before + after - The Edge Markets

Transcription

ISSUE #74. AUGUST + SEPTEMBER 2015
before + after
ISSN 1675-6266
+ remodelling inspiration
+ paradigm shift through
interior design
+ a tale of two cultures
PP 13134/04/2013(031808)
ISSN 1675-6266
PP 13134/04/2013(031808)
design metamorphosis
contents
EDITORIAL
on the cover
PHOTOGRAPHY.
KENNY YAP
Entrepreneur Steven
Kuak designed his Ipoh
Bali Hotel as a serene
sanctuary of wood, soft
hues and unexpected
accents
Azam Aris
Surinder Jessy
Jacqueline Toyad
SENIOR WRITERS Anandhi Gopinath, Elaine Lau, Petrina Fernandez
WRITERS Hannah Merican, Shalini Yeap
EXECUTIVE EDITOR (PRODUCTION) Ooi Inn Leong
CHIEF COPY EDITOR Pushpam Sinnakaundan
ART DIRECTOR Sharon Khoh
SENIOR GRAPHIC DESIGNERS Joanne Soo, Louissa Lee
PRODUCTION MANAGER Thomas Chin
PRODUCTION TEAM Hong Kin Siang, Yong Onn, To Yen Suang,
Kelvin Lee, Chau Chee Fei
SENIOR MANAGING EDITOR
EXECUTIVE EDITOR
DEPUTY EDITOR
ADVERTISING & MARKETING
CHIEF MARKETING OFFICER
SENIOR SALES MANAGERS
SENIOR MANAGER, INTEGRATION
ACCOUNT MANAGERS
AD TRAFFIC MANAGER
AD TRAFFIC ASST MANAGER
regulars
features
16
Taming spaces
A beleaguered old condo
is transformed into a
lush family home
28
QUAINT FINDS
Sixteenth Avenue
10
DESIGNER PLATFORM
Chan Yung Khang
Industrial designer and founder of
homeware e-commerce site HOMM
HEAD
MANAGER
12
TALKING POINTS
Design news from around the
world
70
ACCENTS
Coffee on the side
Stylish ideas for sleek coffee tables
72
Stockist
Lim Shiew Yuin
Sue Ann Lee
Charis Tan
RESEARCH
MANAGER
- NEWS LIBRARY
Tan Wellyoung
BUSINESS DEVELOPMENT & READERSHIP SERVICES
MANAGER
Elizabeth Lay
CUSTOMER SUPPORT
Customer Service: (603) 7721 8033/8034
Fax: (603) 7721 8282 E-mail: [email protected]
CORPOR ATE
GROUP CEO AND PUBLISHER
MANAGING DIRECTOR
DEPUTY MANAGING DIRECTOR
Labour of love
Peranakan eatery Limablas
is a shrine to vintage
charm and shabby chic
CORPOR ATE COMMUNICATIONS
ASSISTANT MANAGER
A father-and-daughter setup
that offers a modern take
on timber furniture
Coffee inspiration
A former printing press
becomes a one-stop-shop
for all things java at Pulp
60
6
Old town, new destination
Ipoh Bali Hotel combines the
best of a charming town and
a popular tropical island
52
Editor’s note
Tapping the human mind
How Mindvalley’s inspiring
interiors communicate
with the subconscious
40
4
GENERAL MANAGER, DIGITAL MEDIA
E-mail: [email protected]
Sharon Teh (012) 313 9056
Geetha Perumal (016) 250 8640
Fong Lai Kuan (012) 386 2831
Peter Hoe (019) 2215351
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Ng Ching Yin (012) 232 8035
Shafina Syahrir (017) 281 4787
Shannon Leong (012) 677 5345
Sharon Lee (016) 330 1571
Lum Wai Fong (016) 218 5908
Lee Soo Sin (012) 710 6220
Luqman Ab Rahim (017) 629 0297
Chermaine Lim (017) 613 6392
Wendy Wong (016) 335 5611
Vigneswary Krishnan (03) 7721 8005
Roger Lee (603) 7721 8004
Kingston Low (012) 278 5540
Ho Kay Tat
Au Foong Yee
Lim Shiew Yuin
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2
haven [august + september 2015]
editor’s note
D
esigning is all about pushing back the
boundaries, be it in the world of fashion,
art or architecture. It is only when one
goes against the grain that brilliant and outstanding work
is created. And this is especially evident in the world of
architecture.
The role architecture plays in our lives is often overlooked — from the homes we live in, offices we work at,
the malls we shop in, the coffee haunts and restaurants
we frequent to the resorts we holiday in and the iconic and
historical buildings we marvel at, architecture surrounds
our daily life. Even the many kopitiam along the old streets
of our cities like Ipoh, George Town, Melaka and KL are
brilliant works of architecture.
In Malaysia today, we are seeing an interesting movement in our built environment, where existing forms and
structures are being transformed into interesting concepts.
It’s not just about remodelling or restoring an old building
or house, but converting it into creative spaces, be it offices,
cafés, boutiques hotels and even homes. Look around you,
and you’re bound to come across a space that’s been cleverly
designed and stands out from the rest.
We at haven have decided to call this movement a design
metamorphosis — a complete change of form and structure or a magical transformation by creative minds. And
in this issue, we feature five environments that have been
completely transformed into brilliant spaces that showcase
clever ideas and chic designs — a home in Ampang, a java
joint in Bangsar, a boutique hotel in Ipoh, a restaurant in
downtown KL and an office in Bangsar.
The Goh mansion in Ukay Heights, KL, is a labour of
love. The family collectively turned a dark and beleaguered
five-unit condo into a family home for the ages. From the
entrepreneur father to the artist mum and ad-man son,
each had a hand in transforming this almost dilapidated
block to what it is today — a modern structure with grand
designs and chic comforts.
Walk into the Mindvalley office in Menara UOA and
you’ll see how a stretch of imagination has produced one
of the region’s most inspiring workspaces. Vishan Lakhiani,
the founder and CEO of the 21st century enterprise that
focuses on self-empowerment, engaged PDI Design + Associates with a simple brief — he wanted this office to reflect
a democratic workspace. Turn to Pages 29 to 39 to see how
these design mavericks transformed a regular office floor
to an inspiring and out-of-the box workplace.
4
Ipoh, the former tin-mining town of Malaysia, is known
for its delicious street food and pre-war architecture. In
fact, there’s a constant “battle” among Ipohites and Penangites as to whose street fare is better. But no one would
quite associate Ipoh with a tropical island-inspired boutique hotel. Well, the city’s own entrepreneur Steven Kuak
has done just that — built a cosy hotel on a plot of land that
formerly housed a bungalow in Jalan Tambun.
Called Ipoh Bali Hotel, Kuak himself is responsible for
the structural design and interior aesthetic. It’s a place that
has happily married local elements, specifically from Perak,
with those of Balinese architecture and design.
The last two spaces we feature in this issue are Pulp
and Limablas — the former an innovative coffee company
created in what used to be a printing warehouse and the
latter a Nyonya-inspired restaurant in a pre-war house
in the heart of the city. The façade of the warehouse that
houses Pulp has been given a makeover and the inside is
all about modern design elements with heavy-duty coffee
paraphernalia featuring prominently. Limablas, on the
other hand, is a shrine to vintage charm and shabby chic.
This issue is a slight departure from our usual in that,we
feature a combination of built-up spaces instead of just concentrating on homes. Why the departure? Well, there are just
so many interesting places to feature and we thought, why
just stop at homes? So that is why the team and I decided
that this issue will take on more than just homes.
I do hope you enjoy the spaces featured within these
pages and that you are inspired to make a difference in
your built environment, be it an office, home or a creative
enterprise of sorts.
Cheers
quaint finds
[
TEXT. SHALINI YEAP
PHOTOGRAPHY. SUHAIMI YUSUF
]
CONCEPT
Sixteenth
Avenue
7 Jalan Dato’ Abu Bakar 16/1
46350 Petaling Jaya, Selangor
Email: [email protected]
Website: www.sixteenthavenue.com.my
A father-and-daughter team manages Sixteenth Avenue,
a store dedicated to furniture made from solid wood.
“We offer a modern take on solid wood and timber
furniture, incorporating metal and glass for a more
contemporary feel,” says founder Laura Yong.
