corners for relaxation plus pleasant surprises waiting to be discovered.”RY06

From her point of view, it was a mission accomplished and something to be proud of. The homeowner has got exactly what he has been longing for, a handsome country house where the time goes by slowly every time he comes for a visit. It’s a family holiday retreat only for now. The homeowner intends to live here for permanently after retirement.


Architect: Kanika Ratanapridakul of Spacetime Architects Co., Ltd.


You may also like…

An Awesome Tropical Lake House in Chachoengsao

A Modern Lake Home in a Peaceful Country Setting

A Marvelous Beach House on Ko Pha-Ngan

A Marvelous Beach House on Ko Pha-Ngan

/ Surat Thani, Thailand /

/ Story: Wuthikorn Suthiapa / English version: Bob Pitakwong /

/ Photographs: Sitthisak Namkham /

Many have dreamt of owning a beach house on a beautiful island. The owners of this property have made their dream come true with style and grace.

beach house

beach house

The pier at Ko Pha-Ngan (Pha-Ngan Island) is always bustling with activity as tourists keep coming in droves, looking forward to the party. But the island on the Gulf of Thailand is also known for its fine collection of tranquil beaches, especially the one on Hin Kong Bay, where this charming beach house is located.

The casually cool house sits embraced by a circle of trees that gives it a tropical touch and camouflages it from the busy streets. The wide open design ensures every part of the stilt house is easily accessible wherever you may be, from the room at the rear to the front porch to the infinity pool that connects to the ocean beyond.

The house with a twist features a tree trunk that continues to grow through the floorboard. A clever design element, the tree had been there long before the owners decided to put in a home.

Not wanting to cut it down, they built their home around the tree and let it keep on growing. They are just happy to live and let live despite having to adjust the floorboard and roofing from time to time.

Beach House

Beach House

Beach House

Almost all the furniture in the house is made of wood, a personal preference that fits in well with the kind of home they live in. The interior living space is bedecked with ornaments and souvenirs from a lifetime of journeys as well as stunning found objects that were washed ashore.

Both the first and second floors feature long corridors that provide easy access to every part of the house. The owners have wanted their beach house to be a seaside resort designed for relaxation and good times with family and friends.

“While I am here, every day is a holiday,” said the owner with a smile.

“I love to just lie down in the living room and gaze out into the sea. Every now and then, friends come over for a visit, and we throw a barbeque party. My husband usually spends his time in the garden taking care of plants and things.”

One last word. If you haven’t thought of owning a beach house before, this picturesque house on a paradise island will make you want to have one.

Beach House


You may also like…

Time Stands Still on Beautiful Pha-Ngan Island

A Harmonious Mix of Industrial Style and Joglo Architecture

The Clever Home Office Restoration of Studio Bikin

The Clever Home Office Restoration of Studio Bikin

/ Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia /

/ Story: Supachart Boontang / English version: Bob Pitakwong /

/ Photographs: Rithirong Chanthongsuk /

Every teardown has an impact on the look and feel of the environment in which you live. If you find your suburban home outdated, perhaps this renovation of Studio Bikin’s home office is an inspiring way to breathe new life into it.

Studio Bikin

Studio Bikin

This two-story house is the home office of Farah Azizan, co-founder of Studio Bikin. It is located in Bangsar, a residential suburb on the outskirts of Kuala Lumpur.

“The house was built in 1950, almost seventy years ago. The structure is solid, and everything else is in good shape,” said Azizan.

“There is a simple, timeless elegance to it. So, I decided to do a complete renovation, combining a home and an office in one.”

Studio Bikin

 

Studio Bikin

MH12

Azizan tried to keep all existing elements and structural integrity intact, making the house capable of withstanding the desired loads for long life.

Metal grilles on the windows and doors and floor tiles were left the way they have always been. To create an airy interior living space, parts of the walls on the first floor were removed.

Meantime, glass louvers were retained to aid in heat dissipation, improve air circulation, and allow plenty of natural daylight.

 

The owner added the loft style to the design by putting in cracked concrete wall textures for a little bit of a grungy, urban feel. Special techniques helped make the ceilings and walls look interesting.

