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DOTY 2026 Best Residential Design (High-Rise – Gold): Art by Three Sdn Bhd – Sri Kia Peng Residence

June 4, 2026

This condominium in Kuala Lumpur City Centre designed by Art by Three Sdn Bhd was first featured in Designer Concept Issue 91.

Image courtesy of Art by Three Sdn Bhd

A NEO-CLASSICAL SYMPHONY IN THE SKY

A grand residence that reimagines high-rise living as a timeless estate defined by symmetry, proportion, and regal warmth.

In Kuala Lumpur’s city centre, a 6,500 sqft residence redefines the concept of high-rise luxury, offering a bungalow in the sky experience that marries the romance of the mid-18th century with the restrained elegance of modern living.

To dwell in the heart of the metropolis is often a compromise on space, yet this sprawling condominium at Sri Kia Peng Residence commands a volume that is nothing short of majestic. For Design Director Nicole Oh of Art By Three, the vast floor plan presented a unique challenge: how to domesticate such grand proportions without diluting the sense of occasion. The answer was found in a curated Neo-Classical Concept, a design language that relies on the purity of architectural bones, such as cornices, mouldings, and symmetry, to create a home that feels both regal and intimately habitable.

Image courtesy of Art by Three Sdn Bhd

Upon crossing the threshold, the sheer scale of the residence becomes apparent, yet it is immediately grounded by a sense of rhythmic harmony. The design philosophy steers clear of the heavy ornamentation often associated with traditional classicism. Instead, the team employed different types of wood mouldings to emphasize clean lines, creating walls that offer depth, proportion, and a tactile richness. This approach creates a timeless look, preserving the essence of the mid-18th century while ensuring the space remains modern.

Anchoring the social heart of the home is the dining hall. Here lies the home’s undisputed focal point: a magnificent glass mosaic peacock mural. Hand-cut with meticulous planning and placement, this feature wall is less decoration and more installation art. The mural introduces a splash of verdant greens and teals, contrasting beautifully against the room’s otherwise muted colour palette and accentuating the luxurious feel of the marble flooring beneath. Under the glow of an intricate multi-tiered chandelier, the dining area becomes a theatre of dining, seamlessly blending art with function.

Image courtesy of Art by Three Sdn Bhd

In the living areas, the rigid symmetry of the architecture is softened by the furniture selection. Curved sofas and rounded ottomans in soft greys and champagnes invite touch, breaking the linear monotony and encouraging conversation. The interplay of light is masterfully handled here; sunlight filters through sheer drapery, catching the glint of brass-gold detailing and polished marble, creating an ambience that is ethereal by day and opulent by night.

Image courtesy of Art by Three Sdn Bhd

While the living zones celebrate classical grandeur, the culinary and private quarters offer a sleek, modern counterpoint. The dry kitchen, defined by rich walnut tones and a substantial island, provides a grounded, functional luxury that serves the practicalities of daily life. Meanwhile, the bathrooms are envisioned as private sanctuaries, clad in extensive marble and accented with gold fixtures, echoing the spa-like serenity of the world’s finest hotels.

In this Sri Kia Peng residence, Art By Three has achieved a delicate equilibrium. It is a home that honours the past through its classical inspirations but lives firmly in the present, a sanctuary of silence and style above the city’s roar.

Image courtesy of Art by Three Sdn Bhd
About the Designer of the Year Awards and Best Residential Design

The Designer of the Year Award (DOTY) aspires to discover and honour the exceptional works of talented designers from Malaysia and beyond. It sets the benchmark of excellence in design and is committed to championing them in architecture and interior.

The theme of DOTY 2026, “Celebrating Design Intelligence”, highlights how design has evolved beyond mere aesthetics to encompass functionality and sustainability, where user experience, environmentally-friendly materials and technology integration are essential to well-being and efficiency.

Designers who have transformed mere houses into ultimate dream homes through their ingenuity and attention to detail are awarded Best Residential Design. Their projects, which are either landed or high-rise, are featured in Designer Concept.

Visit doty.com.my for more information.