The New Malaysia House – What I like about them…
I bought this pictorial book on nice Malaysian homes and architecture just a few days ago. There are some very nice and interesting architectural examples that I found to my interest. Here are some of my favorites.
Tsem Rinpoche
Title: The New Malaysia House
By Robert Powell
Photographs by Albert Lim Ks
Published by Periplus Editions (HK) Ltd
Pg. 30-31 :
Beautiful veranda. High ceilings. Beautiful flooring. Nice ‘fish’ pool. Great trees. Need awning though…I would have a awning over the whole deck area….as I am surrounded by trees so it wouldn’t take away from the view at all. I like protection from elements.
Pg. 40-41 :
Great setting. Great trees. Need more windows though. More windows would allow me to enjoy the outdoors and tress very much. I wouldn’t have the pool though. I would have maybe a large area to feed the birds.
Pg. 44 :
Beautiful. I love the trees. I love the trees. I love the trees. I wouldn’t have a swimming pool though. Everything else ok…
Pg. 66 – 69 :
Fantastic, calm, surreal feeling. I love this house. The cement look walls and floors. I love the cement look very much. Anything can match it. If feels basic and feels very cooling also. The long walkway would be wonderful to walk at night or morning. My Mumu and Oser would love it. Can eat on the walkway also.
Pg. 86 :
I love the indoor space – without grass, so no ticks – nice for my Mumu/Oser to run. I wouldn’t have the wood though. I don’t like the fast impermanence wood floorings. If I have to be in the city, then this inner sanctum is so necessary. I would add a lovely 5 ft standing Buddha and it would be perfect.
Pg. 92-99 :
The house is so-so. I don’t prefer the wood incorporated. I would lessen the wood used for the house by 80% for sure… But I like the setting very much. I like the airy feeling of the interiors. I like the ‘woods’ surrounding the house a lot! The trees and green surrounding the house would be a huge draw for me..
Pg. 114 :
I like the open space, high ceilings tremendously. The high ceilings are great…again I would lessen the wood as it looks very heavy and dated to me….but the basic feeling of spaciousness is very attractive.
Pg. 135 :
Fantastic building on a slope. Good to see. Wow!!!!!!! I love the awning that extends way out so no rain gets in. I love the forest right outside….this is fantastic for me.
Pg. 149 :
I find concealed lighting very nice…easy on the eyes…makes the place feel warm and inviting.
Pg. 154 :
I love the fish pool being so big!!! I love it next to the house! I love to come out and see the fishes! I really like how the house floats on the fish pool. You can see it from whichever part of the house. Nice. Nice. I would love to see big huge fishes here…
Pg. 157 :
I like the concept of the house very much, where it surrounds the open air pool. I wouldn’t go for wood.
Pg. 166-167 :
Great house. The window into the vegetation is such a nice luxury and soothing for the mind/eyes/soul. It is so what I like. Fish pool within the house has a modern, minimalistic feel that uplifts the place to be more than just a house.
Pg. 168 :
I love the fish pools ‘mixed’ into the living of the house! But NO marble floors please. Too slippery for mumu.
Pg. 204 – 233 :
I absolutely love the setting of these few houses built on slopes. It’s amazing. It is my fantasy wish come true. This is a house of my fantasies for sure….Look at the mountains, the trees, the mist, the sky…so etheral. Look at the house with glass walls, like living in the mountains but with conveniences. I would spend so much time here writing, doing my practices, making offerings, feeding birds, reading on the veranda, and making lots of incense offerings watching my prayers billow into the heavens….I would love this type of existence..this type of abode. My Mumu and Oser would be so happy. I would also have a huge Medicine Buddha statue of stone placed outside to bless the animals. Plant seeds of enlightenment in their minds. This is like my dream house to retire and eventually die in…..
Pg. 209 :
I love this room on pg.209, surrounded by the forest, minus the heavy wood materials used though. I like solid ceilings. I dread ceilings that leak…have experienced too much of that over the last few decades…A contractor that cannot avoid leaking ceilings does not know his craft..Any architect or builder or contractor we work with must insure we do not have leaky roofs, leaking windows or water to come through…otherwise it defeats the purpose of a house. I am very particular on that…so many contractors fail in this aspect sad to say……But, Wow…the high ceilings here in this picture, open space (out with the piano) are absolutely glorious. It’s like living in a huge, convenient tree house….Look through the following pictures of this house..spectacular…
Pg. 218 :
See the room on stilts overlooking the forest below. That’s a great bedroom. I can see myself in this room with the rain…this would be a FANTASTIC DREAM BEDROOM FOR ME. I usually spend most of my time in my room as I don’t go out much. So the ‘bedroom’ space and location/views are paramount to me. This room would be my totally ideal bedroom. I can just lock myself in with my practice, mac and dogs. I will bear with the heavy wood usage in this case..I will make an exception…LOL…seriously..great bedroom or room for me…
Pg. 221 :
Great bathroom! I have had tiny small claustrophobic bathrooms most of my life..this would be like AM I REALLY IN THE BATHROOM???? I love the open and airy feel of the place…clean airy bathrooms are very healthy for the mind I feel. Nice house on the slopes with plenty of greens.
