Sepang House

Sepang House is located about 30 kilometres from the capital Kuala Lumpur in a quiet residential enclave of Cyberjaya in the district of Sepang. Sitting on a flat trapezium-shaped land with an area of 920 square metres, this 450-square-metre house is defined by a large sheltering roof with deep overhangs that create shaded terraces and balconies along its edges. It also uses raw concrete, bricks and wood to develop a material language to express its tropical setting. The use of different materials is used to distinguish different elements of the house. For example, raw exposed concrete is used for all external walls; bricks are used for a pair of spine walls that runs along the centre of the house; and timber is used for the roof, sloping ceilings and floor. All other surfaces are plastered and painted white. This approach to materiality creates a richness of texture and spatial dimensions.

The design of the house is driven by the desire for the main living areas to face the cool and shaded north, and also the garden and pool. In order to achieve this, spaces are organised along a pair of central brick spine walls. The main spaces such as living, dining, guest and master bedrooms are orientated to the north of the wall, whereas the kitchen and other bedrooms are positioned to the south. Large and small openings in the spine walls and double height volumes create opportunities for unexpected views within the house. They also allow light to stream and filter between living spaces.

On the ground floor, the kitchen, living and dining areas flow seamlessly into one another and are directly connected in terms of spatial arrangement and views to the shaded pool terrace in the north. The internal spaces are made bright and airy with the introduction of double height volumes and clerestory windows that also helps with natural ventilation. The pool terrace gives a sense that it is floating above the water. It also mediates between the inside and outside spaces. The main staircase to the first floor is placed between the brick spine walls, and at landing level, it cantilevers out over the main living area before continuing up to the first floor. A second staircase made of folded steel on the first floor leads up to the attic bedroom on the second floor and hovers over a floor void, rendering it visible from the ground floor entrance lobby