I have, in the past, been awed by the works by the guys at Seksan Design. I stumbled across their website by chance and truly loved the work they had done, particularly this refurbishing project on a rather old property in PJ Sect 16. I loved how the old and modern elements blend together, creating a space that I would truly dream of. Seksan had a feature on the papers yesterday, this time with another refurbishment project on a Sec17 70s home. They are asking for RM4.2 for that prop. A Sec17 property with about 6000sf land is currently going for about RM1.8m. Now if only I could guess the cost of such project but if they do manage to achieve their asking price, they are in for huge profits!

While snooping through their website, I have also just realised that Seksan was responsible for the landscaping of Hijauan Kiara. Much have been said about their amazing landscaping of this project, which has in a way helped generate much interest in the project. Bukit Kiara Properties have also been milking every cent out of the money they spent on the landscaping of the project by promoting how amazing the landscaping is (the first granite pool in Mont’ Kiara, RM200,000 Royal Dutch turf, first to have Spa-island – whatever that means, German-imported Dedon garden furniture, etc) in every way possible. But the question remains, did they miss out in the most important element in any project – the internal finishing of the units? Time will tell, so far the project has been VP-ed and am eagerly awaiting for owners feedback on the finishing.

Write up on the Section 17 refurbishment after the jump.

By Johnni Wong

Photographs by Yap Chee Hong

Section 17 in Petaling Jaya isn’t exactly the most stylish of residential enclaves yet a recent re-design project shows what creative minds can do for a drab-looking 1970s house.

But, of course, the two talented designers plus their co-owner friend (a nursery plant supplier) had to admit that the exercise costs a whopping RM1mil to execute.

And the results are simply amazing. However, this house will probably appeal to buyers with a strong sense of architectural aesthetics due to the predominant use of black trims. But it goes to show the difference between a professionally designed house-and-garden project versus a D-I-Y home-owner’s experimentation.

The old driveway has been turned into a swimming pool. The row of saplings on the left are Tembusu Tikus while frangipani shrubs are strategically planted. The stainless steel rabbit-shaped seat adds a whimsical touch to the cow grass lawn.

Well-known landscape architect Ng Seksan of Seksan Design and Kevin Low of Small Projects design firm, were the talents behind the re-modelling of the house at No. 463, Jalan 17/13A in PJ.

When asked the objective of the make-over project, Seksan replied: “To turn around and build something we believe in.”

The double-storey detached house sits on a freehold plot that spans 20m by 48m (64 ft by 156 ft). The built-up space is approximately 7,000 square feet (650sq m). There are eight rooms in the house and six bathrooms. Structural additions include a guest suite and a salt-water swimming pool of 4m by 20m (13 ft by 66 ft).

The house looks great from any angle.

“The renovation concept is about outdoor, garden living. The dining room is in the garden. Trees are planted ‘inside’ the house and the toilets are open to the sky,” said Seksan.

”The newly-built guest suite is in the garden with a double ‘safari’ concrete roof.” The house itself has remained fairly intact with little structural changes.

“Changes were mainly the non-structural brick walls. They were taken down and replaced with glass doors and windows. The roof is simplified and extended to give more protection to the verandah space,” said Seksan.

”The old, car porch is now the outdoors dining area and kitchen.”

The guest-suite, pool, lawn and walkway (not in view) were all oriented around the big old chiku tree.

The main changes are in the garden where a new, guest suite sits on top of the garage, which has been carved out of the hill slope. The previous, sloping driveway has been ingeniously turned into the lap pool. It has been filled with salt-water as it is more user-friendly compared to chlorinated water. Certain original features of the house such as the built-in wardrobes have been left unchanged except for a white coat of paint.

Explained Seksan: “We tried to leave as much of the original features and character of the main house intact. Hence, the cabinets, iron grills, staircase hand-rail, old terrazzo floor, parquet floor and the roof.

”These simple things help to give the house some history.”

When asked for details about the material used in the renovation, Seksan replied: “Concrete glorious concrete, steel and timber.”

Part of the slope in front of the house has been carved out to create a garage big enough for six cars. The stand-alone guest suite is above the garage. Entrance is via a staircase hidden from view.

Even for professionals who seek exact specifications like bathroom fittings and in-situ terrazzo casting for the floor, such details proved difficult to execute.

Explained Seksan: “We wanted the house to age gracefully and reveal some honesty in the material used. The construction material were used with the intention that the older they get, the more beautiful they become.

”Special effort was required to de-chrome the bathroom fittings to revert to its original brass or bronze core. This takes a lot of effort. Some of the fittings were hand-polished and sanded down to the brass or bronze core.

”All fittings inside the pool are customised with bronze items. The terrazzo areas were cast in-situ to minimise joints and to avoid the tacky, tile effect.

”The wash basins were custom-designed for a raw and honest, polished concrete effect.”

As for landscaping, the property truly stands out for its sheer simplicity yet hauntingly beautiful vistas. The trees and saplings chosen were both functional and decorative.

This elongated walkway of cast concrete slabs and granite chippings, is shielded from the neighbours with a phalanx of Asoka saplings.

Said Seksan: “The main garden was designed around an existing and beautiful, old chiku tree. Old-fashioned frangipani trees with white flowers were used to provide shade and add accent to the garden. A couple of them are being trained to cantilever over the pool, to provide shade where it is most needed.

”A high, green screen, which shield the neighbours, is achieved with very closely planted Asoka saplings, like a windbreak. A ‘domesticated forest’ of Tembusu and Tembusu Tikus, surround and protect the main house.

”Colours are provided mainly by climbing Bougainvilleas. The guest suite ‘safari’ roof will eventually be covered by a ‘flaming’ Bougainvillea. A mix of chilli red, orange and yellow Bougainvilleas have also been planted.” According to the landscape architect, the matured trees were replanted as “strategic show-offs” while the Asoka saplings were planted closely in a straight line for the “super-model effect” i.e. “tall, skinny and elegant”. And when it comes to safety concerns, the house has been built with a “few layers of security.”

Said Seksan: “The first layer is the high fortress effect created by the garage and the guest suite. The iron gate which opens from the garage and leading to the staircase up to the ‘fortress’ is super, heavy-duty. “Another heavy-duty, sliding grill across the garage is presently being fabricated and yet to be installed.

”A further layer is the house-proper that will be protected with alarms and sensors.”

And this project is not merely a vainglory exercise. The partners are putting the property on the market for the premium price of RM4.2mil. And what kind of buyers are they targeting?

“People who prefer to stay away from the glitz and glamour of gated communities and interact with the real and unpretentious local community of Section 17 Petaling Jaya. An owner who enjoys the simple but elegant lifestyle of open garden living.”

But the price for a slice of heaven in this corner of PJ Section 17 is RM4.2mil.

* The property owners can be contacted at 012-2676810. You can also scan our Classifieds section for similar properties for your own make-over project.

More photos here.

This entry was posted on Tuesday, March 11th, 2008 at 7:54 pm and is filed under Property & Living. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.