Pantai Miami, Batu Ferringhi, George Town

Not many investors searching for a home on the northern shore of Penang would recognise the potential in a neglected mid-1980s shophouse wedged in a row of equally uninspiring commercial and industrial three-storey buildings. But in 2009, when an online search led psychotherapist Liz McIlhagger to photographs of the property that would become her second home, she and husband Des Ng, a Malaysian architect specialising in eco-sustainable design, saw a diamond in the rough.

The photographs showed a dark, dingy building that had housed a carpentry workshop on the ground floor and a travel agency on the first and second storeys, broken into office partitions. Inspecting the property in person, Des’s brother relayed more images of mildewed wall-to-wall carpeting, suspended plasterboard ceilings, and termite-riddled door and window frames. (He also pronounced the property “too industrial.”) Undeterred — and buoyed by a Google Maps search that showed the property to be close to a beach — Des and Liz purchased it in 2010 and moved in after nine months of design work and renovations. They now split their time between Oiduts House, the Penang property, and their primary home in Coleraine, Ireland.

The couple traced a circuitous road to Penang. After meeting at university in the United Kingdom in the mid-1970s, Liz and Des, who was born in Malacca, lived peripatetically. From the mid-80s through the 90s, Des worked primarily on large-scale, high-rise projects in the UK, Oman, Bahrain, New Zealand, American Samoa, Brunei, Singapore and Malaysia. Just before the turn of the century they moved to Northern Ireland, taking along fond memories of their years in Kuala Lumpur, Johor Bahru and Sabah.

When the couple decided to look for a property in Malaysia, Penang was at the top of their list. “We were looking for somewhere with sun, sand, sea, food and culture, and Penang ticked all the boxes,” says Des. Turned off by Kuala Lumpur’s “mega-structure” raised rail lines and elevated freeways, they were drawn to Penang’s human-scale public transport — a bus system threads throughout the island, which is also serviced by taxis and car share services Grab and Uber.

In recent years, Penang property has become a magnet for foreign investors. Most plump for sea-view condos, heritage shop houses in George Town, or sprawling villas in gated communities. The couple saw disadvantages in all, however. With condos, says Liz, “there’s a problem of maintenance when there are too few owner-occupiers,” a factor over which the buyer has no control. Des grew up in a Chinese shop house in Malacca, and he dislikes that kind of dwelling’s proximity to the street. Because they wanted a home that would hew to their eco-sustainable ethos, an aesthetics-driven villa was also out of the question.

An extensive experience in retrofitting and refurbishment enabled Liz and Des to undertake a project that might have scared away other investors. In Ireland they transformed two stables into studio apartments and a small railway station into a dwelling and have modernised two Victorian town houses, one of which is their Coleraine home.

“Each of the projects was a learning experience that culminated in Oiduts House,” says Liz. “We immediately saw the potentials in this property, with its large floor area – more than 371 square metres – and we came in prepared to pursue functionality in a tall, narrow structure.”

After the purchase the couple flew to Penang to assess the state of the property and take measurements. They found a view of the Andaman Sea from the second floor of the house, which is a five-minute walk to a small beach, and a green hill directly behind. “It’s a natural habitat for tree monkeys, iguanas, birds and butterflies, all of which we can see from our kitchen and dining spaces – a great bonus!” says Des.

The couple started drawing up plans by introducing a large air well into the centre of the Penang property for maximum ventilation and light. A rain-sensor horizontal shutter allows the air well to open to the sky most of the time. Taking a cue from the layout in Victorian houses, in which lesser rooms are relegated to the ground floor, guests are received in a drawing room on the first floor. Des and Liz placed the living room, dining room and kitchen on the top floor to take advantage of the views and cross-breezes. Floor-to-ceiling louvered windows bring in much more air than conventional windows and have enabled the couple to reduce their electricity costs by 50 to 60 percent.

Oduits House naturally hews to the principles of feng shui, “the mother of eco- sustainability,” says Des. The property’s refreshed but sedate façade gives no hint that a sleek, comfortable home lies within. Entering through a plain door, one’s eye is drawn upward to where light floods in through the air well. A new open-thread timber staircase leads first to the mezzanine level, added to take advantage of the double-height ground floor and reclaim living space lost to the air well. Braced by an exposed steel support beam, it houses a glassed-in office and a small library.

Old floor screed was hacked away during the renovation to reveal vintage terrazzo tiles on the first floor. On this level three bedrooms — two of which Des and Liz rent out on Airbnb—march down a long narrow corridor illuminated by the air well and two glass-brick walls. Two bedrooms boast a wall of louvers opening onto the air well, while the rear master suite looks onto the hill behind the house.

