By Willy Wilson & Ellen Tang | Mar 5, 2010
Photographs by Royston Lim
The 'Iron Leaf' in the rainforest
 |
|
A swanky holiday house that draws inspiration from the shape and characteristics of a leaf.
|
45 kilometers north of Kuala Lumpur sits a village of Bentong. At 2,000 ft. above sea level, Bentong is a popular weekend destination located around the foothill of Genting Highland. Surrounded by thick rainforest hills, the village is a small valley blessed with picturesque streams and cool rushing brooks of waterfalls.
Hidden behind the lush greeneries is a swanky weekend house that stands out for its architecture and design. The owner, who prefers to remain anonymous, is a nature enthusiast.
“Sitting on a hill and surrounded by the nature, it is the perfect location for a weekend house that my husband and I have always wanted to build,” says the homeowner of her 1 acre land.
Collaboration with two young architects from LNL Sdn Bhd saw a weekend house that sets a beautiful contrast between a contemporary structure and a tropical jungle setting.
“We called this project 'leaf',” says Adrian Liew and MK Looi, the architects who man LNL Sdn Bhd.
They claim that 'leaf' is an integration of a great design concept, a wise selection of materials and smart lighting techniques. It is indeed an impressive structure that has taken the local architectural scene up a notch.
Star Property visits the stunning weekend house and chats with the homeowner and the architects.
Architectural challenges
‘Leaf’ is 2-storey structure that houses two rooms, two living rooms, two balconies, a kitchen, a pond, a little glass house near the pond, two bathrooms and two powder rooms. Sitting on a 1-acre hilly land, the built-up area is 4,500 sq. ft.
.JPG) |
Modern interior set against the backdrop of thick rainforest hills.
|
“We knew it would not be an easy project considering the position of the land,” says Looi, “We took up this project knowing that it would be an interesting and challenging one.”
Before they even began with the construction work, they had to overcome some serious issues. First of all, they would need to flatten certain parts of the hill to build a base for the house. Then, they would have to make sure that logistics and materials were supplied regularly despite the remote location.
“The extremely vertical position of the land was not an ideal location to build a house,” says Liew matter-of-factly, “Consequently, the first few months were spent on flattening the land while conceptualising the design. “ Add to woes is the location of the place, which can only be accessed by a small lane that fits two cars. Such difficulties required a great coordination between the architects, the contractor and the client.
"We are happy that none of the difficulties harm the project," says Liew.
When it comes to materials, both Looi and Liew say that 'leaf' has been a very good example of an efficient project. They justify their claim by giving much credit to the fact that the external decking floor and some of the furniture are made of woods from the site. The result is a beautiful range of furniture and flooring with rather raw finishing.
“We tried to be environmentally sensitive with this project. So what we did was that we salvaged the big tree trunks from going to waste by using them as building materials,” adds Looi.
The owner too insists that she is very concerned about the surrounding environment.
.JPG) |
|
The architects who manned the project: MK Looi (left) and Adrian Liew (right).
|
“We sprayed the roof with non-toxic, non-reflective and rubber-based coating imported from Australia to reduce the heat and reflection,” the proud homeowner explains, “As a result, we don’t need to instal air conditioning system in this house.”
The design concept
The main idea behind 'leaf' is to create an establishment that emulates the shape and the characteristics of a leaf.
“Architecturally speaking, we wanted to create a modern structure that would stands out in a rainforest setting,” Looi explains, “So we toyed with the idea of a contemporary design that exudes lightweight and elevated feelings, just like a leaf hanging on a tree. We also intend to highlight a contrast between a modern structure and a rainforest setting.”
To achieve such contrast, modern materials are broadly employed. Metal decking, floor-to-ceiling glass panels and steel frames are mainly used for the exterior, while a solid concrete base is built for the house to sit on, suggesting an idea of a solid tree trunk. Unpolished concrete and concrete rendered surface too are found in nearly every corner of the house, from the walls to the breakfast table.
According to the architects, such contemporary approach never fails to give a sleek impression.
 |
|
The breathtaking view of the rainforest from the balcony.
|
When asked about her favourite corner of the house, the homeowner confesses that she never gets bored of the balcony. The balcony, which is located on the second floor, gives an extra sense of elevation due to the fact that the house itself is built on a high ground.
“The balcony is definitely my favourite spot,” she says, “What’s so special about the balcony is not only because it offers a breathtaking view, but also the fact that it does not feel like a balcony!”
She explains that because there is no obvious space segregation between the balcony and the living room.
"It feels as if the balcony is a part of the living room," she says. All thanks to the floor-to-ceiling glass walls and the uniform use of timber flooring in and out of the house.
The stunning structure aside, the house also offers a unique experience for its guests.
“What is more compelling about the house is that it offers the guests an experience of emotion that I share with the homeowner when we climb up the hill to see which location would be best for the house to sit on,” Liew enthuses.
 |
A pond next to the living room creates a zen-like ambience.
|
“Once step into the house, your eyes would immediately be directed to the living room, the pond and the garden,” Liew says of the first floor. But go up to the second floor and you will get the real experience Liew is referring to earlier.
“When you go up the stairs to the second floor, you are facing a glass wall that allows you to view the spot up the hill where my client and I had planned this house at,” says Liew.
Once you are on the second floor, you are greeted by a hallway which roof is made of glass.
“That spot was exactly at this height (the second floor hallway), and all we could see was the sky. Hence the glass roof,” Liew explains. Thoughtful finishing like this makes this weekend house really charming.
With whispering wind, wandering monkeys and twittering birds literally everywhere, it is only natural that the owner instantly fell in love with this location.
“You could even watch hornbills hanging out on a tall tree if you are lucky,” the owner enthuses. How we wish that weekend could stretch longer...
If you know of other interesting home designs, e-mail us at contents@starproperty.my
See other beautiful interior designs:
 |
LNL Sdn Bhd |
 |
+603-7729 1284 |
 |
28, Lorong Burhanuddin Helmi 3, Taman Tun Dr Ismail, 60000 Kuala Lumpur.
|
|
|