Kemaris House / DRTAN LM Architect

Architects: DRTAN LM Architect
Area: 530 m²
Year: 2022
Photographs: H.LinHo Photography
Manufacturers: Grohe, American Standard, DML, Jotun Paint
Lead Architect: Tan Loke Mun
Structural Engeneering: Perunding L&W Sdn Bhd
City: Kuala Lumpur
Country: Malaysia

Kemaris House, designed by DRTAN LM Architect, is located in Kuala Lumpur’s Bangsar neighborhood. This minimalist residence addresses the challenges of a split-level site and the tropical sun through brise-soleil louvers and indigenous landscaping. Features include a water bowl for evaporative cooling, strategic pockets for cross ventilation, a cantilevered concrete canopy, and a gallery corridor with suspended shelves. The house emphasizes natural materials and seamless integration with its surroundings, offering a harmonious blend of form and function.

Kemaris House is situated in the residential suburb of Bangsar in Kuala Lumpur. Designed to embody minimalism while ensuring functionality for a modern family, this Northeast-facing home cleverly addresses the challenges of a split-level site and the intense tropical sun. Drawing inspiration from the region’s climate, the design incorporates brise-soleil louvers and native landscaping to mitigate harsh sunlight. The use of honest materials, celebrated for their natural colors and textures, gives the structure an authentic appeal that blends seamlessly with its surroundings.

A captivating water bowl and stream run along the perimeter, providing evaporative cooling and creating an inviting outdoor ambiance. Inside the residence, strategically placed open spaces facilitate cross ventilation and allow natural light to flood the interiors. The large cantilevered reinforced concrete canopy, supported by pilotti, offers both shelter and shade while creating dynamic volumes, inviting courtyards, secluded nooks, and intriguing hanging spaces. The branch-like structural beams and soffits emphasize the design’s purity and integrity.

Floor-to-ceiling glazing surrounds the living areas, providing a visual connection to the lush landscaping and filling the interiors with natural light. A gallery corridor with suspended shelves combines functionality with aesthetic appeal. The natural stone floor finish adds a refreshing coolness, enhancing the sensory experience throughout the home. A slender steel suspended staircase serves as a sculptural element, creating a sense of weightlessness and further enhancing the airy ambiance.

Kemaris House goes beyond mere architecture, becoming a harmonious blend of form and function, meticulously crafted to enhance the human experience within its serene environment.