I found this article in the Star which caught my eyes. I love the design of this remodelled house. Although Im a bit afraid to adorned this look for my house, but I never stop admiring it everytime I saw a house designed to simulate the contemporary art galleries, has an airy layout and a raw interior finishing. The use of glass, steel, cement, concrete and the aesthetic interior, makes it look so sexy.
Some of the greatest contemporary establishments owe their status to a sensible use of space. As a rule of thumb, contemporary design emphasises spatial clarity based on function, practicality and style. Sculptureatwork’s KL studio has taken this approach to the limit.
A Penang-based company that provides cutting-edge sculptures, murals, ornaments and 3D art for landscape design.
Radical transformation
Previously a quaint one-storey bungalow, Sculptureatwork studio has been radically transformed into a contemporary structure with an open plan concept. According to Tan, the renovation project focused on creating a space that carries purity and functionality of an art gallery, without compromising the homely feel of the original structure.
With this in mind, Tan raised the ceiling, and subsequently built a flight of staircases that rises to the mezzanine floor. Tan’s office is located here. Behind the faceted screen of his office are panes of glass, which open up to the neighbourhood garden. Acknowledging that Sculptureatwork is a growing company that plans to expand its business, Tan knew that he would need a bigger office space for his staff. A quarter of ground floor, therefore, has been converted into an office space. Donning similar industrial style, the office on the ground floor is situated next to a library. Just a stone’s throw away from the office is the kitchen and the main hall.
Aesthetically speaking, there seems to be a deliberate lack of adornment in the main hall. The focal point here is a basic white rectangular table, on which the artists create their models. Apart from this table, there are only a few items, namely an orange leather sofa and a display shelf, which consists of three slabs of reclaimed woods attached to the wall.
Contemplative space
Where interior is concerned, there is an apparent monochromatic colour palette. According to Tan, such colour scheme was arranged to complement and highlight the artworks displayed in the studio.
Adding to the rawness of the interior are exposed wall plasters and floor plates, which together with industrial mesh balustrades, perfectly set an inherent industrial atmosphere. Even the kitchen is a paean to pared-down utility, evident in its rustic grey countertops and a grinding machine accessory.
Thrown into the interior mixture are out-of-this-world sculptures, railway sleepers, vintage Barbershop chairs, used hairdressers’ seats, and portable hair steamers. The railway sleepers have been creatively converted into stools and benches, while vintage barbershop chairs have been remodeled as armchairs.
Meanwhile, old hairdressers’ seats are used in the meeting room, and classic portable hair steamers have been dismantled and turned into decorative lamps.
But perhaps the most interesting interior piece in the studio is a replica model of Penang’s Rex Cinema, which is caged in wire barriers. Of the unique piece, Tan explains: “This replica is a metaphor of today’s development, which often forces heritage buildings to make ways for skyscrapers. In such instances, not only do we lost an iconic architectural symbol, but also a cultural identity as a society.”
The toughness of the materials and forms surely make this private studio a place of contemplation, despite the apparent hint of humour in the interior and its casual appeal.
