LIVING LARGE

This multigenerational family home in Muar designed by S/LAB 10 combines exploring materials with fostering family ties

- Jennifer Choo

A home often serves as more than just a place of shelter, it’s an expression of the residents’ personalities and aspirations. For this multi-generational family home in Muar, Johor, the owner had purchased a large 3-storey bungalow with approximately 10,000 sq ft of interior space and 4,000 sq ft of courtyard area. His father was recovering from an accident and the client wanted to transform the home into a dwelling where his father could convalesce in comfort. To achieve this, he engaged S/LAB 10, a design practice founded in Sydney, Australia with operations in Australia, Taiwan, Singapore and Malaysia.

The client had found the firm through word of mouth via contractors that they had collaborated with before and after a brief meeting in Muar, the client took the initiative to visit S/LAB 10’s Johor Bahru office for further discussion and confirmation. “We always believe a good final product is the result of teamwork which involves the client, the designer and builder. We were touched and inspired by the client’s enthusiasm for this project. We had the impression that he wanted to create something special as an appreciation for what the father had done for the family,” recalls Hao Wang, one of the two founders of S/LAB 10. “Basically, the brief was to build a home for the family to enjoy, especially for the father who has worked very hard all his life. The client believes in design and how designed spaces could benefit a person’s health, lifestyle and experience.”

ALL CHANGE