This is a new home for a local Chinese family. The house sits atop a hill on a sloping site of 25,000 sqft. Looking towards the southwest of the site, one sees over the surrounding roofscape to forests on the other face of the valley.
The house is planned around 2 different definitions of ground, one the higher entrance level which catches the breathtaking view, and two the lower level which spills out to the terraces and gardens in the site. In plan and elevation, the design uses a pin-wheel diagram to adjust its form to the diamond-shaped ground.
The design embraces the use of natural materials to create an atmosphere of tranquility and permanence. Corten, a special grade of rusted steel, and natural stone is used for the facade of the house. The interior of the living room is finished in long teak planks recycled from the old houses of Thailand.
As all the living spaces face to the southwest, they catch a fair bit of sun in the afternoon. In order to mitigate the heat gain and glare, a layer of sun-shading fins are designed with the windows, and low-Emissivity glass is used.
On the main bedroom block, the facade towards the road is kept solid with small perforations. These are designed like the old ventilation block, while allowing view out. These keep the corridor naturally ventilated. Tall timber openable panels are installed in the bedroom walls lining the corridor. When these panels are opened, N-S cross ventilation can be effected.
Due to the sloping ground, the services such as the carpark, kitchen and yard are half-nestled in the ground below the front of the house. These are protected from the sun but obtain sufficient light and ventilation through internal courtyards, skylights, and high-level openings.
Other sustainable features include a 20.8kWP photovoltaic installation on the roof, as well as a rainwater harvesting tank.
This is a new home for a local Chinese family. The house sits atop a hill on a sloping site of 25,000 sqft. Looking towards the southwest of the site, one sees over the surrounding roofscape to forests on the other face of the valley.
The house is planned around 2 different definitions of ground, one the higher entrance level which catches the breathtaking view, and two the lower level which spills out to the terraces and gardens in the site. In plan and elevation, the design uses a pin-wheel diagram to adjust its form to the diamond-shaped ground.
The design embraces the use of natural materials to create an atmosphere of tranquility and permanence. Corten, a special grade of rusted steel, and natural stone is used for the facade of the house. The interior of the living room is finished in long teak planks recycled from the old houses of Thailand.
As all the living spaces face to the southwest, they catch a fair bit of sun in the afternoon. In order to mitigate the heat gain and glare, a layer of sun-shading fins are designed with the windows, and low-Emissivity glass is used.
On the main bedroom block, the facade towards the road is kept solid with small perforations. These are designed like the old ventilation block, while allowing view out. These keep the corridor naturally ventilated. Tall timber openable panels are installed in the bedroom walls lining the corridor. When these panels are opened, N-S cross ventilation can be effected.
Due to the sloping ground, the services such as the carpark, kitchen and yard are half-nestled in the ground below the front of the house. These are protected from the sun but obtain sufficient light and ventilation through internal courtyards, skylights, and high-level openings.
Other sustainable features include a 20.8kWP photovoltaic installation on the roof, as well as a rainwater harvesting tank.
This is a new home for a local Chinese family. The house sits atop a hill on a sloping site of 25,000 sqft. Looking towards the southwest of the site, one sees over the surrounding roofscape to forests on the other face of the valley.
The house is planned around 2 different definitions of ground, one the higher entrance level which catches the breathtaking view, and two the lower level which spills out to the terraces and gardens in the site. In plan and elevation, the design uses a pin-wheel diagram to adjust its form to the diamond-shaped ground.
The design embraces the use of natural materials to create an atmosphere of tranquility and permanence. Corten, a special grade of rusted steel, and natural stone is used for the facade of the house. The interior of the living room is finished in long teak planks recycled from the old houses of Thailand.
As all the living spaces face to the southwest, they catch a fair bit of sun in the afternoon. In order to mitigate the heat gain and glare, a layer of sun-shading fins are designed with the windows, and low-Emissivity glass is used.
On the main bedroom block, the facade towards the road is kept solid with small perforations. These are designed like the old ventilation block, while allowing view out. These keep the corridor naturally ventilated. Tall timber openable panels are installed in the bedroom walls lining the corridor. When these panels are opened, N-S cross ventilation can be effected.
Due to the sloping ground, the services such as the carpark, kitchen and yard are half-nestled in the ground below the front of the house. These are protected from the sun but obtain sufficient light and ventilation through internal courtyards, skylights, and high-level openings.
Other sustainable features include a 20.8kWP photovoltaic installation on the roof, as well as a rainwater harvesting tank.