High Voltage

Dynamic duo Kyle E Yon and Jun Ong of Pow Ideas take a dive into the unknown, as the first Malaysian architects to showcase their work at the Venice Biennale 2019.

- Emmilyn Yeoh

Bright lights illuminating bubblegum-pink walls, exotic ferns and plants, outdoor modular chairs adorned with unmistakable Cassey Gan prints, eye-catching neon signs lighting up the bar, sun worshippers dipping in the azure pool ... this is no ordinary hotel pool deck. Rather, all these elements of a David Hockney painting make the dreamy tropical vibe at e Swimming Club in e Kuala Lumpur Journal Hotel. Framing our subjects for the day, the artistic brains behind the space—Kyle E Yon and Jun Ong of design studio Pow Ideas—is a sign that says “A Bigger Splash”, which references Hockney’s 1967 piece. “It started with a threeword brief: make it cool,” explains Kyle. “ e Swimming Club is a rooftop pool, a bar, and an event space. It doesn’t have the best view, so it was about making the place about the space, and giving it a vibe that would make people stay.”

Spearheading their architectural studio of four years, Pow Ideas, with a sense of individualism, Kyle and Jun have permeated many corners of the city with their quirky, urban take on interior design. Since their last interview with BAZAAR two years ago, the architect duo has taken Pow Ideas to new heights, physically expanding into a team of ve, diversifying their portfolio, taking on bigger projects, and best of all, scoring themselves an invitation from Dutch non-pro t organisation GAA Foundation to exhibit their 2015 installation ‘Gerai Tai Tai’ at the 58th Venice

Biennale this year. An interactive installation that revolves around the myth of fortune telling, the multi sensory experience starts with a dice roll, before one is offered three coloured jellies by Tai Tai, who does her readings according to the texture and flavour that represents various facets of one’s life.