The client approached us to design atropical style house on a 1 acre piece of land

(Lot 518) on the hills of Tanarimba, Jandabaik. They requested for

a home that suited the cooler climate of Jandabaik that relied on natural

resources as much as possible.

The question that architects are often plagued with is how does one

build structures in the context of nature without destroying it. How can a

structure use nature as a point of inspiration or reference, how can the

structure lend itself to its natural surroundings without competing with it? On

the superficial level we can use natural materials that blend with the

environment like natural brick walls, off- form concrete and raw timber to

create a context in which architecture and nature can be in harmony. But how

can architecture go beyond just dictating the building form and materiality to

co-exist with nature?

The drive up the winding roads of Jandabaik pointed the direction. The

constant change of views as one moves through the landscape lent to the idea

that one’s experience of nature changes through time and space and elevation.

The distant hills changes in detail, colour and hue depending on the point of

view whilst traversing the landscape and details start to change as the morning

fog gives way to the sun penetrating the canopy of trees in the mid-afternoon.

What if the building becomes the observer of its surrounding much the

same way as nature is observed from different vistas and layers of space? We

decided to explore this possibility by creating spaces that do not seem

constant, that appears to change as one moves through the structure. Views are

captured form different spaces from differing angles to enhance the idea of

movement through the natural surroundings. This then became the point of

reference for the design and layout of the house with the effect of the

building not having any right-angle spaces. It grew organically in form as the

roof accentuated the layering hills in the distance. The organic form of the

plan was also interpreted through the building sections and elevations each

doing its part in celebrating the movement through nature and its surroundings.

The layout of the house was designed to meet the client’s brief of

having 5 bedrooms, living spaces and dining spaces and to take advantage of the

stunning views of the Genting peaks in the distance. The house was designed to

perch on the land by placing it on stilts thus minimising earthworks and

retaining walls and to preserve the existing steep slope and trees on the site

as much as possible. A BBQ terrace was created at the bottom of the site with a

pavilion structure facing a man-made retention pond which also doubled as a

rain-water harvesting tank by installing submersible pumps that circulated the

rain water collected to the irrigation of the 1 acre site.

Apart from using natural raw materials as much as possible, other

sustainable design elements were subtly infused into the building. For example

the client requested for a lift shaft in which they can install a lift if

needed when climbing up the stairs became difficult in the future. This led to

the idea of using the temporary shaft to create a wind chimney that could help

draw in the cool mountain breeze into the house giving rise to its distinct

appearance from front elevation. High-level motorised windows were also

provided to create natural air-movement within the house as it discharges the

hot-air through the folds in the roof. The owners informed us that they never

use the air-conditioners as there is sufficient movement of cool air throughout

the house even in the hot afternoons. The large amount of glazing to capture

the breath taking views meant that sunshade studies needed to be done to ensure

minimum solar gain and glare into the house during the day and this was

achieved by accentuating the roof overhangs especially at the western and

eastern elevations. Natural bamboo found growing on the site was harvested and

designed as bespoke light-poles for the garden. The client has started planting

durians, avocados, and many other fruit trees and organically grown spices for

their own consumption.

It is hoped that the house is a reflection of how one lives with nature,

respects it and make the most of it whilst enjoying nature’s natural law of

constant change.