The beauty of 8 Conlay – branded serviced residences in the heart of Kuala Lumpur’s Golden Triangle – comes from its original seed of inspiration. “Ultimate luxury in the form of serviced residences should mean that everything is taken care of for you, so all you do is create your own space, personal stories and happy memories,” says KSK Group Berhad’s CEO Joanne Kua. Six years ago, KSK Land had set out with its dream to create the two residential towers and a Kempinski hotel with residences atop a nine-storey lifestyle retail podium known in entirety as 8 Conlay. Since then, it has continually unveiled a series of star designers, architects and updates which promise to make this project – once completed by the second half of next year – one to behold.
By enlisting Yoo as its interior design, the project benefitted from the expertise of its founders John Hitchcox and Philippe Starck, as well as its deep talent field as the world’s largest residential design brand. The formidable names of Steve Leung for Tower A and Kelly Hoppen for Tower B has allowed for signature touches of Yoo’s revolutionary design vision to become a reality. “What is important is that Yoo’s design reflects cohesion, and an understanding of designing for communities,” Kua says. The public spaces then becomes much more than just the accommodations, it is also a place to bring like-minded individuals together.
Another example of this extra mileage is in the bathrooms of Tower B units by Kelly Hoppen which almost evenly match the master bedroom’s proportions. Hoppen’s appreciation of the bathroom as a space where early morning and late night rituals are spent is why she has conceived a capacious space with ingenious design touches to reflect the ideas of Urban and Spring. The latter two are reflected in bronze accents and her Origami bathtub produced in collaboration with leading marble bathware company Apaiser.
On the level 26 Water Lounge and level 44 Green Refuge, the sensibilities of its landscape architect Pok Kobkongsanti – founder of Thai-based Trop design studio is clearly evident. “I remember when Pok first came to Kuala Lumpur – he was so taken by the many green lungs we had in the city that it inspired him to transmit the essence of a rainforest – that sense of calm – to 8 Conlay,” Kua says. This translated into a water droplet-styled swimming pool design with sitting pots, and undulating tracks and yoga decks lined with ferns, both commanding sweeping views of the city around it.
Beyond building a great space – the curvilinear towers of 8 Conlay are the product of architect Hud Bakar – 8 Conlay will also integrate the first-ever Kempinski serviced residences, which comes from the adjacent hotel. “We had the Kempinski team’s input from the start where they advised on the backend required to support services, as well as what was required to create a level of hospitality which they are accustomed to,” Kua points out. This can mean that residents would be able to request for a chef and kitchen team for private dinner parties at their own homes, as well as nanny services.
“I’ve always enjoyed staying at the Kempinski because of their dedication to bespoke experiences, whereby they set the stage to frame perfect moments through remembering your preferences and attention to details such as handwritten – never typed – birthday notes,” she says, adding, “that relationship which they build with people is the extra value which our residents buy into, giving them a proper sense of place and belonging.”
