Park 2-Lo Residence

Park 2 Lo Residence

Scope of Work
We were approached by the client with an interesting dilemma to their newly acquired block of land in a central location in Kuching. Due to planning restrictions, the new building had to follow the same footprint as the original 1960s kampung (traditional Malay) house. The existing house was typical of the period as it was raised up on stilts, with the living areas on the first floor. Over the years, the ground floor had been filled in so the main living rooms had very low ceilings.

Our solution was to rebuild the whole building, with an increased floor to ceiling height, on the same footprint but using modern raw materials such as off-form concrete, timber and Custom Orb cladding.

The site was located only 10 minutes from Kuching City Centre but had a rural feel to it which suited the rustic design favoured by the client.

We were involved from the initial design concept through to the developed design and construction drawings. We continued with the contract administration on site, until the completion of the project.

The client was great to work with as they had a clear brief and a willingness to explore new and interesting materials. The location of each antique was discussed and, in some cases, the length of walls were determined by a specific piece or artwork.

We were very lucky to have an understanding builder who was willing to experiment and discuss details on site. He also went the extra mile to obtain pre-loved materials that could be reused on the site, for example, all the steel beams were second-hand. The guest house was rebuilt from the timbers of the original house and the existing stairs were reused with the addition of steel treads to account for the raised ceilings.

Project Description
The concept for the design was for an open, airy and rustic building with hardwearing maintenance-free materials. The open plan living/dining/kitchen space used acrylic roller shutters to allow full width openings leading on to the surrounding belian decks. The ponds and lap pool were located at the edge of these decks surrounding the house, which helps to cool the house during the hot tropical days.

A guest house was built off the rear deck, reusing the materials from the original house. It consists of two bedrooms and an open shower/bathroom which doubles for use after swimming in the pool.

The master bedroom was located to the right of the entry foyer in the single storey portion of the house. The trusses were left exposed in this area with glass to the gable ends, allowing the room to be light-filled and airy. A freestanding bath, with a chandelier above, is a feature in this room, along with the basins located in a window box overlooking the garden. The master ensuite, with carved native doors that allow it to double as a powder room, follows through with the lime green of the bedroom and tiny colourful mosaics in the shower cubicle.

The original timber staircase was reused, with a bare steel extension to navigate the raised floor. The first floor walls are clad in timber, with a curved feature of corrugated steel, which reflects the original 1960’s design. The ceilings are all raked with exposed timber trusses. In the boys’ bedrooms, this allows for loft beds to be created up within the roof structure, freeing up the rest of the bedroom for games and study.

A music room, located on the first floor, extends outside via a balcony, which brings the nearby rainforest in. This area is light and airy with a glassed-in gable end.

The kitchen is bright red with stainless steel benchtops, acting as a contrast to the raw materials. The large openings on the ground floor are closed with acrylic roller shutters. The motor and mechanism are exposed, which adds to the industrial feel of the space. These doors were chosen so that they could all be shut down from the front door when you leave the house. They also provide the maximum opening size and can be partially shut in order to keep out the rain.