Having an open space was an important criteria for the owner. Photos: The Star/Yap Chee Hong
Sitting at the patio, looking out to the lush greenery of the garden, it seems inconceivable that this home bears the address of the most dense parts of Kuala Lumpur city – Sungai Besi.
As we sat down for afternoon tea chatting about the inspiration behind the design of the house, you could easily imagine being at a villa in Bali.
“Early in the morning, you get birds chirping among the flowers,” says Saifuddin Ahmad, owner of the three-storey corner lot at Lakefields. “It reminds me a bit of my kampung,” adds Saifuddin, who hails from Alor Star.
While there was no direct link from his early childhood in terms of how he envisioned the house, there were perhaps some influences, particularly in terms of space. His late father was a civil servant who moved around a lot and as a result Saifuddin lived in many government quarters which had big compounds.
That was something he saw in this house, which offered the gift of space despite being in the city.
For Saifuddin, having a KL address was a must. That has been a determining factor since he purchased his first property. However, as life grew, so did his properties, which eventually led him to this one. Prior to his current property, he was in another part of Lakefields, just a stone’s throw away.
He chanced upon this property and decided that it was time to move. The house that stood at the corner offered lots of privacy and offered the possibility of a garden, which was a priority for Saifuddin.
Saifuddin inherited this sitting room set from his parents who purchased it when they got married.
“I was milling around and chanced upon this house. I went ahead to make the offer without my late wife knowing.”
Like all architects, the managing director of SNO had a very clear vision of what he wanted from the very start.
“It had to be a corner lot,” he explains. “It is not about the size of the house, but a space that is airy. As a Muslim, the house must be able to accommodate the hosting of prayers.”
Thus, when he came across this house which has an open concept, it seemed the apt choice.
Among Saifuddin’s criteria was that there should be sufficient land for an open area and an extended kitchen as his late wife enjoyed cooking. There was some discussion as to whether to add an additional room to accommodate his three sons comfortably as well as the possibility of a lap pool, at the behest of his youngest son.
“But I am a practical person and I asked them how long they were going to be living here and decided not to add those on.”
The term “practical” comes up several times during our interview. As the family had already lived in several properties before moving to this one, there were already several fixtures and fittings that had already been collected over the years.
The water feature at the entrance creates a tranquil ambience.
“When you shift to a new place, it doesn’t mean that everything has to be new,” he states. “You have to think about how existing things can fit in the new place.”
A case in point are the wooden screens that adorn the balcony on the first floor. These antique Chinese screens were sourced from Pudu and were transported from their previous home. A unique aspect of the screens is that they are moveable and can be shifted to suit the fancy of the owner.
The home also showcases legacies of the past including a sitting room set that his parents got when they first married, as well as a set of chairs that once belonged to his grandfather.
“He loved European furniture and perhaps, I acquired that from him,” he says.
The structural changes were minimal prior to moving in; the exception being the patio and the kitchen. The patio is the focal point of the house where Saifuddin spends most of his time. It is also where he entertains guests. It was an area that he and his late wife came to greatly appreciate during the Movement Control Order (MCO).
“A lot of my friends who were living in condos said, ‘lucky you’, whenever I shared photos on social media,” he says.
The patio is the owner’s favourite space.
When it comes to his design philosophy, the president of the Architects Regional Council Asia (Arcasia) and past-president of Pertubuhan Akitek Malaysia has a clear point of view.
“Whatever project I do, it has to blend with the environment and the surrounding areas,” he states.
In this case, the fact that the house is part of a “mass housing” estate meant that it should not “stick out like a sore thumb”.
“It has to have its own identity but it should not differ,” he says. “If that is what I wanted then I would have bought a piece of land. It has to harmonise with the surroundings.”
Now, having lived in this house for more than a decade, Saifuddin is making preparations to move to his new residence. After having lost his wife recently, he has decided to put the house on the market.
As he will be moving into a condo, some key features of this house, such as the wooden screens, will remain to be enjoyed by the new owner.
“That’s life,” he says.
Having an open space was an important criteria for the owner. Photos: The Star/Yap Chee Hong
Collectibles from all over the world are on display throughout the house.
The greenery that surrounds the house gives it a resort-like feel.
Saifuddin inherited this sitting room set from his parents who purchased it when they got married.
The water feature at the entrance creates a tranquil ambience.
The master bedroom is vast enough to accommodate a study.
The patio is the owner’s favourite space.