“My daughter handles business at the store while
I manage the operations at our factory in Tropicana,”
Steven Yong says, after a short banter about who is the
boss. They conclude that both of them are, with Steven
as the manager and Laura the founder.
The Yongs opened the store in May last year as more
and more customers were visiting the factory, which was
not suitable for the viewing of products.
Although Sixteenth Avenue specialises in wooden
furniture, one can also purchase custom-made leather
or fabric-covered sofas. According to Laura, this segment was created in response to high demand from
their customers.
AMBIENCE
Sixteenth Avenue is located in a three-storey building
along Jalan Dato’ Abu Bakar. There are some parking
bays outside. Walking into the store, one immediately
notices that the warmth exuded by the wooden masterpieces contrasts starkly with the coolness of the grey
cement walls and floors. The décor is minimalist, broken
by some metal decorative wall pieces that are for sale.
Apart from the natural light coming in through the windows, the showrooms are lit by a few small spotlights
hanging from the ceiling.
At the back of the store, an array of wood slabs are
lined up against the walls, ready for customers to select
from for their custom-made furniture.
PRODUCTS
Made from an assortment of solid wood from Indonesia
such as kayu jati (teak wood), angsana, cengal, raintree,
tamarind, acacia, merbau and balau, Sixteenth Avenue’s
furniture include dining tables, console tables, bar tables, side tables, coffee tables, dining chairs, bar stools
and bed frames. It also offers accessories such as floor
candle holders, umbrella holders and table lamps.
All the pieces are designed in-house and crafted at
the factory. Customers can choose a water-based or an
oil-based finish. The former results in a more natural
look with a distinct grain and texture while the latter
provides a more finished look and smoother texture.
“We do have customers who have a specific design in
mind or interior designers who are looking for furniture
for a particular layout,” Laura explains.
6
7
quaint finds
3
1
2
1 Bar stools (from far left): Aria (RM680);
Maya (RM690); Piper (RM720)
2 Trinity candle holder set (RM899)
3 Alexis dining table (RM4,800);
Nolan lounge chairs (RM799 each)
4 Pablo stool (RM1,280)
5 Ana coffee/side table (RM1,250 each)
6 Sofia dining table (RM8,900);
Wishbone chairs (RM480 each)
7 Ashley console table (RM3,800)
6
4
5
Should a customer fall in love with a 12-seater dining table but finds it to be too big for his home, he can
always resort to the customisation service to get the
same design in a smaller size. “The time taken to complete each piece depends on availability of the wood.
The entire customisation process usually takes about
two weeks if the solid wood is readily available. If the
slabs have to be imported, the process would be longer,”
says Steven.
The Yongs understand that customers may be eager
to have their ready-made furniture delivered immediately but, to ensure optimum quality, it has to be sent
back to the factory for finishing touches.
Servicing is provided at no cost for a year thereafter.
Steven points out that his pieces have been treated and
recommends that they be kept indoors or in a shaded
area to maintain their quality.
7
8
designer platform
[
TEXT. ELAINE LAU
]
Trojan rocking stool
Pen holder
Chan
Yung Khang
Wooden
Facet
Holder
Pen stand paper weight
INDUSTRIAL DESIGNER
AND FOUNDER OF HOMM
Loaf wooden lounge sofa
WHO: Johor Baru-born Chan Yung Khang has always
loved to draw and he recalls indulging in this activity at
every opportunity, or as he puts it, “whenever I got a
pencil”. Eventually, he found that his interest extended to making actual objects from what he drew, from
fashion accessories to cartoon models. This was the beginnings of his love of three-dimensional design. After
secondary school, he enrolled at the Malaysian Institute
of Art to study industrial design. He then furthered
his studies at Birmingham City University in the UK,
majoring in product design. It was during this time that
he developed a passion for creating beautiful items to
enhance the home.
WHAT: Chan founded e-commerce site HOMM in September 2013 to sell his own creations as well as items
designed and made by young artists and established
master craftsmen. HOMM focuses primarily on minimalist and contemporary products, most of which are
handmade. Good quality and workmanship are the hallmarks of the company, hence the products, which celebrate the beauty of raw, natural materials such as wood,
bamboo and rattan, are not painted or overly varnished.
“The textures, colour, surface finish and even odour of
natural materials are irreplaceable,” Chan enthuses.
His creations include a sofa built with a lounger and a
charming rocking stool that is an interesting twist on a
10
bar stool. He says inspiration can hit anytime, anywhere,
including from observing things happening around him
and from surfing the Net. To him, good design must
pass the test of time and not go out of style. Good design must also be harmonious and awake one’s senses.
He wants his products to bring a sense of happiness to
the customers.
With HOMM, Chan wants to enable Malaysians to
buy well-designed products at reasonable prices. He
aims to have an international consumer base as well.
“There is an incredible amount of beautifully crafted yet
relatively inexpensive [products] being produced in Malaysia today. Much of that is unavailable outside of the
country and it is my goal to introduce them [overseas]
and promote Malaysian craftsmanship and cultures.”
WHERE: Shop for HOMM’s collection of homeware
and furniture at hommdesignshop.wix.com/homm and
designation.co. For more information about Chan and his
designs, visit yungkhang-90.wix.com/industrialdesign.
12edges wall clock
11
talking points
[
TEXT. HANNAH MERICAN
]
DESIGN NEWS FROM AROUND THE WORLD
MILAN TALKS 2015
The recent Milan Talks 2015 held at the Space Furniture Asia Hub in Singapore introduced
guests to products that were unveiled at the Salone Internazionale del Mobile (Milan Furniture Fair) held in April. Milan Talks also featured discussions on trends seen at the fair and
product releases from leading brands such as Carl Hansen & Søn, Kartell and B&B Italia
that were shown at the Milan event.
CARL HANSEN & SØN
From Carl Hansen & Søn were the
CH88 chair and CH417 tray table by
Hans J Wegner, and the OW149 Colonial sofa and OW449 side table by
Ole Wanscher.
The products were displayed in
industrial-style, complete with packing material to highlight the fact that
they had come straight from Milan.
The CH88 chairs, for example, were
unwrapped and displayed on pallets.
The chair, which was designed in
1955 and remained a prototype until
last year, has received an update with
a new range of colours. Wegner experiments with coloured frames, using his signature colour palette. The
chair comes in two visual schemes —
one is red brown, orange red and petrol green while the other is anthracite
grey, night black, smoked chrome
and natural white.
KARTELL
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Kartell paid tribute to the late Ettore Sottsass at this year’s
fair. The late Italian architect is well-known for founding the
early 1980s Memphis collective and designing iconic products such as glass and ceramics. Named after a Bob Dylan
song, the collective is known for infusing bright colours and
kitsch retro motifs.
Kartell’s Ettore Sottsass collection consists of two stools,
six vases and a lamp. The sculptural pieces were designed by
Sottsass three years before his death in 2007 but they were
not mass-produced due to the lack of technology back then.
The unique style of the Memphis collective has been enjoying a revival recently with bold graphics and loud patterns
being a major theme at this and last year’s Milan Fair. Kartell’s
range of chairs from designers such as Philippe Starck and
Patricia Urquiola also got the special Memphis treatment with
upholstered fabric from designers of the Memphis collective.
With bright shades and zany patterns, the tribute to the Memphis group takes up all the 10 shopfront windows at Kartell’s
flagship store.
At Space Furniture, Kartell unveiled the ultra-lightweight
Piuma armchair by Piero Lissoni. The seat, made of charged
polyamide fibre, is just a few millimetres thick and the whole
chair weighs approximately 2kg.
B&B ITALIA
www.kartell.com
www.bebitalia.com
www.carlhansen.com
The reigning brand for cutting-edge Italian style, B&B Italia has expanded its
range of popular Papilio and Husk chairs. Both chair designs now come in more
compact variations and with new frames.
The Papilio, designed by Naoto Fukusawa, has added subtle details. The
curved shell is designed to enhance comfort and versatility, making it suitable
for both the home and office. The chair can be upholstered in a wide range of
fabrics and leathers.
The updated Husk chair by Patricia Urquoila is available with a base in oak
wood or a four-star base in aluminium. The armchair comprises a moulded plastic shell and soft cushions, and is unique in that it has a distinct shape while still
appearing soft and rounded.