This was achieved by lining the mold with plastic wraps before concrete was poured. Wrinkles in plastic sheets left their marks on concrete surfaces resulting in aesthetically pleasing textures.

Tricky space staircase: The treads may differ in shapes and sizes from one step to the other, but the stairs are safe to use.
Tricky space staircase: The treads may differ in shape and size from one step to the other, but the stairs are safe to use.

Studio Bikin

Studio Bikin

The decorating style is anything but obvious. The interior space of Studio Bikin’s home office boasts a mix-and-match style that goes together well with a modern loft ambience.

This is evident in a set of a teakwood sofa and leather butterfly chairs, and shelving filled with glistening utensils silhouetted against a textured concrete wall.

 

The handsome abode has been home to more than one generation, yet there is a timeless elegance to it. The house of Studio Bikin has undergone complete renovation for comfortable living with modern amenities. Clever home improvement hacks have made it unique, trendy and cool in its own special way.

Studio Bikin

MH11

 


Owner/Designer: Farah Azizan of Studio Bikin (www.studiobikin.com)


 

Home of an Antique Lover

Home of an Antique Lover

If you have passion for antiques, but can’t find the way to fit them in your place, this house may give you an idea.

/// Thailand ///
Story: Kasama /// Rewrite: Phattaraphon /// Photography: Nantiya, Damrong /// Style: Praphaiwadee /// Owner/Designer: Natthaphon Wutphet

HP02

HP01

Natthaphon Wutphet, photographer for stylish Thai magazines “Hamburger” and “a day,” owns a 320-square-meter residence in the Rama 9 district. When he first got the house, it was seriously run-down, but that allowed him to give it his own type of new life.

“Being a photographer, I get to see a lot of other people’s houses, and that’s given me a lot of ideas for my own,” said Natthaphon.

The stairway has no banister, which adds to the open look of the house.
The stairway has no banister, which adds to the open look of the house.

HP08

His place has an extraordinary “American vintage” ambience, the décor featuring his own special collections arranged in just the right way. The downstairs ceiling was pulled out, and a wall of white brick rises the full height of the house. The metal door was made to look rusty and old to give the sense of a return to a long-ago era.

HP03

Vintage barber chair, wooden shoe cabinet, brick against bare concrete: more gnarly cool chic.
Vintage barber chair, wooden shoe cabinet, brick against bare concrete: more gnarly cool chic.

Natthaphon explains his design concept: the house is like a box, a container holding valuable items. The challenge is to mix and match the items and set them together in the most suitable way. “Actually there’s no ‘style’ at work here. It doesn’t have to be American, antique, industrial, or whatever, it’s all just me thinking, ‘the new stuff I bought, how can I match it to what’s already there?’ It’s all fun like a puzzle, fitting each piece in with the others.”

He loves things that hold memories of the past. His ornamental items were brought from second-hand markets. When buying something old he likes it to be functional, not only decorative. All his collection can be used in photo projects he does in a home photography studio at the front of the house.

“What I want is that feeling when someone walks around the house and says ‘this is…Oh, wow!’ Just that’s enough to make me happy,” He laughed merrily.

HP10

 

Mash-up: Industrial Design and Green Space of Walllasia

Mash-up: Industrial Design and Green Space of Walllasia

/ Bangkok, Thailand /

/ Story: Monosoda / Rewriter: Phattaraphon / English version: Peter Montalbano /

/ Photographs: Nantiya, Jirasak /

Cold black steel may not seem an obvious pairing for green plants, but one award-winning architect of Walllasia has matched the two in a unique and impressive way.

Walllasia

“Steel and the natural world present an interesting conflict to me,” said Suriya Umpansirirat, winner of the Silpathorn Architectural Award and owner of the design studio Walllasia.

“My childhood home was a rice mill in Phatthalung. I grew up playing ‘fix this, fix that’ in an industrial plant, but set in the midst of trees my father had planted.”

Adding to his compact two-storey house, he used a unique design based on childhood memories. The rawness of the black steel comes across as part and parcel of nature, meshing easily with the green leaves all about. Structural lines here are simple and straightforward, but full of architectural finesse.

Walllasia

AA9

When Suriya needed to expand his 64-square-meter townhouse, he bought and annexed the house directly behind, allowing no more width but creating two times the depth.

