Meadows Bungalow
Meadows Bungalow, designed by SML Architects was designed closely with their client—a family that had always lived in high-rise apartments, growing up disconnected from nature and without a garden to enjoy. Disconnected with the natural environment, our client expressed a desire for his children to experience having a home where they could safely go out, enjoy water, pets, plants, natural light and air. His wife, an amazing cook and baker, also wanted a space where she could enjoy cooking with her children while looking at greenery.
The house is two-storey, set at the end of a residential cul-de-sac. Surrounded all sides by neighbours, it is designed to be private from the outside and yet open from the inside. The spaces on ground floor are open planned, flowing into one other as much as possible, physically and visually. The client wished to be able to see other spaces and inter-act with one another between different areas. One is received at a large naturally ventilated foyer deck, which then transforms into a central gallery that flows through the house, eventually leading out into the garden. Family areas like the living, dining and kitchen seamlessly share this common gallery. Water elements and covered timber terraces are also introduced as transitional spaces around the building, cooling down the living areas behind them and encouraging connection with the gardens.
At the heart of the house lies a covered central green courtyard with a feature staircase that leads to the more private spaces above. The upper-level hosts bedrooms for the family members with a shared family room over-looking the courtyard below. This is intended to draw in natural light and cool breezes throughout the house. Similarly, to the ground floor, all bedrooms have their own external transitional areas that shade and connect the family members to the outside.
The form of the house was derived from the client’s desire for privacy and low maintenance. As such, we decided to wrap the upper level with zincalume metal sheet, forming both roofing and wall. Inter-twined with screens, this composition provides the desired enclosure for the more private areas of the building. In contrast, the ground floor is noticeably more open, composed mostly of glazing and screens. This reflects the family’s desire for open living and connection with the natural environment.
The form of the house was derived from the client’s desire for privacy and low maintenance. As such, the architect decided to wrap the upper level with zincalume metal sheet, forming both roofing and wall. Inter-twined with screens, this composition provides the desired enclosure for the more private areas of the building. In contrast, the ground floor is noticeably more open, composed mostly of glazing and screens. This reflects the family’s desire for open living and connection with the natural environment.
A home is a deeply personal space—one that nurtures and becomes the backdrop for lasting memories. With this in mind, the design team translated the client’s aspirations into the finished home that beautifully embodies the design principles of openness, connection to nature, privacy, and practicality that guided every stage of the project. It stands as a testament to thoughtful collaboration and careful balance — creating a nurturing environment where the family can truly thrive.
Text by the architect
PROJECT GALLERY
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Architect : SML Architects
Client : Undisclosed
Area : 480 m²
Project Location : Kuching | Sarawak
Year : 2024 -
C&S Engineer : Perunding KSL Sdn Bhd
Design Team : Arlene Chew | Chan Lek Heng | Lim Seow Liang
Interior Designer : Mek Design
Landscape Architect : Chalmers and Co Design
Contractor : Syarikat Kah Seng Construction
Photography : Kee Jia Ke | Ricco Soh -
Floor | Floor Finishes
• Tile : Homogenous floor and wall tiles by Grade Empire Sdn Bhd ( MML Kuching )
• Timber : Belian deck by Belian Deck-King
Roofing Systems : LYSAGHT 360 SEAM by NS BlueScope Lysaght Sdn Bhd
Aluminium and Glazing : Laminated Glass by Min Soon Aluminium Works
Façade Systems : LYSAGHT 360 SEAM by NS BlueScope Lysaght Sdn Bhd
Paint Systems : Nippon Weatherbond by Nippon Paint
Waterproofing | Coating Systems : SIKA Kimia Sdn Bhd
Ceiling | Ceiling Systems : STARBRAND Gypsum Board
Door | Hardware : Emerwood by KAISU Sdn Bhd
Sanitary Fittings | Systems : TOTO by Madaya (Kuching) Sdn Bhd
Kitchen Fittings | Systems : OPPEIN Kuching
Lighting Design | Fittings : JustLight Enterprise Sdn Bhd
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