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talking points
DESIGNER OF THE YEAR
The 20th anniversary of the Maison&Objet Paris will celebrate
the best-known names in interior design. At the September
event, industrial designer Dorothée Meilichzon will receive
the Designer of the Year award. Meilichzon trained at Strate
College and the Rhode Island School of Design, where she
studied toy design. At just 27, she set up her own design
studio and landed her first project to create the interior of the
Prescription Cocktail Club in Paris.
Meilichzon has since designed interiors for a variety of places in Paris, London, New York and Ibiza. She likes places with
personality and favours a clean aesthetic over highly specialist
décor. Her latest project was at the Grand Pigalle Hotel in Paris,
which opened in March. Her other jobs included the Le Joyeux
Meilichzon takes her inspiration from big names including
Dorothy Draper, Fornasetti, David Hicks, Gio Ponti and Madeleine Castaing.
Bordel, a cocktail bar located in Shoreditch, London, that opened
in late April, and the four-star Bachaumont Hotel in Paris.
www.maison-objet.com/en/paris
DESIGNER RESIDENCES
X-RAY
The MB&F M.A.D.Gallery in Geneva presents the special
exhibition, X-RAY, featuring the work of British visual artist
Nick Veasey. He creates images of everyday objects using
X-ray at his workshop called the Radar Studio, a converted
Cold War spying station that he bought from the military. Its
location in the middle of a field in the Kent countryside is
suitable because of the potentially lethal levels and emission
times of X-rays. His X-ray equipment is much more powerful
than those used in hospitals, going up to 200kV and emitting
an X-ray for far longer — sometimes as long as 20 minutes.
Veasey uses very slow film to produce a clear capture without
graininess. He views his work as a fusion of art and science.
M.A.D.Gallery will feature eight of his images, featuring everyday objects such as film cameras, light bulbs and
typewriters.
www.mbandf.com/mad-gallery/
14
New York City-based interior design firm ASH NYC has
teamed up with real estate and development firm HFZ Capital Group to design a series of model residences at the newly
launched Fifty Third and Eighth, a 25-storey condominium
building in Hell’s Kitchen. The model residence is an inventive
approach to home design as it is tailored to suit a particular
personality or lifestyle.
The residences come in three styles. The one-bedroom
residence is aimed at the urban young woman, offering fresh
white and neutral furniture complemented by unique design
accents and art. The city bachelor would love the two-bedroom residence as it blends European and American styles
and comes with architectural accents. The Hamptons-inspired three-bedroom home is perfect for a sophisticated
family, as it has a nursery decked out with toys and a child’s
room that has a chalk wall.
Situated on West 53rd Street, Fifty Third and Eighth is
close to entertainment and cultural attractions as well as
high-end department stores. The residences have panoramic
views of the Hudson River and the famous Manhattan skyline.
Price starts at US$975,000.
www.53rdand8th.com
TEXT. JACQUELINE TOYAD
PHOTOGRAPHY. MOHD IZWAN MOHD NAZAM
TAMING
SPACES
HOW A FAMILY TURNED A DARK AND BELEAGUERED FIVE-UNIT CONDO
INTO A FAMILY HOME FOR THE AGES
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The main entrance is made even more striking
with twin stone sculptures of Chinese dogs, framed
by two pillars — one grey and one red, because the
lady of the house, Ming, loves colour and contrast
Above The home opens with a grand
living room which boasts a two-storey high
ceiling and an indoor swimming pool. The
arrangement of furniture helps to divide
spaces into intimate conversation areas. The
result: When seated, you feel cosy; glance up
and your jaw drops.
Left Then and now — since taking over the
five-unit condominium in the late 1990s, the
property has been renovated, reconfigured,
adjusted and tweaked many times over to
achieve the Goh family mansion
18
ENTREPRENEUR TONY GOH has always been enamoured of the Ukay Heights neighbourhood in Ampang. One of KL’s older suburbs, it is renowned for
its plus-size bungalows and lush green surroundings.
So, it is small wonder that Goh and his family fell in
love with it.
It was in the late 1990s that Tony discovered the
property that would eventually become his home. Living
at the foot of Ukay Heights, he was keen on moving up
in the neighbourhood, literally, to a house higher up in
the hills. There was a mansion for sale but the price was
non-negotiable. It was then that Tony set his sights on
a dilapidated private five-unit condominium.
It offered nothing aesthetically. The whitewash of
the building had developed a gross, mouldy patina and
structurally, it was blockish and unimaginative. At the
centre was the tower housing the stairway with two
“portholes”; the units covered three floors and were
arranged on either side of the tower.
“I knew the people who owned this place and I knew
it wasn’t occupied. It was pretty rundown and needed a
lot of work, but I thought, wow,” Tony says. “Even the
owners advised me, ‘Don’t do it’. I had to convince them
to sell it to me.”
No 88 — as the family refers to it — has certainly come a long way from the day the Gohs moved in
19
more than a decade ago. From the first phase of
renovation completed in 2003 to the more recent
refurbishment done last year, this house has been
transformed, reconfigured, adjusted and tweaked
many times over the years to become the Gohs’
dream home.
What will strike you just from its façade is its
vastness. The phrase “living large” certainly feels like
an understatement, but once inside, you will find
that the layout has been altered such as to allow for
cosy nooks and creative spaces.
“One of the things we didn’t realise when dad first
started working on it was the scale of it — the house
is big. In the initial renovations, we opened up a lot
of the walls and gave all the rooms very open layouts,
which in hindsight didn’t work because it was just
too big. It was impractical and not a good use of
space. As we lived in it, we started moving things
around a little more, made some readjustments,”
says Kym, Tony’s youngest son who took the lead in
the house’s recent renovations, completed last year.
“One of dad’s passions is taking property, renovating
it and reselling it. He started inviting me to sit in on
Formerly the parking lot, the
grand living room is the main
entertainment area complete
with a service kitchen and
bar for when entertaining
guests. It is decorated with
quirky collectibles, such as an
old Vietnamese rice mill and
vintage weighing scale from
Australia, and large abstract
artworks by the lady of the
house. The space features a
spiral staircase and catwalk that
help to conquer the scale and
height of the space and ceiling.
It leads to the dining area and
kitchen on the first floor.
meetings with the architects and soon I got involved,
and we’ve designed some really cool houses. Then one
day, Dad asked me to focus on No 88 — how could we
bring it forward and modernise it? How do we make it
practical and relevant to the way we live, how we live?”
It turned out to be an exercise in taming spaces.
Kym got creative with compartmentalisation, turning
the bedrooms into studio-like hotel rooms with lounge
areas, stylish wardrobes and beautiful yet concealed
20
utilities. The move was smart — when a room gets too
big, it loses its connection with its inhabitants.
“The rooms make a lot more sense now and flow better with the rest of the house,” Kym says happily.
With a mix of furniture and the addition of new walls
and cabinet features, the home’s latest refurbishment
has conquered scale. It also includes playing with furniture and colourful art and décor to inject a little cosiness
and intimacy into various areas of the home. Interior
21
decorating is the domain of Kym’s mother Ming, a retired graphic designer and a gifted artist. Her touch is
seen in the mix of furniture and quirky collectibles from
the family’s travels; remarkably, she has been able to
bring it all together in the home’s rather modern setting.
The main entrance is marked by large twin Chinese dog
stone sculptures with the pathway leading to it flanked by
a serene pool of water on each side. Ming found the statues — complete with a loose rolling marble in each mouth
— somewhere “by the side of the road in Jalan Ipoh”. She’s
come in for a lot of flak from family and friends — “You
think your house is a bank is it?” — but she loves them
nonetheless and is rather proud of her find.
The home opens with a grand living room. This
space was formerly the garage but now gorgeously
transformed. It is the main entertainment area and the
family apparently entertains a lot. It is divided into a
few areas, the largest being at the centre of the hall with
On the second floor are Kym’s bedroom, Tony’s den, Ming’s studio and the maids’ private quarters. There is a
spacious landing that connects these rooms, with a faux courtyard on one side and an intimate family living room.
The latter is anchored by a modern wicker settee, complemented with a mahjong table that’s been in the family for
over 150 years and an ornate wooden chair with mother-of-pearl inlays. Paintings by Australian and Asian artists
add pops of colour to the white walls.
