Fabian Tan unifies old and new architectural elements in Makio House
Makio House is a corner lot unit located in a guarded neighborhood of Kuala Lumpur. Wanting a minimalistic and comfortable home to suit the client’s family and personality, the concept was derived from the original space—to embrace the light and views, then heighten spatial experience through materiality.
The idea was to unify the original architectural elements in the house through the wrapping of solid timber panels to connect the stair to the first-floor mezzanine. The prominently positioned stairway curated as a centerpiece of the house, where the continuity of the material was carried through to the upper mezzanine with an addition of a galleria that extends the existing floor plate to wrap around the periphery of the double volume living spaces. This space serves as a walkway with shelves, windows, and storage. At the end nook, lies a daybed/study area that floats close-in view of the treetops. The garden was transformed into a rock sculptured garden that provided a calm refuge.
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With the master bedroom enlarged at the expense of another existing bedroom to form an open space concept, the interior walls here were intentionally built below ceiling height to allow the light to diffuse throughout entire the room. This bright atmosphere amplifies the expansion perception of the space. The kid’s bedroom was reimagined as a hide and seek play of levels—a 3-tiered bunk bed with a pull out bed and an alcove to peek out into the neighborhood through an existing clerestory window.
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A steel stairway was added in the lightwell leading up to the roof level. Here, a platform is raised over the roof and acts as a viewing deck to emulate an outdoor living room overlooking the city skyline.
Overall, echoes of maple, marble, and white interplayed with the existing elements and nature to offer an environment of balance and serenity.
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Project title: Makio House
Architect: Fabian Tan Architect
Built-up Area: 406.5437 square meters
Location: Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia
