main rooms of well-wooded areas or landscaped gardens in the foreground, the race course in the middle distance, and the high green hills on the distant horizon.
One of the main problems in the design was to provide adequate areas to suit the requirements in the respec- tive zones. Although the land area is about 40,000 sq. ft., the requirements for the main house, parking facilities and gardens were so large that it was difficult to give adequate space for each. To meet the design needs, the house was stretched right across the site, about one third of the way down the slope, so creating different levels to suit the various areas of activities. This layout also left the maximum
space for the car court and garden.
To allow a more spacious garden outlook, advantage was taken to in- clude the garden areas of adjoining properties in the view, and thus the impression is gained of a much larger impression is gained of a much larger site.
From the electronically controlled entrance, the aspect is of a large linked single-storey house with an impressive entrance porch and bridge over a reflecting pool to the front door. There is a spacious entrance hall and dining area adjoining a large lounge on a slightly lower level. At the other end of the house is another extensive porch and adjoining terrace area.
The main bedroom wing, on the right side of the entrance hall, holds
Porch and verandah areas connecting dining room with lounge
Landscaped courtyard and pebble pool with dining room on right
the extra-large master bedroom suite which has a separate dressing room and bathroom. On this same-level half a floor higher than the entrance hall are another two large bedrooms, each each with bathroom attached. The main staircase, which connects the upper level, also leads down to lower level bedrooms and the study/guest room where space has been provided for additional rooms in the future.
The staircase then continues down to the informal entertainment area where the game porch, snack bar, and changing room are situated, and it leads further out to the large swim- ming pool, terraces and landscaped gardens.
Timber featured
The family dining room and main kitchen and service areas and a three- car garage are located on the main floor off the main dining hall, which is used for entertaining.
There is a fully developed Japan garden and reflecting pool at the main entrace. This is cut off from the car court by a bamboo screen, but can be seen from within the house through sliding "shoji" panels.
Being in the timber trade, Dato Chan made a point of using various species of local timber, both for the interior and exterior finishing. The front entrance doors are made up of single panels of specially selected rain- tree, enhanced by deep relief in the carved escutcheons. The entrance and dining hall have ceilings of timber as does the main lounge, while the various walls along the corridors and in the bedrooms are timber panelled.
Sculptured timber panels are also used on the exterior on the north and south elevations and a substantial timber facia board is used throughout the house to create a horizontal em- phasis.
Floor finishes to the dining and entrance hall and the lounge are of marble, while marble terrazzo is used for the entrance porch and corridors and mosaic tiles for terraces, porches, kitchen and bathrooms. Strip timber flooring is utilised for all the bed-
rooms.
Contractors
The main contractor was Kuan Yuen. Major sub-contractors and sup- pliers were:
Electrical
Electric Co.
installations
Port
Air-conditioning – GEC-AEI. Marble Work Langkawi Marble Sdn. Bhd.
26
Far East BUILDER, December 1969