22
a long Chinese day bed and a series of sofas in muted
grey upholstery and a leather love seat. At one end is a
round dining table in wood and another one in stone by
the indoor swimming pool. A more relaxed seating area
is set closer to the sliding door, which opens up to the
newly constructed wooden deck. It replaces a pebbled
garden that Kym thought would better serve as a deck
for barbecues. A service kitchen (for reheating food) and
bar separates the grand living room from the powder
rooms (including shower stall) and squash court, a feature inherited from its former manifestation.
In one corner of the sitting room, a metal staircase
spirals up to a catwalk leading to the dining hall and
kitchen. The catwalk adds a little dimension to the space,
by breaking up the distance between the ground floor
and the ceiling, which is roughly two storeys high.
Walk past the kitchen to the end of the corridor and
you’ll reach the home gym, with wooden flooring and a
In the most recent renovations,
Kym (below, left) took the lead
in reconfiguring the spaces. He
took the opportunity to turn his
bedroom into a man cave of sorts,
based on a stone grey palette, and
layout that is inspired by modern
boutique hotels. The view from
his Japanese bed are the treetops
from the garden below.
23
Tony’s den comprises his home office, a
conference-cum-dining table and living room. A
mix of art and ancestral portraits deck the walls,
warmed with earthy rugs. On the balcony is a
gorgeous wooden swing set from India.
shower room. The space doubles as a viewing balcony overlooking the squash court below.
On the next floor are Kym’s bedroom, Tony’s
den, Ming’s studio and the maids’ private quarters.
From the stairs, this floor opens with a landing,
which extends into a faux courtyard where the
scenic windows are lined with young bamboo and
a very cosy private living room. Faux because rather
than an open courtyard, the space — carpeted with
AstroTurf — is covered with a sunroof and the windows are permanently open but covered with mesh
screens to repel mosquitoes, a feature that occurs
throughout most of the house.
Says Tony, “I like letting the breeze into the
house. We have designed the house such that it will
enjoy cross-ventilation. However, I’ve fallen victim
to dengue twice already, so no more.”
Kym wanted a bedroom that was reminiscent of
a stylish hotel suite, separating his lounge space —
TV, games console and sofa — from his bedroom.
The view he gets from his balcony is the same as
that from his Japanese bed — verdant treetops
from the garden below. There have been times when
he awoke to see monkeys swinging about, a novelty
that hasn’t lost its appeal over the years.
Ming’s studio has
a softer and more
feminine feel, and
really expresses her
love for colour. It
also features a spare
bedroom with en
suite bathroom, done
up resort style with
dark wood flooring
and furniture.
24
25
Tony’s den has its own living room and dining/conference table with beautiful ancestral portraits interspersed
with bold art on the walls. It certainly feels like a workspace with a touch of classicism. Ming’s studio is bright
and cosy and a little more feminine. Her “apartment”
doubles as a guest bedroom with Balinese influences,
including a wicker chaise lounge and intricately carved
headboard, enriched by a gorgeous view of the jungle.
On the topmost floor are two guestrooms and the
master bedroom. The latter enjoys the best view of the
house and the bed takes centre stage in what looks like
a glass box. There are automatic screens that can be
lowered for privacy or to block out the sun if Tony and
Ming want to sleep in, but on any given day, they have a
magnificent view of the KL city skyline. Kym incorporated a hidden wardrobe that doubles as a wall between the
26
bed and the bathroom and stretches across the width of
the room. The initial idea was for his mother to fill this
wall space with a series of small paintings. The master
bedroom is also equipped with an outdoor bath and
shower, which is accessible via the balcony door by the
bed or from the main bathroom.
The guest bedrooms also feature studio apartment-style layouts, each with its own mini-sitting room,
balcony and en-suite bathroom. The one favoured by
most guests faces a jungle ravine.
No 88 certainly has plenty of character, enhanced
by the hotchpotch of furniture collected over the years.
From a classic ornately carved swing-set from India that
sits on the balcony of Tony’s den and the old wedding
basket Ming scored in China to the collection of modern
works by both established and emerging artists from Sri
Lanka, Vietnam and Cambodia, both father and son are
grateful to Mum, “blessed with a good eye” for aesthetic,
for putting it all together.
From the exterior, the sheer size of No 88 can make
your jaw drop but inside, you get that sense of cosiness
— that a family lives there. Says Kym, “I grew up in this
area and I’ve spent almost 20 years in this house. It holds
a lot of sentimental value. In between, we’ve moved and
lived in other places but we’ve always come back to it.
Now, it’s evolved to the point where it’s become a part of
our family, almost. For lack of a better phrase, this house
and its evolution has been a labour of love.”
The master bedroom has the best view of
all — the KL city skyline. The Japanese bed
is raised on a platform and wrapped in a
glass box, like a jewel. Automatic screens
can be lowered for privacy. The bathroom
door is flushed with the black wardrobe that
runs the length of the room. The master
also features an outdoor shower that is also
accessible from the courtyard by the bed.
27
Tapping the
human mind
HOW A STRETCH OF THE IMAGINATION HAS PRODUCED
ONE OF THE REGION’S MOST INSPIRING WORKSPACES
TEXT. JACQUELINE TOYAD
28
PHOTOGRAPHY. HARIS HASSAN AND COURTESY OF PDI DESIGN + ASSOCIATES
29
“Vishen started his company at a time when Malaysia
was suffering from brain drain, and Vishen wanted to
create a company that could reverse this process. He
wanted to attract people from overseas here. And when
he came to PDI, he said, ‘Hey, I’ve got this problem; now
you have the free hand to solve it’.
“PDI is unique in that we use Neuro-Linguistic Programming (NLP) in our interior design, and it was
through the Mindvalley project that we really delved into
interior spaces that communicate with the subconscious.
It involves the study of body language, how the mind
works, the subconscious, and how to connect with generations X, Y and Z. There are colours and shapes, which
are basic ID, but we also look at how to encourage people
to use the space, how to make them walk a certain pathway, and how to create spaces where people can come
together or ‘accidentally’ meet so they can talk, share
and exchange ideas.”
The experiment, led by PDI managing partner Tan
Sucheng, was completed in 2010. Beautiful, modern and
timeless, it boasts open communal spaces, organic lay-
Below The office’s various seating options include this
cosy window-side banquette upholstered in Astro Turf
Mindvalley’s logo — a pair of stylised wings — is seen at the entrance and incorporated into the lighting fixtures above the
cluster of workstations on Level 29
WITHIN MENARA UOA Bangsar sits one of the most
fascinating office spaces in Malaysia — that of Mindvalley, an incubator and developer of businesses that innovate on self-improvement. It is essentially a 21st-century
enterprise, offering services such as digital publishing
and the development of education technology, mobile
apps, content and events, to further enhance companies
that deal with self-help and motivation.
Founder and CEO Vishen Lakhiani established the
company in 2005, working out of a house with a team
of seven. Today, the company is 200-strong, comprising
more than 35 nationalities, whom its leader describes as
innovators, artists, technologists and dreamers. Vishen
is seen as a pioneer who uses talent branding and “consciousness engineering” to groom and attract talent, and
has invested money and time to create a workplace that
reflects these philosophies and inspires its inhabitants.
On its website, the company is described as a provider of “self-improvement for the mobile generation”. The
mission statement: “We believe that extraordinary is an
aspiration instilled within each and every one of us. We
30
just need to be encouraged to unleash that potential, so
we can eliminate limiting beliefs that are hindering us
from pursuing our dreams and adopt a powerful mindset that unlocks a life that we are truly capable of living.”
This goal takes its cue from a philosophy by scientist
and futurist, Buckminster Fuller, who said, “You never
change things by fighting the existing reality. To change
something, build a new model that makes the existing
model obsolete.”
As the company grew, Vishen decided it was time to
invest in a proper headquarters. The company had been
recognised as WorldBlu’s Most Democratic Workplaces
from 2008 onwards and needed the space that reflected
that. Having found 6,000 sq ft at Menara UOA Bangsar, he
engaged PDI Design + Associates to help realise his vision.
PDI designer Ian Lee says, “Vishen wanted the space
to reflect the company’s values and beliefs, and its diversity. One of its core values is: Happiness is the new
productivity. You can see bright colours, as well as superhero references, all incorporated into the spaces to
encourage that.
