Embedded Files
A Famosa Heritage Villa narrated tour video.movA Famosa Heritage Villa : Tour video
A Famosa Heritage Villa : Tour video
"Experience the timeless allure of Malacca's heritage at A’ Famosa Homestay Villa, where history comes to life in every corner."
Project Location: A'Famosa Resort, Alor Gajah, Melaka
Area: 709m² / 7631.6ft²
Status: Design Development
Design Concept
The heritage villa draws inspiration from the rich historical tapestry of Malacca, serving as a heartfelt tribute celebrating the city's remarkable journey. Through research and on-site exploration, it is evident that Malacca is a mosaic of diverse cultures; a living testament that history has shaped its lifestyle and architecture, making it a prime attraction for visitors to immerse themselves in its rich culture and history.
This inspiration led us to develop a concept that amplifies Malacca's values. Central to this is the enhancement of tourism as well as the creation of an architecture which serves as a living narrative, offering a visual and physical journey through time. Drawing on the concept of an art gallery and museum, visitors walk through the spaces and experience a narration of the city's evolution, fostering an appreciation for its history. Our goal is to translate the architectural design into a captivating story that merges symbolism drawn from diverse cultures, resulting in a meaningful and poetic structure while remaining entirely practical, offering users the unique experience of living in both the past and present.
Staying at the villa is akin to residing in a house which harmonizes four distinct timelines to capture the essence of Malacca's rich history. The strategy for translating this concept into reality involves in-depth study of the context and landmarks within a given radius of the site. We aim to draw inspiration from this context and reflect it through a historical narrative through the site. Prominent landmarks like Jonker Street, The Red Square, and the Ruins of the Portuguese Archway, as well as the city's micro-lifestyle, all contribute to our objective of attracting visitors.
Plaza Entrance and Parking Bays
The plaza is the arrival point for visitors – it conceals enough to keep you intrigued, yet reveals just enough to keep you curious. Guests are welcomed by the Dutch-inspired entryway bordered by a wrought iron arched door that peeps through the courtyard. This creates a guided visual tour to reflect the design concept of the villa, which is to showcase the Malaccan identity and its historical significance.
Four parking bays finished with white concrete blocks frame the plaza to its right and left. Pedestrians need not worry as these bays are wrapped with brick pavements for ease of access, making the villa easily accessible on foot. The design intention is to glorify the parking space by adding life through the seating and plants, creating a multipurpose space suited for lounging or even events.
Isometric view 01
As you drive by Jalan Tulip, visitors are greeted by a captivating composition; the new ‘it place’ of A’Famosa. A fusion of architectural styles reflecting various cultures, embedded in a journey of past and present gives life to the A’Famosa Heritage Villa. Large picture windows facing the picturesque golf course resort act like binoculars, enhancing the visitor experience.
Entering the Courtyard
The moment one enters the premise, visitors are visually drawn by the foyer of Portuguese-Malacca influence. The architectural features of the courtyard such as thick walls allow windows and doors to appear sunken. This space is complemented by Malacca-style timber louvred fenestrations, allowing the users to digest the story behind the concept, going back to the time of the Portuguese and Dutch colonisation.
Pavilion Link Space and Feature Courtyard
The villa is equipped with a feature Pavilion, linking the two units together. This allows both units to be booked simultaneously. Entering the Pavilion, users will find themselves stepping down, similar to the living room idea. This is to create a pocket effect to subtly separate the pavilion and courtyard without diminishing the connection between them. As the Pavilion is semi-outdoor, the occupants of both units may shut the folding doors when needed.
The pavilion, distinguished by its arches, features a remarkable addition in the form of a hanging garden that serves as a green roof. This architectural feature contributes to a striking aesthetic and plays a pivotal role in mitigating heat transmittance, creating an environment for optimum human comfort, especially in adverse weather conditions.
Courtyard viewing built-in outdoor bench
Art space view overlooking the portuguese inspired gateway through the featured courtyard and pavilion space
Pavilion view from Dining Room of ring wing
Complementing this green roof is a water feature backdrop, which, in addition to its aesthetic appeal, amplifies the passive cooling effect within the pavilion. Transitioning from the pavilion to the courtyard is a meticulously designed landscape that facilitates fluid movement from both villa units. This in-between space serves as a dynamic space, accommodating the circulation of visitors while also providing seating areas for outdoor gatherings, such as barbecues or social events.
The courtyard's strategic orientation allows direct exposure to the sun to be mitigated. This placement allows the courtyard a relatively cool ambience during the morning and evening hours, rendering it an ideal space for the house. This allows for the ingress of refreshing, cool air into the building, enhancing the overall comfort of the living spaces. Moreover, the walls encircling the courtyard are purposefully constructed with larger thicknesses than the standard walls within the house. Beyond their aesthetic appeal, these robust walls serve a dual function: they facilitate superior ventilation within the building and provide enhanced insulation for the occupants, committed to both comfort and sustainability.
Courtyard view
Pavilion view from courtyard
Pavilion view from courtyard
Pavilion view from courtyard
Private Pool
Entering the arched door to the units on both the left and right wing, users will be entranced by the view of the pool decorated in aesthetic dreamscape design. The arched gazebo creates a poetic repetition effect of arches; as if you are entering a gateway to a different world. The featured outdoor staircase is intentionally hidden on the side of the building to allow for a pleasant surprise as you walk towards the arched gazebo.