Pg. 227 – 229 :
What a fantastic house, style and colour. I love it very much.
Pg. 231 :
This is my absolute dream bedroom also….green, green, green…and no wood finishing much! I would just blog, read, do my sadhana, and hang out in this bedroom always with Mumu and Oser. It excites me just seeing it! I really could just live out of this bedroom….My goodness, I can imagine me waking up to this every single day..I would be so excited to wake up and see the forest….this house is in Malaysia….
Pg. 233 :
A house on a very steep slope.
Pg. 244 :
Great pool. Great trees. Great stones laid around the pool. I wouldn’t swim, but make it a fish pool! I like the forest surrounding it for sure.
WOW, thank you for this post Rinpoche, I like, I like, I like…
I am taking the liberty to add my pinch of salt:
pg 30-31
Very nice to be with the tree canopies, they frame the view! They complement the view.
pg 40-41
This house is built for the son of a famous Malaysian public figure, and is designed by Kerry Hill.
Kerry Hill is a true master when it comes to architecture, I respect him greatly.
He has also designed The Datai in Langkawi, one of the best hotel in the world and which won an Aga Khan prize for its excellent design respecting the natural surroundings (the jungle), as well as the natural water ways through the site.
Actually, The Datai is an example as to how to build KWPC, with similar problems of foundations and natural water ways going through the buildings, steps, terraces, courtyards, etc…
pg 44
I like dark pools, they act as mirrors and they make the landscape double in size. they are great visual tools.
pg 66-69
I spotted that house in a magazine a few years ago and was simply in awe.
I have remembered the name of the architect ever since, Kevin Low, and he has since done more remarkable work, truly remarkable!
The thing that I admire most in his work is that he limits his palette of materials and colors to what is available in Malaysia, and to the craftmanship of the average malaysian contractor and then turns this “limitation” into a work of real poetry and sensibility, with great sincerity to the materials used.
To me, Kevin Low IS the greatest Malaysian architect.
pg 86
Possibly, Mumu and Oser might not like to walk in the pebbles so much though…
pg 92-99
It looks as if the house was really designed for the views and the light
pg 114
Space is WOW! The acoustic must be rather un-comfortable though with glass walls, plaster ceilings and stone floors, I would have advocated for some curtains for softness and acoustic.
pg 135
Interesting…
pg 149
Very nice tall windows. Interesting way to use roof trusses!
pg 154
This is a house built over a fish pond, not a fish pond built in a house… I like that aspect of it.
pg 157
I agree with Rinpoche’s comment on the wood, it is heavy, it is dark, it is thick and old-fashioned.
pg 166-167
I also like the large glass windows opening up to the outside, though I think the design is a bit over-done, so many things going on, so many details, to my taste, I feel the presence (the EGO) of the designer a bit too much.
pg 168
Water bodies are dangerous for pets, they need to have a way out, and maybe even trained to get out in case they fall. Too many dogs have drawned in swimming-pool, unable to propel themselves back up on the deck.
pg 204-233
They are beautiful houses and extra-ordinary sites indeed,truly exceptional.
pg 218
One with the view.
pg 221
Good to know that there is no neighbors!
pg 227-229
Every room has a view, excellent design!
pg 244
The good works of Kevin Low again! Thumbs up to Kevin Low!
Dear Thierry, Thanks for taking the time to study my post and taking interest to write your comments above. I like what you wrote and your enthusiasm. Tsem Rinpoche
Dearest Rinpoche,
Here are my two cents worth on the above postings. Thank you for sharing this and for the book too!
Much love… Andrew
MY COMMENTS:
Page 30-31
I do like the open space of the veranda. Seems like the house floats amongst the tree canopy. Brilliant! Can’t really tell from the picture but perhaps bi-folding doors would be better as opposed to sliding ones as the doors can then fully open giving uninterrupted views
Page 40-41
I agree with what Rinpoche says about having more windows. Real shame that with that view the only “opening” in the house facing this view is limited.
Page 44
I too love dark pools like Thierry mentioned. The reflection created in dark pools are spectacular!
Page 66-69
I love the clean lines with very little obstructing the views from inside. However this may prove to be a problem with privacy as it works both ways.
Page 86
Indoor space with natural light has always been a personal favourite of mine. It brings back memories/feel of old colonial shophouses of Penang. Perfect way to bring in natural light into a space. Has to be zen like though like in this picture or it will defeat the purpose as it would seem like one is cramming a garden into a small space.
Page 92-99
I only like the level of the house where it flows into the garden. Beautifully articulated from the sliding doors, down the short flight of stairs and onto the lawn. Rest of the house looks bulky and top heavy!
