residence from above

This monstrosity of a house in Malaysia by the TYL Design Group took a whopping five years to design and build, a stark and huge contrast to the relatively small scale of the surrounding residential neighborhood. The clients are, perhaps unsurprisingly, real estate moguls themselves who have shaped city skylines and have an eye for the extremes of urban building – making this a most suitable abode to express their influence and legacy.

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YTL residence
YTL Residence front

From every angle this building stands out in some way. Seen from above, it dwarfs its surroundings in terms of size and the scale of each massive architectural gesture. From the sides, it towers above everything adjacent to and around it for blocks or more. Nonetheless, its commercial scale, shape and structural finishes make it seem like an appropriate civic building in the surrounding landscape to the passive observer – not an overdone mansion.

YTL residence pool

This is not just a house for a nuclear family, it is a ten-thousand-square-foot residence that contains three generations spread out between nine bedrooms, twenty-one bathrooms, multiple family and dining rooms as well as a ballroom, chapel, swimming pool and guest accommodations and parking.

YTL Residence living room
YTL Residence interior

The impressive architectural curves and spacious appearance translate fully from the exterior to the interior design of the spaces, as do the curvilinear forms and other distinctive features of the outer facade.High ceilings, sizable windows and a mixture of warm and cool tones undulate throughout the inside volumes.

“A home for 3 generations of a prominent Malaysian family, including private and public functions. Spaces include: 9 bedrooms, 2 family rooms, family kitchen + private dining, family library, game room, swimming pool, study, formal dining room, reception area, 21 bathrooms, 2 guest suites and parking.”

spiral stairs
spiral stairs from above

“We conceived of the residence in 3 layers, each a distinct volume, which once assembled forms a unified whole: base (for public functions), ring (for guests), and private house (for the family to inhabit), all while allowing the extraordinary vegetation indigenous to the region to enter into the architectural program wherever possible. Inspired by the sophistication and richness of the spatial relationships found in Malaysia’s forests and natural landscape, we sought to incorporate not only the vegetation, but also these spatial qualities into the volumes of the project. The tension and harmony, spaces and voids, that exist between the three volumes (base, ring, house) define the character of the project.”