Pool entrance view of the left wing
Pool lounge of the left wing
perspective view of the left wing pool lounge
This acts as an extension of the pool as users can use the stairs as seating, promoting flexibility in design. Hidden on the side of the staircase is the semi-outdoor bathroom that embraces our tropical climate, creating a resort-style luxury bathroom. The high walls provide privacy for the users in the bathroom and with added blinds, the bathroom can be fully covered to ensure maximum privacy if needed.
View of the featured jagged outdoor staircase of the left wing
perspective view of the right wing pool lounge
View of the featured outdoor staircase of the right wing
View of the featured circle bench of the first floor right wing
The featured jagged-style staircase inspired by Ricardo Bofill’s architectural style is reminiscent of Mediterranean culture and lifestyle. This provides the shift of user perception in experiencing the spaces to keep them engaged throughout the narrative journey of the building. From the bottom of the staircase, users will see a glimpse of a circular glass panel that cuts through the other side allowing for a clear view of the golf course resort. On the upper level of the feature staircase is a small BBQ space interconnected with the pool area.
Isometric view of the staircase detail
View of the right wing entrance with featured staircase
View of the featured staircase with zen garden
View of the zen garden viewed from outside through the ribbon windows
Left and Right wing differences
At first glance, the two wings of this villa may appear similar, yet each unveils distinctive attributes through their intricacies. At the poolside entrance, visitors encounter a jagged-effect staircase on the left wing, while the right-wing staircase has a more linear path. This design choice offers an unobstructed view from the base of the stairs, revealing a circular bench, exclusive to the right wing unit. The right wing's living area displays a seamless connection, avoiding any step-down effects, and providing an uninterrupted vista from the poolside to the outdoor dining area.
Living Room and Air Well
From inside the house, one can directly enter the pool through the living room and ground floor bedroom. As you enter the living room, users will have to step down as the sunken room creates a nook effect, cradling the occupants of the living room. The living room boasts a double-volume space that goes all the way up to the roof. This space features a large glass skylight, allowing natural light and creating the illusion of a larger space. Bordering the skylight is an air well, adopted from traditional Malacca architecture, adorned with timber louvred windows connecting the spaces. From the living room, users can access the courtyard. Opening up all the folding doors around the living room transforms the space into a semi-outdoor space, connecting the pool to the courtyard, creating a dynamic experience throughout the villa.
View of the featured skylight from the living room (right wing)
View of the airwell and featured skylight (left wing)
View of the living room overlooking the dining hall (left wing)
View of the living room (right wing)
View of the airwell viewed from the first floor (left wing)
Dining & Kitchen
Upon entering the left wing unit's dining room from the adjacent living area, guests are immediately greeted with a deliberate architectural arrangement. This design mandates an elevation change, compelling them to ascend onto a raised platform where they are welcomed by a captivating sight: the exquisite Zen garden staircase and a glimpse of the adjacent pavilion. A long strip feature window located at the Zen garden allows ample lighting to enter the staircase and kitchen. To enter the pool-linked bedroom from the dining room, a designated drop-down lobby is provided to separate the bathroom and bedroom for increased privacy. The occupants of the bedroom are only able to view the bar table above the feature separation wall. This deliberate approach leverages varying elevations to optimize the utility of the available space, ensuring that despite its compact dimensions, the living environment remains comfortable and functional.
The outdoor dining areas of both the right and left wing act as an extension of the dining room. Positioned thoughtfully, this alfresco dining space is strategically oriented to capture the beauty of sunrise, making it an idyllic setting for a leisurely breakfast or evening tea, with the added benefit of cooler temperatures.
View of the dining hall overlooking the featured staircase and pavilion link space (left wing)
First Floor
Seamless access to the upper floor is a common feature of both units, providing visitors with outdoor to indoor transition. Both the indoor main staircases and outdoor featured staircases gracefully guide occupants to the upper level.
On the first floor of both units, the layout features an ensuite Master bedroom, a standard bedroom, a shared bathroom, an open pantry, and a bunk-bed room, thoughtfully maximizing occupancy potential. To enhance ventilation and promote a sense of connection, skylight air wells adorn both units. From the first-floor vantage point, residents can gaze down into the living room below through these air wells.
The Master bedrooms incorporate louvered windows for ventilation, and a one-meter roof overhang minimizes direct sunlight exposure and heat transmission. The right wing's Master bedroom includes an exclusive built-in balcony with panoramic pool views. Both Master bedrooms are strategically oriented to capture the best views of the golf course resort, enhancing the overall appeal of these living spaces.
View of the feature Mater bathroom
Facade unit on the first floor masterbedrooms exploded isometric view
Isometric view 02
View of the outdoor dining space (right wing)
Back elevation view
Arial view from the front side of the house
Arial view from the back of the house
In terms of design, we embrace contemporary architectural styles that resonate with present media trends, enhancing Malacca's allure as a tourist destination. The design seamlessly incorporates modern elements, weaving in the historical influences of Portuguese, Dutch, and British colonization, all set against the backdrop of authentic Malaysian culture. The different architectural styles are integrated based on the historical timeline of Malacca's colonization, offering a more accurate representation of its history. The exterior of the villa evokes historical influences with precision, while the interior exudes a strong Malacca/Malaysian character, drawing inspiration from the city's traditional houses and shophouses, providing users with an authentic Malacca homestay experience.
We firmly believe that the most authentic way to understand another culture is by experiencing it. As a space that encapsulates Malacca's historical values within a livable environment, A’ FAMOSA HERITAGE VILLA aims to offer an enriching and memorable experience for both international and local explorers. We hope that this immersive encounter will foster appreciation and love for the country's rich culture and history, providing a deeper understanding of the origins and heritage of this remarkable land.
Page updated
Google Sites
Report abuse