The second-floor living area flows seamlessly from the living area and open terrace at the front of the house to the open-plan kitchen and dining areas at the back. It is a cool, serene oasis on even the hottest of days and where Des and Liz spend most of their time. “Our vision was to have a light and airy home designed for living in and to be enjoyed! We believe we achieved that,” says Liz.

Judging from Oiduts House, the advantages to thinking outside the box when it comes to considering properties as a potential home can be great. Good design is key, says Des, for “from that everything else will flow naturally.” And once the renovation is complete, “you’ll get a great satisfaction from doing something special and unique.”

3½ floors of a unique contemporary boutique townhouse - the design: a distinctive bespoke cross between high-tech and traditional ‘shophouse’, with an amazing eco-sustainable modern interior incorporating Natural Lighting and Cross Ventilation through a central landscaped courtyard and atrium. Fully equipped, ready for immediate occupancy.This property has all the attributes of Western living taking advantage of the Asian setting, the greenery, the sea views and the climate, with the cross ventilation ensuring cool spaces,with ancillary air-conditioning but usually not necessary.

Location
The property is located on Penang Island,along the main BatuFerringhicoastal road, just 5 minutes’ walk from the scenic Pantai Miami beach,Penang’s internationally renowned beach area - 12 km from Georgetown. Beside the Hilton Double Tree Resort, in a safe, high-end residential catchment, with other luxury international hotels nearby - such as Shangri-La Rasa Sayang Resort & Spa, Lone Pine Hotel, Bayview and the Hilton.

Description
This property is uniquely designed as an inverted upside-down, inside-outside home. The main ‘Living’ spaces – the large and spacious Lounge, Dining and Kitchen, are accommodated on the top floor to take advantage of the ambience of the surrounding green landscape and views of the Andaman Sea and beach.

The property has the added option of functioning as 2 semi-independent units, each with their own access / entrance.
The ground and 2 separate mezzanine levels accommodate a lower separate lounge, dining, kitchenette area, with 3 double bedrooms(1 with en-suite bathroom) and a separate bathroom,enabling visiting family and friends to have their own privacy.
On the First and Second floor levels is the main upper living and entertaining areas with a further 3 bedrooms (2 with en-suite bathrooms) and a dedicated bathroom.

6 Double Bedrooms (3 en-suite)
Total 5 Bathrooms + 1 Powder room / Toilet
2 Lounges (Lower & Upper)
2 Dining Spaces (Lower & Upper)
Main Kitchen / Dining
Upper level balcony with views for entertaining.
Internal landscaped Atrium.
Sky Deck with complete privacy suitable for entertaining large dinner parties. Protected from the elements by a manually operated horizontal shutter system which automatically shuts when it rains.
Upper level Balcony with views and seating for entertaining.
Internal landscaped courtyard bringing sunlight and natural air into the building, with an indoor-outdoor sitting area.
Landscaped galleriesonto the atrium, creating a bright and airy interior.
Staircase to Roof.
Secure Parking.
Fully Equipped
Built-in bedrooms wardrobes with louvred doors to keep clothes aired.

A kitchen and utility that provide all equipment to accommodate both Western and Asian entertaining and living requirements

Eco-Sustainable.
Low electricity consumption.
Kitchen and bathrooms hot water supplied by a solar panel water heater on the roof.
All rooms are bright and airy, including the bedrooms with high glass louvre windows to allow maximum sunlight and natural ventilation.
All bedrooms look onto the landscaped courtyard, creating a delightful bright and airy amazing interior.
Tinted glass sliding doors.

Accommodation
Ground & 2 Mezzanine Floors
Currently fitted out as a fully independent unit which could alternatively be used as office / commercial space.


Description
Ground
Landscaped Garden
Inside-Outside Sitting Area / Drive-in Garage
Entrance Hall with Spiral staircase to Mezzanine 1
Inner Hall / Gallery – Stairs to Mezzanine 2
Lounge-Dining-Kitchenette
Double Bedroom
Bathroom

Mezzanine 1
Double Bedroom with En-suite Bathroom
Mezzanine 2
Double Bedroom

First & Second Floors
Main Living and Entertaining

First Floor
Landscaped gallery opened to atrium
Master Bedroom En-suite bathroom

L1 Gallery
Study
Bathroom
Double Bedroom
Understair Storeroom
Double Bedroom with Ensuite Bathroom

Second Floor
L2_Gallery
Balcony
Lounge
Dining
Kitchen
White designer kitchen cabinets and larder
Reading
Utility
Sky Deck
Powder room / Toilet
Store Room
Folding Staircase to roof