On the island of Penang, Jesselton reigns as its most prestigious neighbourhood and, within it, lies one mansion that stands apart thanks to its unrivalled architectural grandeur. Since it was erected in 1995, Villa Primavera has attracted the gaze with its lush, landscaped grounds and the dreamy French chateau-styled edifice among the majestic trees. Although it is a private estate and thus closed to the public, its wrought iron gates recently swung forth to admit Robb Report Malaysia for an exclusive tour and interview with its owners, Tan Sri (Dr) Fumihiko Konishi, founder and executive chairman of the Texchem Group, and his son Dr Yuma Konishi.
In 1973, the Texchem Group began as a textile chemical trading company and has since diversified into an empire spanning investment holdings, industrial, polymer engineering, food, restaurants, and more. Among Tan Sri Konishi’s many achievements are establishing Sushi King, which exists in more than 100 locations (and counting) around Peninsular Malaysia as well as Sabah and Sarawak.
Last year signalled the Konishi family’s generational progression, as Tan Sri Konishi entrusted the leadership of the group to Yuma, who currently serves as president and group CEO. On the home front, the family estate saw the introduction of a new annex, Villa Primavera 2, the fruition of a 30-year-long masterplan and blueprint which poetically mirrors the story of two generations, father and son.
Coming down the long cobblestone driveway from the main gate, we are greeted by the expansive garden. This flourishes with 169 varieties of plants, palms, and trees, interwoven with flowering shrubs and creeping vines, and dotted with limestone fountains and life-sized marble sculptures reminiscent of the Roman Empire, evoking the resplendence of Villa d’Este in Tivoli. Villa Primavera is a reflection of Tan Sri Konishi’s enduring love for Italy, with its interiors drawing inspiration from the Renaissance. The exteriors, reminiscent of French châteaux of the same era, echo the influence of Italian artisans invited by kings such as Francis I, who brought them to France to shape landmarks such as Château de Chambord. The façade was conceptualised by Italian-trained American architect Thomas Elliot and crafted from Palimanan stone. Imported materials from France and Italy underscore the authenticity of its design, while a pavilion tower crowns the structure, giving it both splendour and a distinctive silhouette.
Japan was Tan Sri Konishi’s place of birth but, after falling in love with Penang on his maiden voyage in 1968 on an Asian goodwill mission—incidentally, when he met his wife Puan Sri Atsuko Konishi—he resolved to return to the island. “I selected Penang rather than Ipoh, both known for their warm people, because the former offers the advantage of a port,” he says. In 1990, Tan Sri Konishi attained permanent residency status in Malaysia, which he considers one of his best achievements.
The First Chapter
In celebration of Villa Primavera’s 30th anniversary since it was completed in 1995, Tan Sri Konishi sits down with me to recall how it all began. “In 1993, I bought a 1.29ha plot of the most exclusive land in Jesselton by auction at the Kuala Lumpur High Court. However, I actually came up with the name Villa Primavera 10 years before I bought the land. There were many Brits living here, and they have a tradition of naming their houses. I chose Primavera because I first visited Italy in 1977 and have visited it probably more than a hundred times since. I inherited my love for the country from my father, who spoke constantly about it.”
He continues, “I went to the Uffizi Galleries in Florence and came across Primavera by Sandro Botticelli. I was truly mesmerised by it and returned every year to the city to have a look. With its flowers and foliage, it’s a celebration of the spring season and the rejuvenation of nature. The idea of this house came into fruition because of this painting.”
As striking as its exterior may be, the true enchantment of the manor reveals itself within, where the interiors are even more breathtaking. Tan Sri Konishi engaged Stefano Ficalbi, a professional Florentine artist—who was also part of the team that restored Botticelli’s masterpiece in 1982—to create a replica of Primavera, close in scale to the original. This was mounted in an antique gold leaf Tuscan frame, and currently acts as the crowning jewel of the main lounge, called Sala Primavera, or the Spring Room.
Another magnificent space is the formal banquet room, Sala Venezia, which transforms into a music hall for private concerts and recitals, and where Tan Sri Konishi often hosts the island’s elite. On one such occasion, guests had the privilege of hearing Russian pianist Sergei Glavatskih perform Beethoven’s Sonata Op. 13, Pathétique. For the performance, a Steinway & Sons B-211 grand piano was brought out. “As Sergei is familiar with the acoustics of my home, he travelled to the company’s Hamburg factory to personally play and select from 10 instruments, and he believes this may well be the finest piano in Malaysia,” Tan Sri Konishi says. Within Sala Venezia also hangs an enormous traditional coloured Murano glass chandelier, a signature of Venice, along with a splendid replica of a Canaletto painting depicting scenes of the city’s Grand Canal in the 18th century.
