Our client came to us with a brief and a budget, with a site located in one of the many suburbs in Kuching; a subdivided plot without many redeeming features except a distant view of Mount Serapi from the first floor, and because it is a second plot from the road - it is quieter.
A simple 4.0 x 4.5 metres structural grid was used to simplify the construction and to devise the layout, which was a series of served and service spaces sheltered by a large gable roof. The served spaces are mostly along the north facing side of the house where a generous roof overhang provides shaded outdoor space. An open sided courtyard is carved out from the building envelope to provide natural lighting, airflow and views for the living spaces and entrance hallway.
The storey heights are relatively low at 3.5 and 2.8 metres, but this is adequate as the ground floor ceiling is the soffit of slab while the first floor ceiling is vaulted following the roof profile. This gives opportunities for the internal spaces to be taller, with varying heights to enable visual connections between floors and rooms.
The courtyard and dining terrace provide the internal rooms with an outdoor component, while balconies provide the first floor bedrooms a chance to sit outside.
A reinforced concrete frame with brick infill makes it relatively simple to construct; aluminium framed glazing and a steel roof structure with metal roofing complete the main palette of building materials for this compact home for four.
