Cantilever House by Design Unit
Rainforest Loft
An industrial style building may not appear to be a natural fit for a rainforest location, but this stunning house in Kuala Lumpur by Design Unit architects shows how industrial style features can work in harmony with nature.
Built over a sloping valley site with rainforest views, the Cantilever house takes the form of two L-shaped buildings stacked one upon the other with a semi-enclosed courtyard in between. The lower building is a concrete structure housing an art gallery with a garden and swimming pool on its roof. A two-storey steel and glass box containing the main living areas is perched on top, with parts of the building cantilevering over the lower structure.
The interior spaces are open plan with exposed ducts, concrete floors, steel shutters and other industrial style features which look surprising at ease in its bucolic setting, thanks to the vast windows which let in plenty of light and visually bring the outdoors in. We particularly like the dramatic double-height open plan living area, overlooked by a library on the mezzanine level gallery. An industrial style loft in the forest? What an amazing and unexpected marriage made in heaven.
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Product Inspiration
Sleek, natural style furniture with an industrial edge would look great in this rainforest house. Try the Mafalda armchair from Moroso with the Fan table from Desalto and the Wendela barstool from Functionals.
Keep lighting low and natural with the Cosmos-P floor light from LZF and the Bowl table light from New Works. The stunning industrial style brass Factory suspension light from Ghidini 1961 would look wonderful over the kitchen counter.
Go for accessories with a quirky industrial touch, such as the Metrobowl from Frederik Roije, the Pipe Work candlesticks from Nick Fraser and the Machine collection salad bowl from Diesel Living.
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