‘No brand house’

The generous use of raw materials such as mesh wire, concrete blocks and glass all through the house give it a spacious and sleek modern feel. This 2-storey intermediate linked house in Taman OUG, Kuala Lumpur was chosen the gold winner for the terraced category in last year’s  haven/The Edge My Dream Home Contest. The home emphasises the spirit of simplicity by taking a modest approach to design without costing a bomb.

Designed to give the homeowners privacy, the façade looks unpretentious and yet intriguing with its unconventional use of materials. Both the owners, Kh’ng C F and Chang Ye Shin, are Universiti Teknologi Malaysia architecture graduates, and describe their home as the “No Brand House”. Inspired into creating a fuss-free home with all the modern comforts, the renovation took less than four months and cost around RM150,000. It proves that one does not need a huge budget when creating a dream home — just fantastic ideas!

Locally sourced materials were used, from tiles on the floor to the stainless steel kitchen. Door frames are made out of powder-coated stainless steel as well. Minimal structural changes were made to the home except for a double-volume ceiling in the dining area, creating more natural light.

Upstairs, the perforated wall built from ventilation blocks, were unconventionally used in the master bedroom, even for the headboard, creating a raw and rugged look. More blocks are used to separate the bedroom from the walk-in closet. It opens up to a lovely bathroom overlooking the courtyard below as the couple wanted the outdoors feel in the master bedroom. Thanks to the creative use of raw materials. the home boasts a sleek yet functional appearance.



This article appeared in City & Country, the property pullout of The Edge Malaysia, Issue 750, April 13-19, 2009.