Brickwood Villa
Brickwood Villa is a thoughtful transformation of a 1980s single-storey semi-detached house located in a mature suburban neighbourhood in Kuala Lumpur. The original house was fragmented, characterised by low ceilings, disconnected levels, and inadequate natural ventilation. Instead of opting for a full rebuild, the project explores how subtle spatial reconfiguration, material honesty, and climatic sensitivity can bring new life to an ageing structure.
The key architectural move was to remove the existing roof entirely and introduce a new perimeter beam system supported by steel columns. This allowed for a significant increase in ceiling height, creating generous internal volumes and improving air movement throughout the house. The interior plan was restructured to form a long, continuous living space, with improved daylight penetration and a visual connection to the surrounding gardens. Each bedroom opens directly onto its own private courtyard or planted edge, reinforcing the relationship between architecture and landscape.
The design is deeply informed by Malaysia’s tropical climate. Large openings, skylights, and cross-ventilation strategies help moderate internal temperatures and reduce reliance on air conditioning. The new roof profile encourages stack-effect ventilation, allowing warm air to escape through high-level openings. The building is carefully oriented and shaded to manage heat gain, with planting integrated as part of its passive cooling strategy.
Materiality plays a central role in shaping the character of the house. Clay brick is used throughout for its durability, low maintenance, and thermal mass. Its texture and earthy tone give the house a grounded, tactile presence. Plywood is used internally for ceilings, joinery, and wall linings, bringing warmth and a softer grain to the interior spaces. Both materials are left exposed and untreated, allowing them to weather naturally over time. The project incorporates construction marks, imperfections, and the rawness of the making process, creating an atmosphere that is unpretentious and quietly refined.
At the entry, a white volume with integrated motion-sensor lighting forms a light-filled pavilion that marks arrival and adds a sense of safety and welcome. This subtle gesture hints at the clarity and calmness that define the rest of the home. The architecture eschews spectacle and instead focuses on the fundamentals: light, air, shade, and material resonance.
Brickwood Villa is a study in restraint and relevance. It does not chase stylistic trends or imported typologies. Instead, it examines climate, context, and the rituals of daily life closely. The result is a home that feels timeless, rooted, and intentionally simple — designed for comfort, longevity, and quiet delight in the everyday.
Text by the architect
PROJECT GALLERY
-
Architect : Futurground Design
Client : Undisclosed
Area : 278.71 m²
Project Location : Kuala Lumpur
Year : 2024 -
Interior Designer : Futurground
Contractor : Jaya Bintang Sdn Bhd
Landscape Architect : Futurground
Design Team : Choong Wei Li
Photography : Ameen Dean | Wilbert -
Aluminium and Glazing : Alutech Aluminium Marketing
Door | Hardware : Master Doors and Locks Trading
Furniture : Ruma -
Trees
• Dalbergia latifolia (Indian Rosewood)
Shrubs | Groudcovers | Climbers
• Thaumatophyllum xanadu (Philodendron Xanadu)
Turfing : Crusher Run
Share this project