Between the two, he created a courtyard where the sun shines in. A metal frame is set like a ring around the courtyard, separating the two structures without physically attaching them to each other.

Walllasia

AA05

Every spot in the house has many varieties of plants and trees, looking as though they have sprung up naturally.

There is an automatic drip irrigation system which prevents water waste and also saves a lot of gardening time.

AA08

A workshop for artifacts and inventions. A big bike sits, waiting for a ride.
A workshop for artifacts and inventions. A big bike sits, waiting for a ride.

Suriya’s passion for nature’s fine details complements another side of him, which has him creating fine crafts in the workshop. His own artworks and a plethora of inventions and artifacts have become part of the house.

This award-winning architect of Walllasia has also done a lot of work on many religious sites, and this influence keeps his home a “work in progress”, never entirely finished, and saturated with Buddhist concepts and thought.

“Religion is about how to deal with human life,” he spoke about his inspiration.

“Each religion has a philosophy for finding happiness. Architecture grows from that: how can we express our own esthetics without encroaching on others? I tried to design this house to look simple and straightforward, for comfortable living without too many frills. For me, practical considerations are what’s important.”

Perhaps for a person of passion, practical living shouldn’t involve hoarding or accumulating, but reduction, or letting go instead, until what is left is the core essence of a home.

Walllasia
His concept: a house like a vase of flowers that’s also a car repair garage.

Owner/Architect: Suriya Umpansirirat of Walllasia (www.walllasia.com)


You may also like…

A Beautifully Renovated 60-year-old Mid-City HouseShipping Container House amid an Enchanted Forest Garden

Tiny Home Studio of Fashion Designer

Tiny Home Studio of Fashion Designer

Home studios need not be large to win big. Blending the worlds of fashion and interior design in her city workspace, this fashion designer is doing great creating beautiful collections in a condo.

/// Thailand ///

Story: skiixy /// Rewrite: Phattaraphon /// Photography: Nantiya /// Style: Praphaiwadee /// Owner: Thanchanok Thiranont /// Design: Juti Klipbua, JUTI Architects

HS01

HS07

Thanchanok Thiranont is Style Editor for Seventeen Thailand magazine. The birth of her own “Thiranont” brand of womenswear was reason for the complete makeover of this two-bedroom condo, where she had lived here for ten years prior. True to the essence of her fashion ideas, she did it in style, transforming a cluttered, untidy 69-square-meter condo into a great place to live, plus a hot new studio worthy of producing and showing off the vitality of her style.

The basic concept is that this should be a multipurpose space, not only a residence, but also a factory, shop and showplace.

This table is the centerpiece of this home studio.
This table is the centerpiece of this home studio.

HS06

The renovation project takes shape with a big table placed at the center of the main room. Here the owner works on fabrics, make patterns, measure pieces of material, and tailor clothing to fit individual customers. It also doubles as a dining table, and is party ready for entertaining sisters and friends. The workspace connects to a more private living room through a sliding glass door with metal frame. It can be easily adapted for use as a guest room if need be.

HS08

HS09

“My style: vintage, but not antique. Simple but functional,” said Thanchanok.

Since the owner had her own clothing brand, new equipment and furnishings were installed to make the boutique capable of handling increasing demands of the fashion world. The decorator accommodated her specific needs with creative vertical storage ideas. Keeping things off the floor, the decorator put the main storage space up the wall with a wheel-fitted ladder.

Sharing a slice of her paradise, Thanchanok said: “My brand has a smooth and simple look, like there isn’t much detail. But look closely, and you see patterns on the material. It’s like this home, full of hidden details. Customers can come here and get measured for two dresses at a time. Since we don’t have a separate shop, we have to have complete functionality here even though it’s not obvious. But we have to be completely set up for both living and working.”

HS03

Living in Fond Memories of the 70’s

Living in Fond Memories of the 70’s

However long ago, it seems the charm of the 70’s still lingers on in contemporary design. And this condo is proof that the groovy style of yesteryear has pride of place in modern times.

