Home tour: inside a Mediterranean-inspired clubhouse in Malaysia designed for hosting

The clients are a couple, with the owner being a prominent F&B entrepreneur. Lim had worked with them previously on several of their F&B outlets over the years, establishing a relationship that proved essential to the project. “I have known the clients for many years, having previously worked together on several of their F&B outlets,” Lim says. “That long-standing relationship established a strong foundation of trust, which played a key role in the development of this project.”

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They approached him with an unusual brief for the ancillary structure on their property, one that prioritised entertaining over conventional domestic programming. “They were open-minded and deeply trusting of the design process, allowing us to explore unconventional spatial ideas and architectural expressions,” he notes. The Mediterranean-inspired clubhouse is organised around social ritual, a retreat designed specifically for hosting.

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Lim describes the overarching concept as “quiet monumentality, spaces that feel grounded and architectural, yet intimate.” This is achieved through what he calls Mediterranean principles: proportion, rhythm, and the interplay of light and texture. The approach is not about recreating a specific regional style but instead interpreting its sensibilities. “Rather than recreating a specific regional style, the design interprets Mediterranean principles in a contemporary manner,” he explains.

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The material palette is restrained and earth-toned: warm timber floors, textured plaster walls, light-toned stone surfaces, and woven elements. “These choices reflect Mediterranean sensibilities where materials are celebrated for their natural imperfections,” Lim notes. In the dining space, timber creates continuity across the floor and custom joinery, while layered pendant lights from Big Brain cast a warm, diffused glow. The repetition of rounded columns establishes rhythm without ornamentation.

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The dining area, which Lim considers one of his favourite parts of the completed project, serves as the social heart of the Mediterranean-inspired clubhouse. Custom pendant lights hang above a table, surrounded by ash-wood braided rope dining chairs from Forest Furniture and leatherette bar stools. The effect is warm but controlled, encouraging gathering without feeling staged.

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Adjacent to the dining area is the art gallery space, designed with what Lim describes as generous wall proportions and controlled lighting. “The art gallery space is more contemplative, designed with generous wall proportions, controlled lighting, and a restrained material backdrop that allows the artworks to stand quietly on their own,” he says. The collection focuses on renowned Malaysian artist Awang Damit Ahmad. Picasso auction pieces and Mickivader sculptures, the latter gifted to the owner by a late friend, punctuate the space without crowding it.

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In the main living area, a Roche Bobois Mah Jong sofa upholstered in Jean Paul Gaultier couture fabric provides the only real gesture towards pattern. The 1971 Hans Hopfer design sits beneath a wellness rug by Malaysian artist Rinko Lim, its nine modular elements arranged for conversation rather than display. The rest of the furnishings, Norr 11’s Studio Sofa and Nomad Chair, a Cubism coffee table, and a Bolia Mielo armchair maintain the neutral palette. A King Living Jasper coffee table in travertine stone is the only decorative indulgence, its natural veining offering visual interest without colour.

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The luxury objects dotted throughout are almost imperceptible and chosen for their design rather than provenance. Hermès furniture includes Sellier armchairs, a Matières Daybed, and Les Trotteuses occasional tables. A Louis Vuitton Courrier Lozine 110 trunk sits in one corner. St Louis crystal, including a levitating chess set, is displayed with the casualness of everyday objects. 

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Artist James Seet created a site-specific installation titled ‘The Whimsical Magic echoing Cirque du Soleil.’ The conceptual work features sculptural clouds in varied sizes, suspended at different heights to create a floating, dreamlike atmosphere. Interspersed among the clouds are playful, acrobatic figures frozen in mid-performance, trapeze artists, dancers, and characters in vibrant costumes, capturing the energy and theatricality of a live show. The installation suggests a moment of celebration and imagination, movement raining down from above.

Floral arrangements throughout are by Zahuohang. In the entry, branches are arranged in a large white vessel, described  poetically as “branches trace the gesture of wind, echoing the soft architecture of time.”

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One of the main challenges, Lim notes, was working within the constraints of the existing structure. “The house was not originally designed to accommodate the level of spatial openness, curved architectural elements, and specialised entertainment spaces required by the brief,” he explains. Introducing the art gallery, private bar, and cigar lounge meant negotiating structural limitations and existing ceiling heights. “Much of the design process involved reworking internal circulation and proportions to allow the spaces to feel connected and fluid, while respecting the original building envelope.”

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Sustainability was addressed through passive strategies rather than technology. Large openings allow natural daylight to reduce dependence on artificial lighting. Material choices prioritised durability and longevity, “aligning with the Mediterranean philosophy of timelessness,” Lim says.

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The clients have responded positively to the completed Mediterranean-inspired clubhouse, particularly enjoying how it supports both intimate dinners at the omakase bar and larger gatherings. “This balance has made the home feel personal, lived-in, and genuinely enjoyable for them,” Lim notes. 

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