The absolutely hottest spot in Kuala Lumpur, Lane 23 by K2LD is all about having fun.

From sequined short-shorts and sneakers to Balenciaga and Gucci, Lane 23 is an extravaganza of nightclubbing hospitality that caters with precision. Dreamt up by close friends following an amazing night out in Kuala Lumpur (KL), the dream shifted to reality, with Melbourne– and KL-based practice, K2LD taking on the project.

The clients had recently moved to KL from Shanghai and were witnessing the emergence of the Tun Razak Exchange (TRX), the international business and financial district of KL. To give a sense of scale, the 28-hectare Lendlease mixed-use development will include 3,800 apartments and 28,300 car spaces. This is big, and Lane 23 is the first multi-level hospitality venue within the precinct, which has already attracted around 400 big names in retail with a first–to-market strategy drawing retail crowds.

Interestingly, neither the client or designers had a significant hospitality background. “We went on this journey together to learn about the club scene in Kuala Lumpur and also the culture,” says Marisa Hang, senior interior designer at K2LD who focused on the unique needs of the clientele. “As a predominantly Muslim country, you have to be respectful in how you design these areas… you don’t want it to be overtly showing alcohol or a really wild space that excludes half the community.”

This was the first of two key considerations. The second was catering to a clientele of high-net-worth individuals, including royalty. As such, Lane 23 is presented as a connected sequence of experiences. Starting at ground level the listening bar and bistro is faced by full-height glazing with integrated seating internally and externally to compound the connection to the laneway. Conversely, the red door between curving walls of amber glass bricks clearly says nightclub.

Related: A living laboratory at school

After being greeted at the large amber concierge station, guests take the stairs down into the club via a two-storey light installation that glows and twinkles around the entire room. Below the cushion clad staircase, a large array of creamy mustard lounges provides the perfect chill area with the thick padding of the conversation pit softening the beats from the main dance floor beyond. “It’s a cozy space to retreat away from the chaos if you’ve had a bit too much fun on the dance floor,” shares Hang.

The nightclub proper reinforces the idea of a lane, with the dance floor stretching straight out from the DJ booth to the parlour with clear visual connection and uninterrupted views. The large booths provide a contained sanctuary that affords privacy and security. They are also totally divine, with the forward placed booths featuring deep rose-pink pleated upholstery, and Rosso Levanto marble side tables with built-in ice buckets. The larger booths further along are subtler, in deep grey pleated velvet with large, internally illuminated ring pendants anchoring each space. Fine lighting along the floor line and backrests provides sufficient light for finding dropped phones et cetera, without interfering with the overall ambiance.

Rosso Levanto marble is also used generously for the main bar which has long horizontal pleated detailing. Taking inspiration from 70s interiors, the bar features a bronze angular facetted mirror splashback that blends into the ceiling above as a seamless continuation to the kinetic club feature lighting. The reflections of the club bounce off the mirrors to capture small moments from the surround activity, while huge, gathered curtains in deep rose frame the whole. “I think texture adds more detail and luxury to a project, and we’ve never seen this level of detail within a club before,” says Hang, adding, “I wanted to create the different facets of going out with your friends as really tangible moments.”

At the opposite end of the dance floor is the champagne bar. Here, champagne bottles are displayed as an installation surrounded by the pale pale gold of champagne tones and is quite remarkable. It also answers the flip side of the need to be demure elsewhere, as Hang notes: “After all, it is a nightclub, so you do need to have that pizazz.”

Facing the dance floor is the parlour, a circular room of amber glass blocks. This wonderful room is in fact the entrance to the bathrooms. Rather than stand in line and mingle with randoms, the room provides a place to take a moment, sit with your friend’s drink or just catch your breath. You might even meet new friends. And it is in here that the magical flipped mirror ball resides. Effectively deconstructing the idea of a disco, the large, illuminated pendant is surrounded by mirrors, so it is the ball of light that reflects and multiplies.

Conceived for a multicultural audience with specific needs, Lane 23 is also just a great club with a bespoke sound system from L’Acoustics (arguably the best in the world). So, slip into your party pants and get to KL quick smart for a great night out.

K2LD
k2ld.com

Photography
David Yeow