By Willy Wilson | Jul 14, 2010
Photography by Ellen Tang
Alan Yun’s crisp bachelor pad
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| Reflection: Actor Alan Yun tells StarProperty.my how his modern living space reflects him |
After a tiring day at work, many would treat themselves to a delicious dinner and great music at trendy bars downtown. But for Alan Yun, lounging in his oh-so-chic living space is all he wants after a long day.
“Television, take-out dinner, wine and comfortable sofa,” says the 32-year-old of his ideal downtime.
Yun’s apartment is a corner unit that sees a split-level layout and boxy architecture – the kind of cutting-edge style hardly seen in today’s apartment blocks. Yun, who starred in late Yasmin Ahmad’s Gubra as Alan (the fictional character coincidentally shares the same first name), stays in one of those low-rise apartment blocks built in the 70s. Perched atop the hilly part of Taman Desa, his 1,000sq ft apartment unit boasts a soothing view of lush greenery.
“The façade of this building may seem retro, but I opt for modern minimalist concept when it comes to the interior of my apartment,” says Yun. Such contrast is obvious when one steps inside his unit.
Furniture with minimalist aesthetic, heralded by the majestic arch of the famous Arco lamp, are laid out in the living room. Next to the living room is the kitchen, which is rather spacious for a bachelor pad.
A flight of stairs leads to the second floor, which consists of a bedroom, a wardrobe room and a study. Emphasising the modern image is Philippe Starck’s Ghost chairs, seen in the bedroom and the study. But the most impressive part of the house has got to be his closet, which sees an array of floor-to-ceiling cabinets thoughtfully stocked with his personal wardrobe.
The crisp and industrial aesthetic of the apartment doesn’t deter the overall cosy ambience – thanks to the subtle arrangement of warm lightings. No wonder the KL-born lad finds utmost comfort in his own pad. Here, the model-cum-actor tells StarProperty.my how his modern living space reflects him.
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| Clean and crisp: Alan's apartment unit is coated in subtle colour hues such as white and grey |
What is the design concept of your apartment?
The concept of the apartment is minimalist. A lot of design decisions were based on the fact that I wanted a living space that is clean, simple and cosy. Therefore, it seemed only right to have subtle colour hues such as white and grey.
Turning a 30-year-old apartment unit into such a modern living space must have been a lot of work. Tell us what how much renovation work went into this unit.
As with many other apartments built in the 70s, the original tiles were strongly defined by lines and decorated with outdated ornate motif. I insisted that I wanted a smooth, all-white terrazzo. Retiling alone was an extensive work that took months to complete. I also extended the kitchen to the laundry area. Plumbing and wiring were another complicated works. But I’m glad about how it all turned out, considering that I didn’t engage any interior designers throughout the process.
Where did you get your inspiration from?
I read a lot of design magazines. Wallpaper is my favourite source of inspiration.
What are your favourite features of this apartment?
Obviously I love the terrazzo tiles! The various stone aggregates and white cement give this terrazzo that bright and rich appearance. I also like my closet and my living room. The closet consists of two portable railing cabinets, in which I store my shirts, jackets, tie, bags and pants. I trust Maxima when it comes to wardrobe. Meanwhile, the living room consists of a sofa, a beanbag and TV console that is propped against a stack of bricks painted in white.
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| In the closet: Cleverly designed built-in cabinet by Maxima wardrobe |
Tell us why you chose to live in an old apartment building. Isn’t it better to invest in a new property?
My family lives around this area, and since I was young I always wanted to own one of the units in this low-rise block. The serene surrounding and nostalgic image of an old building never fails to impress me. Investment wise, it may be better to buy a newly built property. But then again, it has always been my dream to live in this old block.
How does the design of this apartment unit reflect you?
The design of this apartment unit is simple, unfussy and practical, which is essentially what I am. Having said that, I am also a work-in-progress, just like this apartment.
Surely your career in show business has been a rewarding one – you purchased your first property at age 28. But how did you get into the industry?
I started out as a commercial talent. I reckon a shampoo commercial, in which I played a postman, was my breakthrough. My career took off ever since that popular commercial, which was directed by the late Yasmin Ahmad. Next thing I knew, I was booked for numerous runway shows and acted in big budget movies. But the highlight of my career has got to be playing Alan in the critically acclaimed Gubra.
So what’s next from Alan Yun?
A new television series entitled Injustice, which premiers on August 23, 2010 on ntv7.
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