For this private family home, located in Meru Valley, Ipoh, the property has the panoramic advantage of mountainous landscape and natural surroundings that the valley is known for. Built on a site that sits within a valley, with views of the Titiwangsa mountain range to the West and North West, the site benefitted from its surrounding forest reserves, giving the house a natural backdrop.
Taking the triangular site into consideration, the design approach was to build the house with inter-connected blocks, effectively creating open courtyards within living, dining and family spaces, surrounded by outdoor gardens. The living area is a standalone pavilion surrounded by a bamboo garden and a central courtyard, subtly turning spaces inside out. The open skylights in the light-filled grand dining hall are controlled by motorised blackout blinds.
The upper floors consist of a family space and three en-suite bedrooms, with an interesting play of level changes and volumes. These areas are connected by a walnut-veneered helical stairs, with ribbon-like handrail that spirals through a central double height void. Two loft bedrooms form the top level, discretely carved into the pitched of the floating barn roof.
The house was built upon a passive design and an energy-efficient methodology. The design team took into account the building orientation, prevailing wind directions, and tropical monsoon season patterns. As part of an overall ventilation and heat movement plan, a wind catcher is employed to cool the inside of the house, in conjunction with two strategically situated courtyards.
Hot air is drawn upward due to temperature gradient, assisted by prevailing wind flowing pass the catcher, creating stack effect through volumetric play. Greater airflow is enhanced with cross ventilation louvers at various height levels. Deep recessed verandas, balconies and vertical fins are part of the key elements of passive design. In addition, the veranda is located around the perimeter of the house, which forms a filtering element of the house from the hot sun, as well as the tropical rainstorm.
In this home, the family gets to enjoy their garden and experience outdoor living whenever possible. There is an on-site rainwater harvesting system whereby rainwater is collected and stored in an underground concrete tank, keeping the water cooled below ground. Although it is uncommon in Malaysia, a double brick cavity wall is used for all external walls. The cavity wall helps to alleviate the excessive heat gain exposure as well as maintaining an indoor climate comfort.