Seremban House
Location
Seremban, Malaysia
Size
150 square metres
Status
In Progress
Located in a rural setting surrounded by jungle and hills, Seremban House overlooks its farm setting to take in views of the surrounding landscape. The 150 square metre house adopts several features of the traditional Malay house to facilitate passive thermal design to keep its occupants cool in the hot and humid tropical heat of Malaysia, and to root modern living in its context.
The house is designed to facilitate life on a permaculture farm. A series of volumes create the private areas of the home (bedrooms and bathrooms), while the living areas are defined by open spaces that capitalise on views of the farm and surrounding hills.
High, raked ceilings in the manner of traditional Malay houses allows heat to rise well above human height, while high level windows allow hot air to escape the house. The large roof provides protection to outdoor decks, allowing its owners to live outside in all tropical weather conditions. The floor is raised off the ground, allowing air to move underneath the house and carry heat away from the floor. Wet rooms (bathrooms and the wet kitchen) are designed as protected, outdoor spaces with good access to natural ventilation and courtyard views to integrate user experience with the environment.
The palette of concrete, glass, steel and timber is raw, and takes advantage of local construction techniques, however their arrangement creates a refined result.
The lines between inside and out are blurred in Seremban House, taking full advantage of natural ventilation and the site’s jungle setting.
Climatic devices found in the traditional Malay house are adapted in the design to suit modern living.
Project Team
Imran RadinJustin Lee