Eight years to realise ‘pure’ dream home

Aged wooden gates and bare concrete walls — perhaps that may not gel with your idea of a typical “dream home”. But take a look at the haven/The Edge My Dream Home 2008’s gold winner in the detached/semi-detached category and you might change your mind. The 2-storey detached house in Damansara Indah Resort Homes, belonging to architect Hud Abu Bakar and Nadiah Micaela Rodriguez, was not built to impress, with its main door hidden from public view and a wall dividing its porch and front garden. It took Hud, principal of RSP Akitek, and his interior designer wife eight years to make their dream home a reality.

Step inside and you’ll understand. The walls are left unpainted and the patio’s wooden deck is unvarnished. Despite comments from workmen and painters, the couple was determined that their home would remain “pure”. The house is predominantly bathed in white, grey and black. On display are many paintings — from a colour sketch of one of Hud’s projects to abstract art. The owner describes his home as “transparent”, allowing interrupted views of the front garden through to the back garden and onto the golf course beyond.

The couple and their three children spend most of their time in the family hall, which opens up onto a wooden-deck patio, lap pool and a garden. The living room doubles as an audio-video room; a projector screen comes down from one of the walls for movie screenings.

Hud’s attention to detail is apparent throughout the home, such as the floating ceiling and exposed hanging concrete wall in the living room, which adds depth to the space. Rectangular glass panels capture the natural beauty of the outdoor landscape for a beautiful “framing” effect. Drapes are not used in this home, only well-hidden remote-controlled roller blinds. Natural materials such as wood and stone are used while the indoor and outdoor spaces flow seamlessly.

Evidently, the eight years it took the couple to design and build their dream home was time well spent. The owners enjoy assured privacy in their “pure” home with a lovely fluidity, complete with modern practicalities.



This article appeared in City & Country, the property pullout of The Edge Malaysia, Issue 749, April 6-12, 2009