31
Top There’s a tree house up the ladder for a cosy gathering of
the minds; beneath it are four cubicles with sound-dampening
walls, for groups of up to four to convene or for individuals
looking for a more private space to work. Otherwise, have a
picnic pow-wow on the ‘grass’.
Right Work spaces include soundproofed cubby holes with high
tables for those who prefer to work on their feet
outs and textures interspersed with sci-fi shapes and bright,
solid colours. An almost life-size figurine of Wonder Woman,
the unofficial Mindvalley mascot, stands tall in the reception
area. Superheroes are a symbol of empowerment, where
people step up to do great, extraordinary things, and you’ll
find plenty of references to them throughout Mindvalley’s
various spaces, be it in the murals on the walls or random
words of inspiration. Wonder Woman is the most celebrated
because a majority of the staff is female — the company is
powered by females, in fact.
In 2013, Vishen came calling at PDI again, as Mindvalley
was expanding. This time, Lee took the lead in design, with
Vishen’s blessings to take it up a notch. The result was Level
29, also known as the Hall of Awesomeness. At first sight,
it is obvious that this is quite a quantum leap from the first
phase.
32
Above The Hall of
Awesomeness was
inspired by the idea of a
town hall atmosphere, a
public space for speakers,
meet-ups, even movie
nights and trainings. It
seats up to 150 people,
with colourful beanbags
across the hall, and tiered
seating on one end.
Left Empowerment is
Mindvalley’s game, and
one will observe various
superhero references at
every corner, including the
Hall of Awesomeness café
which features murals of
Superman and Iron Man
by illustrator Liam Brazier
33
Right The layout of this meeting room was inspired
by Star Wars’ Jedi Council, with patchwork padding
for better acoustics that doubles as a pinboard. It
features a wall finished in whiteboard paint so notes
can be scribbled when needed to.
The Nautilus Chamber is a dedicated
space for the tech team, featuring a
most dramatic aesthetic — the sci-fi
subgenre steampunk that incorporates
technology and aesthetics from 19thcentury industrial steam-powered
machinery
Below A hidden pathway beneath the tiered
seating within the Hall of Awesomeness provides
an alternative exit as well as a cosy nook in which
smaller groups can meet. Mindvalley employees use
it as a memory wall, pinning up photos as well as
newsclippings of the company’s achievements here.
The idea was to build on a town hall kind of atmosphere, with a lot of collaborative spaces. When this space
was launched, so was Mindvalley’s new, updated logo
— a pair of wings, a symbol of empowerment. Set up
against the wall at the entrance, where there is a waiting
area with five white cubist stools, the wings are placed in
a way so visitors can take fun pictures in which they look
like they have wings.
Turn right, and you’re greeted by a set of honeycomb
shelves — busy as a bee, the unity of a hive, it’s really up
to your interpretation. On the shelves are various comic
superhero figurines and paraphernalia. A gorgeous work
34
of art of Muhammad Ali, signed by the artist and the
subject from the CEO’s personal collection, takes pride
of place on the wall opposite the shelves. Moving along,
there’s a small pantry with a French theme (complete
with a black-and-white tiled floor) to the right and a
window-side banquette upholstered with Astro Turf.
Around the corner, you’ll find the workspace — a
cluster of work desks to the right, an open area with a big
white tree and Astro Turf on the floor, where people can
sit on the “grass” if they wanted. There’s a tree house up
a ladder for a cosy gathering of the minds; beneath it are
four cubicles with sound-dampening walls, for groups of
up to four to convene or for individuals looking for a more
private space to work. Some offer seating, some offer high
tables for those who prefer to work on their feet. Opposite
these is the Jedi room, where the seating is inspired by the
Jedi Council in Star Wars.
At the heart is the Hall of Awesomeness, an auditorium
with a capacity for 150 guests with a speaker stage, customisable seating with beanbags, a built-in sound system, a
backstage room and a kitchen space for catering. Every week,
a variety of events and meet-ups are held because, Vishen
believes, “When smart people come together, they multiply
each other’s potential.”
35
The steampunk palette
is brown leather, bronze,
copper and steel pipe
The devil’s in the
details — even the
hidden corners
like this small
conference space
hold references to
steampunk, including
a mannequin dressed
in theme
The designer wanted to achieve a movie set-like effect complete with
props, some of which were shopped for by the CEO and founder himself
36
Free form would be the best way to describe the layout of Level 29. The design enables the employees to sit
and work however, wherever and whenever they want.
Says Lee, “To me, it’s a space where even if you’re
shy, you can still get around it. But to make full use of
the space, one has to completely let go of one’s ego and
inhibitions. It’s a very social space. Even if you’re an introvert, it could encourage you to come out of your shell
a little bit too.”
Six months ago, the third phase of Mindvalley’s spatial
expansion was completed. This project, although smaller
than the first two phases, is a little bit more dramatic in
its look and feel. When meeting with Vishen, PDI designers always ask, “What’s the big plan this time?”
The new space was for the IT and tech team, 25 people in all. Vishen’s request this time was more of a theme
than a concept — steampunk, the sci-fi subculture that
incorporates technology and aesthetics from 19th-century industrial steam-powered machinery. Think of
Jules Verne’s epic tales and Alan Moore’s League of Extraordinary Gentlemen. Originally nicknamed Nautilus
Chamber, the tech department is visually stunning.
Walk through its main doors on the 35th floor of Menara UOA Bangsar and you’re transported to another
place and time, it is almost like a movie set. Lee says he
took quite a lot of cues from the video game BioShock
Infinite. The steampunk palette is brown leather, bronze,
copper and steel pipe. The counter in the pantry is
made with concrete bricks and matched with wooden
cabinets with steel trimmings finished in a rose gold
tint. The feature wall that separates the workstations
from a small conference room is a magnificent piece
of metalwork, custom-made based on a sketch by Lee.
It is a skeletal outline of a pirate ship, a sea monster, a
37
submarine — basically, images that look like they had
come straight out of a Jules Verne novel. Perpendicular
to this is another centrepiece — a world map that doubles as a whiteboard.
Lamps were specially ordered from Machine Age
Lamps, a company that specialises in turning scrap into
sculptural lighting. On a trip to Europe, Vishen found
time to shop for steampunk paraphernalia, including
leather goggles that now serve as props in a meeting
room. A mannequin dressed in theme stands in the
conference space as part of the décor.
“As a client, Vishen is extremely dedicated, and we
look forward to working with him every time,” says Lee.
“Every time I come back to Mindvalley, I see how the
space has evolved, in terms of how the staff use and decorate it. It is a diverse work environment, and with so
many cultures here, you have a multitude of expressions
that imprint themselves on the blank canvas we’ve provided. It’s great to see how they interact with the space,
and the change has been really organic. Mindvalley’s
spaces enable the people actually using them to dictate
how they want to use them.”
Mindvalley remains a WorldBlu-certified Most Democratic Workplaces, one of Inc. magazine’s World’s Coolest
Offices, and is endorsed by the US-based Great Place To
Work Institute.
Lee
Top In the Nautilus
Chamber, even the
Mindvalley winged logo is
reworked in steampunk.
Here and there are beautiful
custom-made lamps
sculpted from scrap.
Left At the pantry a bar is
built with concrete bricks
matched with metal stools
treated with a rusted patina.
Keeping to the palette, the
cabinets are finished in a
rich leather brown, with
steel trims tinted with a red
gold hue.
38
39
OLD
TOWN,
NEW
DESTINATIO
ON
MARRYING THE BEST
ELEMENTS OF THE
FORMER TIN-MINING
TOWN AND A POPULAR
TROPICAL ISLAND,
IPOH BALI HOTEL IS A
WONDERFUL SPACE
THAT SPEAKS OF
RELAXED ELEGANCE
TEXT. PETRINA FERNANDEZ
PHOTOGRAPHY. KENNY YAP
40
41
Above Black volcanic stone walls give Ipoh Bali Hotel an alluring facade, especially in a neighbourhood of white-washed
properties. Red accents glow under the sun’s glare, with wood and foliage tempering the overall effect.
Left The massive timber pillars salvaged from the Lumut jetty give hint at the ode to reclaimed wood within
Below Owner Kuak had business travellers in mind when designing this upmarket boutique stay
ONCE MERELY A pit stop on the way to Penang,
Ipoh has evolved into a destination in its own right.