Every item in the house has been meticulously selected by Tan Sri Konishi as a reflection of his refined taste and extensive knowledge of Italian craftsmanship. Showcasing his attention to detail, even the air-conditioning vents are discreetly concealed within ceiling paintings featuring grotteschi subjects, ensuring harmony with the home’s Renaissance theme. “I actually ordered the chandelier ahead of time because it requires 15 months to complete,” he explains. “Meanwhile, my woven curtains came from a place that produces silk in Florence, while the tassels were selected separately.”
The Second And Final Chapter
Nearly three decades later, a new chapter was added to Villa Primavera. In June 2022, a single-storey annexe was conceptualised, preserving the stateliness and symmetry of Spanish and Italian architectural influences of the main building, while integrating contemporary interiors. A separate entrance gate, with a large porch laid out with cobblestones, greets guests. Here, a pavilion with mouldings and arches has also been carved out of palimanan stone and placed on the walls of the gazebo leading to the swimming pool. “This area, including the jet fountains, statues, and birdbaths, was inspired by the Alhambra Palace’s numerous canals and water features,” Tan Sri Konishi says.
Completed in May 2024, Villa Primavera 2 now serves as the private residence of Yuma and his wife, Mikiko, who relocated from their former home at Gurney Drive. Although part of the original blueprints, it was initially omitted by Tan Sri Konishi as he and his wife were the sole occupants at the time.
“The entire project required around two years of undertaking,” Yuma says. “We reassembled ‘The A-Team’ who had worked on the main house, which was no easy task 28 years on, as they’re all advanced in years now. Another challenge we faced was importing the construction materials and having a short labour force due to the restrictions of the Movement Control Order at the time.
“As it’s a one-storey house, we have an integrated kitchen-living area, two bedrooms, and one master bedroom spanning around 260 sq m,” Yuma continues. “It has a short roof that doesn’t trap heat, which is also used in countries with hot weather like Spain. Although the exterior was decided by my father, my wife and I decided on the more functional and modern way of living for the interiors.”
The space is adorned with a Minotti sofa, a Bösendorfer piano played by Mikiko, and a sculptural chandelier of glass leaves suspended on fine wires to evoke the sensation of foliage falling gently, bringing the outdoors in. The sole parallel with Villa Primavera 1 lies in the presence of customised Murano chandeliers.
With the first wing completed in 1995 and the second added nearly three decades later, the fully completed residence stands as the culmination of Tan Sri Konishi’s achievements—an enduring love letter to Italy and a distinguished symbol of legacy, marking the passage from father to son.
Continuing The Legacy Of Excellence
Yuma assumed his current role as president and group CEO after accumulating two decades of extensive experience in Texchem Group, including holding multiple leadership roles in the company. He notably served as president and CEO of the Polymer Engineering Division, driving growth through innovation and operational excellence that resulted in broadening the customer base, as well as expanding into the medical and life sciences sectors. Here, in his own words, Yuma shares what it means to assume the leadership role and how his father never pressured him into taking it on.
“My father never spoke of asking me to take over the family business. It just transpired organically. During dinner, he would engage me in conversations on business, economics, and politics, always asking for my views. I believe that practice laid the foundation for my fundamentals.
“I’ve improved focus on employee engagement by forming a Texchem Executive Team. I’ve brought in senior leaders from our five main divisions. I listen to their feedback and we hold a management review meeting every quarter, workshops, and other team-building initiatives. It takes up time, but it has shown to be quite effective.
“ESG is also a future priority for Texchem. We recently set up a start-up called Texchem Sustainable Sdn Bhd. This company will cover everything related to sustainability. In line with the global drive to reduce the consumption of petroleum-derived plastics, we have developed the TEXa Bio-Plastic series from non-edible agricultural waste that can be used to replace conventional plastics.
“I aim to modernise the organisation and bring fresh perspectives to propel Texchem to new heights through my new five management principles, which I modified from a Japanese management philosophy, to ensure our sustained success and growth. This includes kasegu (generating business growth, value, and revenue; 稼ぐ), kezuru (increasing productivity and efficiency through digital solutions; 削る), fusegu (safeguarding operations by mitigating risks; 防ぐ), kiwameru (to be the best of the best; 極める), and sodateru (empowering and developing employees and talents; 育てる).”
Photography by Norlman Lo and Staek Photography