/// Thailand ///

Story: Montra /// Rewrite: Phattaraphon /// Photography: Jirasak, Nantiya /// Style: Praphaiwadee /// Owner/Designer: Chanchalad Khanjanawong

LM05

LM08

Although born in the late 70s, Chanchalad Khanjanawong has a high regard for the hippies time that began a decade prior. The art instructor and owner of “Grey Ray,” a hip desktop items brand, said:

“From age 5 or 6 there was an uncle who visited Mom and Dad and hung out at our place all the time. An art student at the time, he came dressed like a hippie, long hair and all. Sometimes he would sit and paint. I visited his room, which was done up in the style of that time, and it really enchanted me.”

Chanchalad’s rooms altogether take up about 100 square meters. They are full of all sorts of items and collections held in fond memories of a happy childhood.

“Everything here has its origin in a song,” he explained. “I have a great memory for songs. My mom’s favorites – Nat King Cole, Frank Sinatra – are in my head, along with recollections of my uncle and his art student friends playing the guitar in our house. All these things combine to make me feel really at home.”

LM03

LM04

LM01

From memory, the experience of yesterday is reflected in the furniture, the decoration, and a few tchotchkes that he bought back in his school days. There’s a mix of old stuff and new. Wood, metal, leather and fabric cushion upholstery, and bamboo blinds blend together with that retro-vintage Scandinavian flavor. Some of the pieces came from his childhood home. They included a set of tea-colored glasses that his mother used to entertain houseguests, as well as old-fashioned Thermos flasks with beautiful graphics.

Chanchalad aims for the most efficient and aesthetically pleasing way of space utilization. The central area is both a place to hang out with friends and to relax alone listening to music. On the left is the bedroom; to the right a workroom. His favorite place, where he spends most of his time, is a restful corner of the main room, where the eye is drawn to the cassette deck, music players, and records from the Beatles, Jimi Hendrix, and many Thai artists.

LM02

LM07
Music before functionality: Nostalgia from his days in college speaks to wistful affection for the past.

Anyone can put sentimental longing for the past to good use. If you have memories that constantly have you under their spell, maybe you should pull them out and make them a part of your interior decor. They can turn a mundane home into an enchanting place in which to live.

“Waking up to the sound of ‘Welcome to My World’... it’s miraculous how memory comes rushing in,” said Chanchalat.
“Waking up to the sound of ‘Welcome to My World’… it’s miraculous how memory comes rushing in,” said Chanchalad.
Stunning Authentic Tropical Garden

Stunning Authentic Tropical Garden

For an escape from the chaos of the concrete jungle, nothing compares to this garden with an authentic tropical look. The salubrious backyard has got them all – the rainforest canopy, bird sounds, and the mellifluous music of rustling leaves and waterfalls.

/// Thailand ///
Story: Isara Sonsart /// Photos: Sitthisak Namkahm /// Garden Decorator: Suansuay Landscape Co., Ltd.

TP08

TP01

 

Even as he lives in the city, the owner of this house considers himself a nature lover. Without hesitation, he sets aside more than half of his property for forest gardening incorporating trees, shrubs, perennial vegetation and water features.

When he told the garden designer what he wanted, the designer not only set up a Tropical garden, but also made the house an inextricable part of the lush oasis. Beautiful black palms were planted to shade the house against the sun. Australian rose apples were put in along the perimeter wall to camouflage the house from the outside. And a backyard waterfall was built near a sundeck designed for family activities.

TP04

TP05

The heart of this little forest is a pavilion overlooking a really beautiful garden with a fishpond. Visitors can gaze in admiration at brightly colored carps swimming in it. One has to cross a small wood bridge to get there. Mimicking real forests of the Tropics, it’s a health giving place and a perfect sight to see.

“I feel relaxed physically and mentally every time I come into this garden,” said the owner. “After a hard day at work, I need this delightful ambience to make me feel rejuvenated and better prepared for the future.”

TP03

TP10

The Tropical garden setting has charmed small animals. The owner said that birds and squirrels always visited here, giving him the opportunity to study their behaviors closely, which didn’t occur often in the urban area.

A perfect retreat from city life, it’s where you can feel the breeze blowing in your hair and leaves rustling in the wind. The sounds of moving water make it feel like an escape to another world – one embraced by Mother Nature.

TP07

X