Sepang House

The Sepang House is defined by a large sheltering roof with deep overhangs, shaded terraces and balconies along its edges. Ituses raw concrete, bricksand wood to develop a material languagethat echoes its tropical setting. Different materials are used to distinguish different elements of the house. For example, raw exposed concrete is used for all external walls, bricks for spine walls that runs along the centre of the house, and timber for roof structures, ceilings and the floor. All other surfaces are plastered and painted white. This approach to materiality creates a richness of texture in the house - an interesting background for contemporary family life. The design of the house is driven by the desire for the main living areas to facethe cool and shaded northerly aspect and the garden. In order to achieve this, spaces are organized alonga pair of central brick spine walls. Staircases are organised between these spine walls. The main spaces such as living, dining, guest and master bedrooms organized to the north of the spine walls, whereas the kitchen and other bedrooms to the south. Openings in the spine walls and multiple double height volumes create opportunities for visual and acoustic connections within the house and outdoors, making the house feel more intimate and warm. The main living areas on the ground floor are directly connected to a large outdoor terrace that cantilevers over the pool. The master and attic bedrooms are also connected to terraces. Theymediate between the inside and outside spaces and provide the occupants withshaded cool spaces outdoors, a necessity in the hot humid climate of the tropics.