Malaysians descend upon the capital city of Perak in
search of the best silky tau foo fa (tofu pudding), kai
see hor fan (kuey teow soup with chicken) and heong
peng (fragrant pastry), to name but a few, as well as
a soak in the mineral-rich waters of its famous hot
springs. The relatively smooth traffic is a welcome
change from the bumper-to-bumper chaos of Kuala
Lumpur during peak hours.
However, for Steven Kuak, Ipoh is a market to
expand into. The entrepreneur first ventured into
the hospitality business a couple of years ago with
De Botani Hotel, a two-star, 44-room budget lodging
in Bandar Siber. Its steady success encouraged him
to open another hotel, an upmarket boutique hotel
chiefly targeted at those traveling on business.
“Ipoh has a strong semi-conductor industry,
which brings in a lot of visiting businessmen,” says
Kuak, noting that direct flights from Singapore have
been recently introduced. “It was these clients that I
had in mind when designing Ipoh Bali Hotel.”
Banish the idea of a cold, impersonal business
hotel. Its very name alludes to the influences behind
42
43
Wood, a neutral palette and ample natural light infuse an
almost tropical feel to the hotel. (Below, left) The highlight
of the reception area is the installation of hanging rattan
baskets affixed with white globe lights. (Right) Above a
Balinese stone carving, an image of a man riding on two
bulls adds unexpected energy to the entrance hall.
Ipoh Bali Hotel’s aesthetic — marrying small-town tranquillity with tropical island rejuvenation. The sprawling
property is located off Jalan Tambun in a residential area
a short drive from town. “Everything is a short drive away
in Ipoh,” jokes marketing manager Khoo Chung Yee.
When he bought the lot two years ago, Kuak demolished the old bungalow that stood on it to build his
dream hotel. It seems somehow misplaced upon first
impression, a dark façade juxtaposed against cheerywhite low-slung properties along Lorong Cheah Cheang
Lim. Volcanic stone forms its frontage, a sophisticated
44
45
The wraparound terrace is a favourite spot for
breakfast and idle lounging. A decorative screen
invites in a cool breeze while maintaing the
privacy of relaxing guests. Unwind to the sight
and sound of water trickling over black rocks
and leaves dancing in the breeze while taking in
the peace and quiet of the town.
black canvas softened by wood, foliage, rock
and water.
In fact, wood plays a central role in the
overall aesthetic. The soft-spoken Kuak, who
has lived in Ipoh for the last 20 years, adores
the classic appeal of the material, preferring
to use solid hardwood to reinforce structures
and infuse an evergreen, tropical feel to the
design. Sourcing was an extensive process —
he did not merely visit a timber yard and point
imperiously at blocks that struck his fancy. He
and his friends unhurriedly acquired individual
pieces from around Perak and Bali, Indonesia.
The Perak finds are especially meaningful as
most of them are reclaimed and enriched with
their own history. The massive pillars flanking
the bridge-like walkway to the front entrance,
for instance, were part of the Lumut jetty while
the door frames are salvaged KTM railway
tracks. Kuak says their sentimental value is
priceless and their patina and almost imposing
solidness impart a sense of perpetuity.
Stone and wood are also quintessentially
Balinese and thus used liberally, complemented
by water flowing throughout the ground floor
spaces. At the entrance, it trickles over black
rocks unique to Sungai Siput. A wraparound
terrace hugs the left side of the hotel, an affair
executed entirely in wood, including a screen
with cut-outs that keep out prying eyes while
letting in a gentle breeze. Here, breakfast is enjoyed at round or picnic-style long tables, with
nasi lemak and similar local delights topping
the menu.
The reception hall carries the same elements
of wood and stone but with unexpected touches. Above a large archetypal stone carving of
horses chomping at their bits is a picture of
46
47
Below Cement walls and hardwood floorboards are softened by a beautiful
tangerine palette in the bedrooms. Furniture is, of course, wooden and a single
colourful piece of art above the bed is flanked by long rattan lanterns. Rooms on
the ground floor open up to a veranda where a koi pond runs along the perimeter.
Rattan furniture —including a hanging chair — beg for hours whiled away with a
book here.
Right Kuak wanted a courtyard for guests to be a little closer to nature, whether
on sunny afternoons or drizzly evenings. A 60-year-old pokok cempaka, purchased
from a Malay village, stands proudly in the centre.
a man riding between two galloping bulls with a foot
on each of saddle. The high-octane intensity and vivid
colours contrast with the cool white of the stone carving
below. A full-height stone carving stands tall behind the
counter. Commanding attention above it are rattan bird
cages cupping white globe lights. They were assembled
by the hotel team.
To the right of the hall is the biggest of the 12 rooms.
The family studio suite features a two-storey main space
and a connecting room with a king-sized bed. The suite
comfortably accommodates seven, with a single bed
48
under the stairs for those with mobility restrictions. The
sturdy banister is composed of a hodgepodge of planks.
Kuak explains, “These different types of wood were reclaimed from old shoplots around Ipoh. They are at least
80 years old but are still perfect structurally.”
For the best showcase of design, however, the superior room, also on the ground floor, comes highly
recommended. Smooth cement slabs form the wall and
keep the interior naturally cool while wood and warm
colours — particularly in the pleasing tangerine of the
heavy curtains and throw pillows — instil welcome. That
49
The rooftop bar may not sound
like much in a two-storey hotel
but Ipoh’s low rise skyline affords
it specatcular sunset views
across the limestone hills in
the distance. Solid hardwood
furniture effortlessly braves the
elements — unfussy, sturdy bar
stools are pushed against the
running bar along one side while
benches and low tables are
preferred by small groups.
50
this is a business hotel is made evident by the availability of ample plug points. One would be hard-pressed to
settle down for a session of hard work, though. Open
the sliding doors and the most Zen of scenes awaits. A
wooden veranda gives way to a narrow koi pond, which
runs the perimeter of most of the ground floor rooms,
and lush shrubs hug the facing wall. It’s all too easy to
imagine whiling away the hours in the hanging chair,
reading or watching the colourful koi do methodical laps
around the pond.
The rooms are arranged around a central courtyard,
from which a 60-year-old pokok cempaka (purchased
from a Malay kampung) stretches up to greet the sun,
though not very successfully. Up two flights of stairs is a
bare-bones rooftop bar. It doesn’t sound very promising
on paper — after all, it’s only two floors above ground
— but Ipoh’s low-rise skyline is phenomenal, set against
the limestone hills beyond. A timber table, complete
with incredibly heavy solid chairs, runs the length of
the more picturesque side of the rooftop. This is the best
place to catch the sun sinking into the hills, have a chat
or just sit in quiet reflection.
Ipoh Bali Hotel might have been built for the business crowd but its serenity, unfussy loveliness and warm
hospitality are exemplary of the old town. It’s precisely
these qualities that the weary city dweller seeks when
he or she makes the sojourn north — thus the hotel
might find itself catering to a wider audience than was
intended. It’s almost inevitable, really.
For bookings and more information, visit
www.ipohbalihotel.com or call (05) 242 0222
51
COFFEE
INSPIRATION
NATURAL LIGHT AND WOOD FINISHES TRANSFORM AN
OLD PRINTING WAREHOUSE INTO A CHIC CAFÉ
TEXT. ELAINE LAU
52
PHOTOGRAPHY. COURTESY OF PULP + PHOTO OF MARCUS FOO BY SAM FONG
53
Wood tones dominate the interiors to
make for a warm and cosy space. A
powder blue paper cutting machine,
which now serves as a sensory bar, pays
homage to the building’s history.
Pulp occupies one of the buildings of Art Printing Works, and what used to be brick walls were replaced
with polycarbonate and glass to let natural light in
AFTER ESTABLISHING A successful speciality coffee
business called Papa Palheta in Singapore, in 2013, Leon
Foo set his sights on Kuala Lumpur, which like the island
nation, was experiencing a coffee boom with new java
joints mushrooming everywhere.
Papa Palheta started as a roastery back in 2009 and
the business grew organically to include distributorship
of machines, brewing equipment and accessories, coffee
training and education, and eventually, a full-fledged
café. In Singapore, the company has three cafés, with
the headquarters at Chye Seng Huat Hardware, an Art
Deco shophouse. The location is an interesting pick as it
is a standalone, historical building along Tyrwhitt Road
and not in a main commercial area.
