Spanish-inspired home in Sarawak turned into modern, multi-generational home

The spiral staircase - positioned right at the central atrium - anchors the home visually and spatially, connecting not just the levels of the house but also the people within it.. Photo: Kelvin Chan Photography

Tucked within Kuching, Sarawak’s Bampfylde neighbourhood – where heritage and greenery blend effortlessly with modern living – is an old bungalow that has been given a new lease of life.

Once a Spanish-inspired residence from the 1990s, Bampfylde House has been reimagined by architect William Khoo of Design Network Architects (DNA), who also happens to call it home.

“When we found the house back in 2021, the real charm wasn’t the walls or windows – it was the undulating garden and the patio overlooking the lawn,” Khoo recalls. “Those, we knew, had to stay.”

His renovation brief was clear: keep the bones, stick to a lean budget, and give the house a contemporary lift without erasing its character.

The result is a space that balances openness with privacy, heritage with innovation, and a sanctuary designed for multigenerational living.

Part of the home’s allure is its setting. Bampfylde, long regarded as one of Kuching’s greenest and most established neighbourhoods, appealed with its “matured calm”, Khoo says.

The retained arched porticos contrast with the new facade’s clean lines and integrated landscaping. Photo: Design Network Architects

“It’s close enough to the parklands for a morning stroll, yet just a short hop to Kuching’s CBD. From the start, we knew the renovation had to be a sensitive intervention. Nothing too loud, nor trying too hard – just elegant lines that settle naturally into their surroundings.”

Khoo insisted that greenery remains central. New layers of soft landscaping were introduced to stitch the building seamlessly into its environment, while architectural updates respected the original structure.

The house, he explains, needed to “harmonise with its neighbours in scale and spirit, while quietly introducing a sense of freshness”.

The property had already undergone a major renovation once before, so Khoo avoided “major surgery”.

The design intentionally kept the detailed plaster ceiling with cornices from the ‘90s, blending them with modern lighting and furnishings to create a comfortable, updated space. Photo: Design Network Architects

“The build quality was impressive – granite floors, plaster ceilings with cornices, chandeliers and timber panelling. It had plenty of character but felt dated and tired,” he shares.

“Our goal wasn’t to strip it bare, but to honour its craftsmanship while giving it the freshness it needed to welcome a new chapter.”

Certain aspects, however, required inventive solutions. The western sun baked parts of the home, so Khoo added sleek aluminium sun-filter screens.

Parking was tight, so a raised garden platform with gabion walls created extra space for guests while doubling as a welcoming pathway.

A fully white kitchen, designed for practicality, is located next to the dining area. Photo: Kelvin Chan Photography

The kitchen once lacked direct access to the dining room – “a cruel joke for anyone carrying hot dishes”, he laughs – so Khoo redesigned the layout with a soaring double-volume dining space and a sculptural spiral staircase at its heart.

That staircase has become the home’s defining feature.

Positioned right at the central atrium, it anchors the home visually and spatially.

“The spiral staircase is more than just a way to move between floors,” Khoo explains.

“Crafted from steel with generously widening steps, it is practical for both grandparents and children. For the young ones, it doubles as a play structure; for the adults, it’s a sculptural centrepiece that makes an architectural statement.

“In many ways, the staircase acts as a connector – not only between levels, but between generations.”

The former patio was transformed into a new lobby-sunroom with a glazed skylight and large arched windows, to serve as a primary social hub. Photo: Kelvin Chan Photography

From almost every corner of the house, the eye is drawn to its sweeping curves – a deliberate counterpoint to the rectilinear framework of the original structure.

If the staircase defines the interior, the patio remains the true soul of the family.

“This is where everything happens – birthdays, dinners with friends, even lively ping-pong matches with the kids,” Khoo says.

Opening to the garden, it is a breezy, sunlit hub where family and guests naturally gravitate.

Another striking transformation seen at the house is the creation of an external skin at the upper level.

The once-Spanish facade now wears a veil of perforated aluminium panels, 10cm x 10cm in size, which shift gently in the wind.

“They filter the sun while allowing glimpses of the original house behind,” Khoo explains.

“The effect plays between transparency and opacity, adding intrigue to the design. The panels also prevent leaves from clogging gutters and double as safe walkways for roof maintenance.”

The result is a look that feels alive – kinetic, dynamic and contemporary, while still rooted in its history.

 

Lessons in renovation

 

Khoo says designing for one’s own family comes with more freedom, but also more pressure.Renovating an old house, Khoo admits, is often more about restraint than ambition.

“Sometimes the hardest part isn’t deciding what to add – it’s deciding what not to do,” he reflects.

“Every change has a domino effect. Each decision had to be weighed carefully: was the design impact worth the ripple of extra work – and extra cost – that would follow?”

That philosophy of balance also guided the treatment of the granite floors. Initially, the maroon stone felt heavy and dated. But tearing it out would have been wasteful, says Khoo.

“When the new spiral staircase went up in a deep maroon shade, suddenly it clicked. The staircase and granite spoke the same language. What once felt like a design headache became an elegant anchor for the interior.”

As both architect and homeowner, Khoo acknowledges the emotional weight of the project.

“Designing for your own family comes with more freedom, but also more pressure. Every detail feels more personal. And when the financing comes from your own pocket, every item on the budget shouts louder,” he laughs.

Some choices, he admits, might never have been suggested to a client – like refreshing old bathroom tiles with epoxy paint instead of retiling.

“It was unconventional, but it worked beautifully. Sometimes, the boldest ideas are the ones you can only test at home.”

Reflecting on the journey, Khoo sees Bampfylde House as an example of how older homes in Malaysia can be reimagined.

“The goal is never to erase history, but to honour it. Preserve what gives a home its soul, while introducing the comfort, functionality and sustainability modern living demands.

“The old and the new can coexist – and when they complement each other, they elevate one another.”

 

Woven elements

 

The original garden slopes and steps of the house were also retained to create a scenic pathway.While the project began as a home for Khoo’s daughter and her young family, it evolved into something larger – a multi-generational residence.

“Like many, the pandemic made us rethink what ‘home’ really means,” he reflects.

“Apartment living isn’t ideal for young families with kids. A landed property offers more space, bigger rooms and most importantly, a garden. As the family grows, so does the list of must-haves.”

Today, three generations comfortably live in the Bampfylde House. Bedrooms are designed with individual ensuites for convenience.

A self-contained granny flat or accessory dwelling unit on the ground floor gives elders privacy and independence while allowing them to remain close to family.

Flexible spaces double as guest rooms, studies or hobby dens. Even the kitchen and dining areas were designed with gatherings in mind – from intimate meals at a round table to large family feasts at a long dining table.

“A multi-generational house is more than just extra rooms,” Khoo stresses. “It’s about balance, generous communal zones paired with self-contained private quarters. That’s what makes communal living harmonious rather than overwhelming.”

Perhaps the greatest success of Bampfylde House lies not in any single design element, but in the way its spaces invite life to unfold.

Generations overlap in the atrium, where children race around the spiral staircase. Grandparents tend to the garden alongside little ones. The patio fills with laughter during birthdays and evening dinners.

“What makes the house truly compelling isn’t a single feature,” Khoo reflects. “It’s the way all the elements – interiors, outdoor spaces and the architectural skin – are woven together.

“The new doesn’t erase the old. In the process of introducing the new, we’ve come to treasure the old even more.”

Bampfylde House, then, is more than just a home; it is a stage where memories and possibilities meet – a place where the past is honoured, the present is lived fully, and the future is built with room for generations to come, he concludes.