Loob Holding Founder And CEO Bryan Loo Takes Us On A Tour Of His Art House And Shares His Secrets Of Success

Sometimes, a single idea is all it takes to change the course of Malaysia’s F&B trends. That’s what happened when Sally Quah introduced Bryan Loo to bubble tea in Australia, inspiring him to embark on this business in Malaysia in 2010 with Chatime. By 2017, Tealive was launched and has since become a mainstay in the local and regional scenes, with more than 950 outlets across three continents and serving more than five million customers monthly.

“I’ve enjoyed business since young. My first venture was drawing comic books at seven, which I rented out to my classmates for 50 sens a read,” Loo shares. “By the time I was nine, I had moved on to trading bicycles—cleaning and refurbishing them before reselling them.”

When Loo opened his first bubble tea store, it started small, but he took it one step at a time. “My biggest vision back then was to reach 20 stores, then 50, then 100. Now, we have more than 1,000 stores across all our F&B brands,” he says. Over the years, Tealive has also rapidly grown into the fast-moving consumer goods sector, with its fun packs and tea kits. “It’s all about making the brand a true household name,” he adds.

Strengthening its domestic presence is just one part of his long list of goals. “Taking a Malaysian brand abroad was another dream come true, and opening our first store in Vietnam was a defining moment for us,” he notes.

Today, Loo serves as the CEO of Loob Holding—a multi-brand F&B organisation that also includes brands such as Bask Bear Coffee, famed for its speciality coffee and signature toasties, and kombucha brand WonderBrew. He also continues to steer Tealive as a regional powerhouse, with a presence in 12 countries extending beyond Southeast Asia to markets such as Mauritius and Canada.

For their next growth phase, Loo has appointed a chief commercial officer from a top Chinese F&B brand to join his leadership team, and he is confident that this move will allow the brand to surpass its current standing. “To reach 5,000 stores as they did in China, we need a leader who has done it before to take us on a completely new journey.”

A Passion Project

Behind the business hustle, there’s an unexpected side to Loo that few get to see. “I love art, and I’ve always wanted to have a space of my own to display everything that Sally and I have collected throughout the years,” he explains, as he takes Robb Report Malaysia on a tour of his gallery house. “I wanted something muted, Mediterranean, almost monotone, so that when all the art is in place, they really stand out.”

Matthew Lim, founder and principal of Matthew Lim Associates, who brought that interior concept to life, says: “A muted interior does not mean a quiet one. It simply shifts the focus from colour to nuance.”

To avoid a flat, one-dimensional design, Lim incorporates natural materials and toys with light and shadow. “Subtle variations in texture, such as limewash walls, soft textiles, natural stone, and timber, create a tactile backdrop that holds visual interest without competing with the artworks,” the designer reveals. “Lighting also plays a critical role. Rather than uniform illumination, we introduced a hierarchy of light—accent, ambient, and diffused— to gently draw attention to the collections while allowing the space to breathe.”

The 13,400 sq ft art home, split across three floors, doubles as a clubhouse, designed for entertaining and hosting. In the living hall and dining room, music flows from the K-Array speakers to set the atmosphere. According to Lim, some of the furniture was chosen to harmonise, while others enliven the space with contrast. In the karaoke room and salon, the Norr11 Studio sofa and Hermès Sellier armchairs echo the soft palette of the overall theme for a calming effect.

Meanwhile, key statement pieces are featured at the upper-level lounge and gentleman’s den to bring individuality to the space. The Chesterfield sofas and Roche Bobois Mah Jong sofa dressed in Jean Paul Gaultier fabric, for example, were chosen for their strong identities and sculptural presence. “They act almost like functional art within the interior, complementing Bryan’s collection without mimicking it,” Lim shares.

From the sky terrace, more of the house comes into view as it overlooks the wellness area below. It comprises a swimming pool, a gym with Technogym equipment, pickleball and basketball courts, and a cosy conversation pit, alongside a vast courtyard with an ancient wild almond tree. At the heart of the estate, the striking arched roof is best appreciated from this vantage point. “When we studied the architecture of Mediterranean villas, we were inspired by the arches and stucco walls,” describes architect Edric Choo, principal and director of O2 Design Atelier. Upon closer inspection, Choo also reveals that the stucco material extends to cover not only the walls but also the ceilings.

Within The Vault

All around the house, there’s a piece of art waiting to be discovered, including surprising pieces in the wine cellar. And though the stucco detailing on the ceiling may be too subtle to draw the eye upwards, a breathtaking ceiling installation by ceramic artist James Seet, instantly commands attention. Inspired by the fantastical performances of Cirque du Soleil, Seet has turned the double-volume foyer into a circus in the sky, complete with acrobats, contortionists, clowns, and a juggling bear.

“My interest in art has always been there, but I got more serious about collecting them during the pandemic,” Loo says. “The first piece I collected was from an artist called Rafiee Ghani, which is now displayed in our karaoke room.”

Since his first acquisition, Loo has come to realise his fascination with tribal motifs, leading him towards Awang Damit Ahmad’s paintings, whose brushstrokes seem to translate the patterns of the artist’s life in the Sabah countryside. “I’ve collected some of his works that were made in the 1970s through to now,” Loo says. “As he grew older, his later artworks show stronger brushwork compared with the refined ones from the 1970s. It really shows his artistic journey.”

Besides the intricate expression of his fine art collection, Loo is also drawn to the vibrant energy of pop art. His Bearbrick collection along his staircases says it all. But even more fascinating are the Mickivader figurines next to a customised Mickiv painting by artist Arkiv Vilmansa. “He’s redefining the classic Mickey Mouse in his own style, and it resonates with the masses because it’s so relatable—everyone grew up with the cartoon,” Loo explains. “His unique expression also created a signature that people could instantly recognise as a piece by Arkiv.”

Pay It Forward

As the founder of a homegrown brand, Loo understands the struggles that local talents face. “I would like to support others, just as my father supported me when I started my career,” he expresses. Now with his new home as a platform for spotlighting the next generation of creatives, he’s keen to open doors for those demonstrating artistic promise and potential. “My gallery house has always been for the family to appreciate. It’s never been shared with others,” he continues. “If I can use the space to empower the industry, it would be much more meaningful.”

Hence, every four months, Loo intends to convert his home into an exhibition dedicated to emerging artists. Through his patronage, he seeks to invest in select pieces while offering the artists a connection with a private community of collectors.

For now, Loo has his sights set on working with artist Alexdrina Chong. “She reminds me of Yayoi Kusama,” he says, mesmerised by Chong’s creativity. “When I look at her work, each expression tells a story. The more I learn about her journey, the more I appreciate her art.” To Loo, the beauty of art doesn’t just lie in its appearance, but in understanding the reason behind every creation.

Loob Holding | Tealive

Lead image

On Bryan: Hermès short-sleeved polo in cotton, Palerme pants in ficelle, and Mallo shoes.
On Sally: Hermès manteau inspi trench, compact knit tank top, and compact knit shorts

Credits

Photographer, Producer, and Creative Direction: Jemmie Chew
Stylist: Birdy Lee
Photographer’s Assistants: Hailey Tan, Joyce Chua
Lighting: Herry Chia Ee
Make-up: Siiew Wen Lim
Makeup Assistant: Aggy Lim
Hair Stylist: Kay Tuan
Videographer: Tommy Chin
Video Assistant: Oscar Lee