Drtan Lm Architect

23 Terrace

23 TERRACE

Drtan LM Architect

23 Terrace
© H. Lin Ho

ARCHITECTS
Dratn Lm Architect

PROJECT ARCHITECT
Alvin Tham Yee Weng, Mohd. Faidin

C&S ENGINEERS
Perunding L&W Sdn Bhd

CONTRACTOR
Eco Vision Sdn Bhd

PHOTOGRAPHS
H. Lin Ho

PROJECT YEAR
2015

LOCATION
Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia

CATEGORY
Houses

23 Terrace
© H. Lin Ho

Text description provided by architect.

Situated in the upper middle class suburban of Taman Tun Dr. Ismail that was developed in the 70’s, 23 Terrace is a new double-storey terrace house reconfigured in place of its single-storey predecessor.

During day, the façade is a typical contemporary terrace house with large openings, glass balustrade and minimalist security door grille and gate. At dusk, the house transforms into a lantern, casting surrealistic shadows on the cement rendered porch.

23 Terrace
© H. Lin Ho
23 Terrace
© H. Lin Ho

It is a simple design exercise of form follow function where the need of the occupants takes precedence. On the ground floor, the living, dining and kitchen converge in an open concept layout and a suspended split staircase made of steel occupies a minimal part of the living space.

The living area has a feature wall of exposed brick wall which is one of the few remnants from the old house. The concrete ceiling is left unplastered to reduce VOC emission. A flexible guest /music room with an attached bathroom is accessible via two large panels of folding-sliding doors.

23 Terrace
© H. Lin Ho
23 Terrace
© H. Lin Ho
23 Terrace
© H. Lin Ho

The dry and wet kitchens are connected by a long stretch of marble counter top and stainless steel cabinets. The centerpiece of the dining/living is the bespoke dining table carved out of a slab of suar timber cross section.

On the first floor, the split staircase branches out into the terrace roof garden on one side and the private sanctum on the other on the first floor.

This arrangement allows guests to access the open space without compromising the privacy of the master bedroom. The master bedroom has an en suite bathroom set within glass enclosure, which visually amplifies the space.

23 Terrace
© H. Lin Ho
23 Terrace
© H. Lin Ho
23 Terrace
© H. Lin Ho

The el fresco space on the balcony is designed to celebrate the tropical weather, with two-thirds cement rendered floor and a strip of grass just before the frameless glass balustrade.

Ten feet high walls flank the entire length of the terrace, with open-faced brick walls bordering the grass strip for privacy and acoustic reasons.

To optimise indoor air exchange, there are two customised wind turbines combined with steel framed glazed pyramids attached to built-in vents that provide the house with “stack effect” ventilation.

23 Terrace
© H. Lin Ho
23 Terrace
© H. Lin Ho

A 3-degree differential is enough to spin the turbines by convection. The new form and height of 23 Terrace are rejuvenating revisions of the 80’s single-storey terrace.

It is a baby step towards the greening of the neighbourhood, an attempt to educate the community about the importance of green retrofitting.


23 Terrace
Ground Floor Plan
23 Terrace
First Floor Plan
23 Terrace
Roof Plan


23 Terrace
Front Elevation
23 Terrace
Rear Elevation


23 Terrace
Section AA
23 Terrace
Diagram

Drtan Lm Architect
T +60 3 56350055
Drtan Lm Architect
19, Jalan SS 15/4c, Ss 15, 47500 Subang Jaya, Selangor, Malaysia