So, when the time came to scout for a suitable location for their KL branch, Leon and his cousin Marcus
Foo (who quit his job at an asset management firm in
Singapore to run the Malaysian operations) searched
for something unique, an interesting site with a bit of
history that could be turned into a destination for coffee
54
A touch of green in the form of trees by
the main entrance of the café help soften
the steel and glass exterior
enthusiasts. They found it in one of the structures of Art
Printing Works on Jalan Riong, Bangsar, just behind the
New Straits Times building. The printing company originally from Melaka set up here in 1965 doing letterpress
printing, which is a sunset industry. For Papa Palheta,
it was a bit of gamble to opt for a site away from the
bustling areas of Bangsar, but it’s one that has paid off,
as the store-cum-café called Pulp sees brisk business.
“It’s the unique selling point, the space in collaboration with a much bigger space,” says Marcus.
Sporting four brick walls, high ceilings and a leaky
zinc roof, the 1,600 sq ft cutting room was where raw
paper was cut to size by guillotine machines before being
used to print publications like textbooks and magazines,
says Marcus. It wasn’t a lot of space, but it was sufficient.
There was, however, no water supply or plumbing infrastructure. The space was as utilitarian as they came.
Undeterred, the Foos obtained the space, and as Marcus puts it, “sunk a lot of money into it”, transforming it
into a welcoming one-stop shop for all things coffee that
opened in March last year. Singaporean architect Elita
Ong of Untitled Projects conceptualised the space. “This
was her third coffee project with us,” says Marcus. “She
was experienced in what we wanted. She is one of our
baristas as well, so she understands the business, and
she understands what we need, the form and function
55
of it. She has a very good eye for detail. You can see that
a lot of it is wood-based. The structure is the original
except for roof; we replaced the zinc roof because it
was very hot. We needed to insulate it and installed 10
air-conditioning units. It’s still warm but they help.”
The brick walls were torn down and replaced with
polycarbonate panels that let in natural light, casting
a warm glow in the space. “At night, it looks like a lantern,” says Marcus. The roof structure is left exposed to
maximise its height, and wood-finished tiles cover the
floor, complementing the wooden counters and shelves.
The café takes up most of the floor space, but there are
also designated areas like the cupping room for coffee
tastings, the C-Platform or coffee showroom (a retail
space for customers to “touch and feel” the machines,
equipment and accessories on sale) and the service
56
The café has three counters — the brew bar, cake stand-cum-cashier, and espresso bar — arranged parallel
to each other to enable customers to observe their coffee being made. These counters rotate at a 90˚ pivot
point, and so on busy days, the counters are placed in line with each other to facilitate the formation of a
queue. In addition to a coffee showroom and service workshop, there is a designated cupping room for
tasting and assessing coffees.
57
The C-Platform is
a coffee showroom
displaying the
machines, equipment
and accessories that
Pulp carries, some of
which are exclusively
brought in by the
company. The retail and
demo set-up allows
customers to freely
roam about, and touch
and feel the products.
Above it is a special
built mezzanine floor
that houses Marcus’
office. A long window
affords a bird’s eye view
of the operations below.
Marcus
58
workshop. These areas flow into each other in a seamless
manner. At the rear are the kitchen and storage space,
and up a steep ladder is the specially built mezzanine
floor that houses Marcus’ office.
“We are essentially a coffee company more than a
café as we provide coffee support to local offices and
restaurants,” says Marcus. “The café part is what people
see when they come in but we are a coffee company.
The brief to the architect was that I wanted a service
workshop, a coffee showroom and classroom, and a
cupping room for tastings and assessing the grade of
coffees. I told her I wanted it to be very seamless so
people can walk through and feel they can find whatever they need, whether you want to taste coffee, buy
equipment, buy machines or just sit down and have a
cup of coffee.”
They christened the place Pulp as a homage to the
original space, but also because of the similarity be-
tween paper and coffee. “While the journey of paper generally begins with wood pulp, coffee has to go
through the process of depulping in order to extract the
seeds needed to make coffee. This synchrony was the
main inspiration behind the name,” Marcus explains.
There are three counters at the café that greet you
when you enter — the brew bar that lets you watch the
brewing process, the cake stand and cashier followed
by the espresso bar. They all rotate at a 90° pivot point,
and they are usually arranged in three parallel rows
so as to allow customers to walk around and observe
their coffee being made. On busy days, the counters are
rotated and placed in line with each other to facilitate
the formation of a queue for customers when placing
their orders.
“From a coffee point of view, we focus a lot on speciality coffee brews,” says Marcus. “Most of the time,
when you go to a café, the first thing you see is the es-
presso machine or the cake stand. But we put the brew
counter in front, which is less popular but is picking up
a lot of attention.”
Further reinforcing Pulp’s emphasis on brews is what
Marcus calls the sensory bar, which is a weathered, baby
blue guillotine machine, a vestige of the past, refashioned into a showcase display for the different coffee
beans on sale — each with a small sample for you to take
a whiff of, and some already brewed for you to taste.
An ageing factory now revamped into a contemporary, no-fuss coffee destination, Pulp is undoubtedly one
of the more intriguing java joints in the Klang Valley. It
speaks of the vision of its founders, which is fuelled by
their obsession for good coffee and the desire to spread
their wings.
Pulp is located at 29-01 Jalan Riong, Bangsar, KL.
Call (03) 2201 3650 for more information.
59
TEXT. ANANDHI GOPINATH
PHOTOGRAPHY. HARIS HASSAN + MOHD IZWAN MOHD NAZAM
Labour of love
A NYONYA SHRINE TO VINTAGE CHARM AND SHABBY CHIC,
PERANAKAN EATERY LIMABLAS BURSTS WITH GREAT IDEAS
FOR THE HOME
60
61
Menus on chalkboards and seating areas fashioned by from re-arranged crowded
shelves — such are the charming touches that give Peranakan eatery Limablas
its distinct personality, marked by a keen eye for retro-inspired touches that are
Malaysian rather than purely Baba Nyonya-inspired
62
THE HEART OF KL teems with personality but you
need to know where to look for it. It is by chance that
we discover Nyonya eatery Limablas in the busy stretch
of Jalan Mesui — a crowded part of KL that is home
to both local streetside fare and modern bars and restaurants to cater for tourists. Blink and you’ll miss it.
The entrance occupies just half of the actual converted
shoplot and there is no signboard, just the number 15
to denote its address and name.
Rather than rely on the tried-and-tested formula of
grand Peranakan fittings and furniture for the interior
décor, owner Simon Tam has gone for an informal and
familiar feel for this streetside eatery, one that is better
suited to the laidback personality of the area it is located
in. Utilising a clever combination of cutesy antiques that
are as uniquely Malaysian as the cuisine he serves, Tam has
successfully transformed a sliver of real estate into a most
delightful Nyonya shrine to vintage charm and shabby chic.
63
A non-functional television in a vintage wooden cabinet and an old bicycle are great visual anchors of the small and intimate
restaurant, which provide ample ideas for the home
A clean and industrial-feel outdoor seating area is in
sharp contrast to the magic that lies within. Limablas’
interior is cluttered and busy with an incredible variety
of Nyonya-inspired bric-a-brac and old-fashioned touches, but the overall effect is charming rather than messy.
Wooden tables with a mixed bag of chairs, an old bicycle
leaning against a wall and traditional red-and-black
tiffin carriers — there’s something inexplicably likeable
about the place.
The look is not for everyone and certainly may not
work for the practicality required for a home, especially
one with little children, but Limablas is a great source of
inspiration for how an assembly of accents can contribute to an overall theme.
A contractor turned self-trained ID consultant,
Tam is quarter Peranakan and an ardent foodie whose
long-time dream was to open a Nyonya restaurant.
Incidentally, Jalan Mesui, while home to plenty of restaurants, has no other eatery serving this hybrid cuisine.
64
Highlight the beauty of unfinished bricks with framed vintage posters, or draw attention to unusually
coloured walls with interesting details like a wooden wheel or a painted doorframe
However, the spot that Tam identified for his Melaka
Peranakan eatery — an old, double-storey shoplot —
came with a unique problem: the elderly owner, who
didn’t reside there, preferred to sell the property rather
than to rent it out.