Page 114
I LOVE high ceilings too! I do like the geometrical shadows the top paneling creates onto the floors… very Wallpaper Magazine ish… hehehe
Page 135
The extended awning is great but I do not like the ‘supports’. It makes it look almost commercial like (i.e. airports)
Page 149
Hear Hear… Am a great advocate for concealed lighting too… the less we see of the actual light fixture, the better… hehehe
Page 154
I wonder if there would be problems with “dampness” in such a design? I recall a childhood memory… a guesthouse we used to stay in whilst on the way from Ipoh to Penang… had a similar pond and I remember I used to bend down and strain myself trying to look for the fish that swam under… I was very young… hehehe Interesting how from a picture one recalls vivid memories!
Page 157
I like the fact that the house has various pavilions all around and on a “pond”. Very resort like but too much wood I agree. I can even imagine the beautiful sound the rain would make on this body of water… I love the rain!!! I love the sound of rain on water!!!
Page 166-167
I like the high ceilings but I find the juxtaposing lines and strange angles distressing. My OCD cant take it… hehehe
Page 168
Interesting how some parts of the floor are glass so one can see right through at the fishes… why didnt they have this when i was that kid in the guesthouse… hehehe. Great to look at design but not practical for pets at all.
Page 204-233
This as I mentioned to Rinpoche is actually for rent on a daily basis. It is used as a venue for events like weddings etc. Great pictures but the house itself suffers from the dense vegetation around it I am told… i.e. dampness is a problem when building in areas like this and materials need to be well thought of.
Page 209
I do not like the look of the house from the outside but the open plan space of this living room is great. One feels like one is in a very large treehouse… LOVE tree houses… I always wished as a kid I could have one. Maybe in KWPC, I can finally have that wish!
Page 218
Enderong house as it is known has some pools/ponds in the lower levels of the property which is sublime.
Page 221
I love bathrooms with natural light and that look out into greens…. Veranda looks like the perfect place for yoga, meditation and sadhanas…
Page 227-229
My favourite one of the lot. Clean lines. Simple. Brilliant views all round. Great use of space and it captures the evening sun too. Very well thought out design!!! LOVE IT LOVE IT… Can I have a tiny little room in this house next to Rinpoche please… hehehe
Page 244
I can just imagine an 8 foot green tara just at the edge of the pool, trees framing her beautiful image! Floating candle offerings filling the pool… WOW! Yes please!!!
Thank you Rinpoche for sharing these nice and unique houses with us.
Trees, mountains, skylight, open space, high ceiling,windows, flooring, wood elements, water elements, ponds, color theme, lighting and layout etc etc, all play a very important role in the overall look and feel of the house.
Rinpoche has always been fond of a view with trees and mountains since I have known Rinpoche. I think that is the best view of all, if I may say. I am lucky too that the apartment I am living in also have a lovely mountain and trees view.
I recalled Rinpoche sending me cards back 10 years ago with a mistic scene of mountains and trees and Rinpoche wrote me a message saying that these scenes always give Rinpoche a feeling of peace and serenity. I could see Rinpoche trying to bestow a sense of stability and peace in my then much troubled life.
I am not acadamically qualified as an artichect or designer, but having done a few renovation projects for Kechara and for Tsem Ladrang, I understand what nightmares we could face with contractors here in Malaysia. As project manager, we really need to be on their toes everyday. But like what Rinpoche has mentioned, some of these great houses are in Malaysia, so it is possible to have such high standards.
I would love to be involved in building a house like this for Rinpoche, and fullfill Rinpoche’s dream.
I second Andrew, can I also have a little room in this house also?
Great looking homes Rinpoche. I espeially love the ones on pages 204 and 218. I too love to be in the hills and close to trees and greenery. Evenings would be the best part…just watching the day retreat into the forests and the mist roll by lazily.
I think I took up golf 10 years ago, not so much for the sport, but more to be close to the smell of the grass and trees.
Just looking at the pictures calms me down and makes me want KWPC even more. Thank you for the post.
Dear Rinpoche,
Thank you for sharing these beautiful home structures and I do like many elements. I like most of what Rinpoche likes like the green trees, mist, high ceilings, glass walls, pools and concealed lighting. All of the houses here are fantastic works of living space and I do believe that Rinpoche is looking at such beautiful homes is to recreate the feeling of calm and beauty so spiritual practice would be conducive for us at KWPC in the future.
However, I do like what Thierry and Andrew had commented and gave great insight into what would make such elegants both functional, beautiful to look at and balanced. Of all the beautiful homes, I really like Sum Sum Valley House on page 221, a white-washed structure perched amongst trees and everything indoors looks white, calm, modern and clean and retaining some rustic appeal with the great view of the canopy of trees. Love it.
Thank you Rinpoche for sharing the types of style and design Rinpoche likes.
I can imagine the general style Menara Kechara and KWPC will take on in the near future. Wow, Kecharians will not only get to practice Dharma in convenience and comfort but also in an environment that is esthetically appealing, which are all conducive elements for Dharma practice during these times
This is also very helpful reference for the designer for our tea house because the preferred elements provided are very specific!