Bewboc House in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia by Fabian Tan.

Take me back to Malaysia where I can enjoy the aromas of the street food, otherwise feel the giddy bliss from a sip of the infamous Milo Dinosaur. And what better way than to pair this experience than with the sprawling views presented from Bewboc House.

Designed by Fabian Tan, Bewboc is an uplifting renovation of a corner block suburban terrace with an addition that offers a magnificent telescopic view of the neighbourhood. A tunnel that traps and disperses light, it’s a space that calls for a blissful and enticing time to retreat and otherwise gather.

Located in Kuala Lumpur, and sitting on a property at approximately 539 square metres, Bewboc House is a two-storey residence in which the clients requested a ‘minimal intervention’ — although were open to the architect’s suggestion. The ground floor — entailing two bedrooms, studio/space and kitchen — is added a new extension that accommodates a new living and dining space. The new spaces, almost cave-like, sit parallel to the site’s boundary, serving as an intentional ‘break’ between the existing and new.

Furthering the significance of the newly added arm, the extension is moulded of concrete arches slightly above the second story to meaningfully connect to the staircase landing and master bedrooms space.

From the master bedroom, the extension descends into a surprise retreat — an open balcony invites one to either dangle their legs (with caution, of course!). The other connection made indirectly to the staircase reveals a sunken lounge that looks towards the connection of the master bedroom’s balcony. Opposite the grand view is another window that filters light into the bedroom behind the study.

Between second level extension rests the void that eliminates the heaviness of the monolithic appearance of the concrete volume. Additional openings are cut on the sides — with sliding doors on the ground level and black timber floor to ceiling arched doors fully opened at the living room end — the vault-like structure simply becomes a large pavilion within the garden and light tunnel to compensate for spaces that lack access to natural light.

A private poetic hideout, Bewboc House truly encapsulates a light-at-the-end-of-the-tunnel essence. The near single point perspective crafted from the placement of programs and extensions truly encourages moments of peace and solace in places that we find are the busiest. The isolation of natural light met with grand gestures would definitely bring anybody into hushed awe — blissful, peaceful and curious all at once.

Related: Not Your Average Reno: House Recast in London by Studio Ben Allen.

[Images courtesy of Fabian Tan. Photography by Ceavs Chua.]