“I couldn’t afford to buy the shoplot, it was ridiculously expensive. I had to rent. I had to convince her
somehow,” Tam recalls, furrowing his brows. To get the
owner to change her mind, Tam would surreptitiously
hang jars of Nyonya kuih from Melaka on her gate. His
efforts eventually wore her down but Tam has been well
aware from the start that his lease can be short-lived
anytime. “So my theme, if you will, is easily movable and
super-low budget à la Nyonya,” he laughs.
Soft yellow lighting — controlled by a bank of
old-fashioned black switches — casts a romantic light
on the restaurant, highlighting the beautiful red-tiled
flooring that shows generations of footfall with its
wear. Wooden tables of different sizes are surrounded
65
Limablas’ owner Tam (right) spent years painstakingly
collecting the various knick-knacks that give the
restaurant its distinct identity. Vintage dial phones, old
signboards, metal tiffin carriers and glass medicine
jars are assembled with an eye for style and design
but also with a great deal of heart. The overall effect
is therefore welcoming and warm, and the space feels
busy and fun rather than just cluttered.
by metal chairs with fading paintwork, wooden
seats with storage beneath and oddly cushioned
chairs, which is a nice way to insert some fun into
an informal dining space.
Meanwhile, the unfinished walls of the restaurant are decorated with everything from framed
posters to signboards from old businesses in the
area — an easy solution to fill the walls of a corridor or perhaps a minimalist study that could do
with some colour.
“I’ve been collecting all these bits and pieces
for a long time, waiting for the right time to use
them,” says the tattooed restaurateur. “I grew
up in my grandparents’ typical Baba home, so I
wanted to replicate that feel but in a more modern
way. That required a lot of knick-knacks which you
cannot acquire overnight — these things weren’t
always easy to find. So when I came across something I liked, I would hang on to it with the intent
of creating a space like this. I am lucky because it
happened.”
In his casual assemblage of things, sprinkled
liberally in every place he can find, ideas to decorate living spaces abound. Wall shelves are crowded with Nyonya tiffin carriers of all shapes and
sizes, including cutesy miniatures right by the
cashier’s counter. A standing shelf has barely any
space to spare, its inhabitants including ice-grinding machines, medicine bottles, glass jars, decades-old soda bottles and gumball machines.
A non-operational CRT television in a wooden
cabinet is positioned next to an old bicycle, which
leans against a wall. It is an interesting visual anchor for the space and draws the eye away towards
the beautiful unfinished brick walls.
The inside connects with the outside by way
of a wooden door with a heavy metal latch while
66
67
The industrial feel of the outdoor seating area is
softened by the impact of a tall tree that grows within
the compound. It connects to the indoors by way of
wooden shutters that are as aesthetically pleasing as
they are functional.
fresh air wafts in through rickety wooden shutters
that close remarkably tightly. Not many people
choose to brave the heat during lunchtime, but the
area with cemented walls and flooring and filled
with wooden tables and benches sees some action
after the sun has set.
A tree grows between two tables, its thick foliage supported by black netting that catches falling
leaves before they land on the plates of unsuspecting diners while the earthy scent from a canopy
of thick foliage and passionfruit vines provide a
welcome respite from the smells of the busy street.
“This is a labour of love,” Tam says affectionately. “While I knew what look and feel I wanted
to achieve, I never thought I could transform the
place into something quite like this.”
68
69
accents
[
TEXT. HANNAH MERICAN
]
Coffee on the side
SHAKE THINGS UP IN YOUR LIVING ROOM WITH A STYLISH
COFFEE TABLE. CHECK OUT THESE SLEEK DESIGNS,
WHICH RANGE FROM QUIRKY TO AVANT-GARDE.
Designed by Sebastian Herkner, the Hassos Classicon coffee table
has a curving silhouette reminiscent of a bell. The top is made from
metal brass and the base from transparent tinted glass. (Space Furniture, RM18,070)
Designed in Denmark, this Ferm Living wire basket and
table top combo is a great piece for urban living. The
wire basket and table top are detachable, so storage is
not a problem. (Smuk Living, Wire basket – RM370,
Table top – RM425)
Form and function come together in these Stua Eclipse
coffee tables. Inspired by traditional nesting tables, the
smaller Eclipse nesting tables can be concealed under
the larger ones. (Gudang, XL – RM1,393.90,
L – RM959.30, Med – RM789.70, S – RM598.90)
This REGISSÖR coffee table has a handcrafted appeal. Made from poplar wood, it
can be assembled in less than five minutes.
(IKEA, RM599)
The Mesh coffee table from Kettal combines natural and industrial
materials. Inspired by an architectural façade, the metal base of the
table and the wooden top are contrasts that will keep your conversation going. (Quel Furniture, RM13,369)
The first word that comes to mind when
one sees the Benson coffee table from
Minotti Italy is “avant-garde”. The stylish
unit comprises an elliptical base and a
raised circular top, which can be turned
360°. (Xtra Furniture, RM30,000+)
This Eichholtz coffee table,
Palmer, will add an elegant
industrial touch to your living
room. The smoked tempered
dark glass has a sculptural
vibe, thanks to its unique design. (Janine, RM6,920)
REFER TO STOCKIST FOR DETAILS ON FEATURED STORES.
70
71
stockist
Gudang Damansara
Lot S15 & S16, 2nd Floor
Bangsar Shopping Centre
285 Jalan Maarof
Bukit Bandaraya, KL
Tel: (03) 2092 2618
Fax: (03) 2092 2734
Gudang Studio
Lot S212, 2nd Floor
The Gardens Mall
Mid Valley City
Lingkaran Syed Putra,KL
Tel: (03) 2287 7020
www.gudanghome.com
Janine
Lot 112, 2nd Floor
Bangsar Shopping Centre
285 Jalan Maarof
Bukit Bandaraya, KL
Tel: (03) 2094 9530
Lot 9, Level One
Great Eastern Mall
303 Jalan Ampang, KL
Tel: (03) 4260 2743
www.janine.com.my
IKEA Malaysia
2 Jalan PJU 7/2
Mutiara Damansara, PJ
Tel: (03) 7726 7777
www.ikea.com/my
72
Quel Furniture
35 Jalan PJU 5/21
The Strand Kota Damansara, PJ
Tel: (03) 6142 4223
Fax: (03) 6142 3350
www.quelfurniture.com
Sixteenth Avenue
7 Jalan Dato’ Abu Bakar 16/1, PJ
Tel: (03) 7931 8886
www.sixteenthavenue.com.my
Smuk Living
A2-UG1-3A Solaris Dutamas
Jalan Dutamas 1, KL
Tel: (03) 6211 6148
www.smuk.com.my
Space Furniture
Lot 3-12, The Intermark
348 Jalan Tun Razak, KL
Tel: (03) 2166 2212
www.spacefurniture.com
C
M
Y
XTRA Furniture
Lot S-236 & 237, 2nd Floor
The Gardens Mall
Mid Valley City
Lingkaran Syed Putra, KL
Tel: (03) 2282 9088
www.xtrafurniture.com
CM
MY
CY
CMY
K
Add An
Authenteak
Touch To Your Space
A wide range of furnishing to delight the senses.
LIVING | DINING | BAR | COLLECTIONS | BED | BATH |OFFICE | LAMP | OUTDOOR
Great Eastern Mall (Ampang): Lot 1, Level 4, Great Eastern Mall, No.303, Jalan Ampang, 50450 Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia. Tel/Fax: +603 4252 2322
Bangsar (KL): No.116, Jalan Maarof, Taman Bandaraya, Bangsar, 59100, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia. Tel/Fax:+603 2093 9339
IPC Mall (PJ): F2,1st Floor, IPC Mall, No.2, Jalan PJU 7/2, Mutiara Damansara, 47800 Petaling Jaya, Selangor, Malaysia. Tel/Fax:+603 7727 0266
Gurney Plaza (Penang): 170-04-01, 4th Floor, Gurney Plaza, Persiaran Gurney, 10250 Penang, Malaysia. Tel/Fax: +604 228 2262
Hotline: +6017 260 2277
Email : [email protected]
www.authenteak.cc

before + after - The Edge Markets

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