Malaysian maximalism

Malaysian maximalism
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The living room resembles a reception hall in an “istana”. Note the golden trimmings and furnishings
By Johnni Wong

Photographs by Kamal Sellehuddin

Section 11 in Shah Alam is not your ordinary housing enclave and the owners of the luxury homes here represent some of the more elite members of society.

In fact, many of the owners – some of whom are retired politicians, senior government servants and entrepreneurs - have illustrious titles to their names.

One particular owner – who declined to be named - decided that his double-storey detached house needed something extra.

The prayer room is furnished with equally ornate decorative elements
With the help of three friends, the Datuk turned his house into an art gallery named Astana Warisan.

Here, elite collectors could gather to admire and perhaps acquire collectibles such as Victorian glassware, Malay silverware, Nyonyaware and memorabilia of Malaya.

The architecture of the corner house is contemporary vernacular style typical of the 1980s and early 1990s.

The land area is 2,880sq m (32,000sq ft) and the built-up space is about 900sq m (10,000sq ft).

The front doors open up to a covered terrace with a landscaped garden in front while the back of the house has a car porch with several luxury automobiles parked there.

An European style Chinese clock sits on top of a blackwood table inlaid with mother-of-pearl and Chinese marble in the Melaka Lounge. Note the cabinet of Nyonyaware porcelain

An ornate European style marble-top table matched with an equally grand chandelier greet the visitor, as one steps inside.

To the left of the entrance is the living room, decorated in the style of Malay palaces.

The room overwhelms with rich trimmings and furnishings fit for royalty. Not quite Versailles but the influence of the Louis XVI style is quite evident.

Vintage clocks and ornaments are placed around the living room.

An elaborately decorated cabinet showcases an assortment of vintage crystals, glassware and Victorian epergnes.

Next to the dining room is a prayer room intended for Muslim guests to fulfil their religious duties.

It is decorated with a diverse collection of Malay brassware, porcelain and silverware that reflect the Islamic influence.

The kitchen has been transformed into an interior that resembles an old warship.

Kebaya Room: Looks like it is the trend these days to collect the traditional sarong kebaya apparel

Displayed here is a remarkable collection of military collectibles including WWI and WWII helmets, weapons and even a complete set of Spanish armour.

Maritime artifacts such as clocks, compasses, sextons, telescopes and other items used by early sailors are kept here.

Melaka Lounge

Going upstairs, guests will notice the unusual staircase, built from wood salvaged from an old Malaccan house.

The Oriental Room looks as if it has been set for a period movie

Even the banisters were sourced from an old Malay palace.

The Melaka Lounge on the first floor has been decorated to reflect the Baba Nyonya taste of old Malacca.

Ornate blackwood furniture with mother-of-pearl inlay are displayed.

An antique cabinet is crammed with Nyonyaware porcelain.

The lounge is the common space that leads to the four bedrooms which have been given specific names to reflect the artifacts kept there.

The Penang Room is also known as the Kebaya Room.

The Colonial Room is decorated with teak furniture including a king-size bed, Art Deco cabinets, tables and chairs as well as a gramophone
Hundreds of kebaya apparel collected from Penang and Malacca are kept here together with vintage jewellery, batik and traditional Malay textiles.

The Colonial Room is decorated with mainly teak furniture including an elaborate bed, cabinets, tables and chairs.

These were typically used during the Colonial era by British planters, tin miners and administrative officers.

In the Oriental Room, the showpiece is a Chinese wedding bed complete with accessories.

The French Room is dominated by the elaborately decorated bed

Chinese furniture, ceramics and silverware are placed all around the room.

The French Room used to be the master bedroom.

It is decorated in the French Colonial style with furniture of European design made from Asian wood.

The heavy-set furniture includes a carved blackwood bed which purportedly costs more than RM100,000.

The Conference Room is actually part of an annexe and it houses artifacts and old photographs tracing the history of Malaysia.

Items are mainly from the era of the Federated Malay States, Malay Sultanates, the Straits Settlements and Malaya until 1957.