The dining area is located on the top floor and has a great view of the surroundings. Photos: Sim Yong Wah
Its fishing pond doubles as a chlorine-free swimming pool, while a “secret garden” within the house provides vegetables for the family of three.
Spanning six storeys, the Oculus House embraces nature’s gifts, from natural ventilation and lighting, to the greenery from the forest reserve nearby.
Located in Seputeh Heights, Kuala Lumpur, the well-designed home unsurprisingly was the Gold winner at the PAM (Pertubuhan Akitek Malaysia) Awards 2023 under the Single Residential category.
A project by Wooi Architect, the four-bedroom abode is located on a slope within a guarded and gated development, and was completed in 2021.
The owners are avid travellers and nature lovers with a passion for nature and wildlife photography. The husband, a former pilot and diving instructor, is also an underwater photographer.
“The brief was relatively simple – design a living area that would cater to them and their adult son and a spacious area to exhibit their photography.
“They wanted a natural house in the sense that it is naturally ventilated, has natural sunlight, and relates well to the context of a green reserve, which is situated approximately 20m above road level at the back,” said Wooi Lok Kuang, principal of Wooi Architect.
The Oculus House was a Gold winner at the PAM Awards 2023 under the Single Residential category.
To take full advantage of this green landscape, the main living areas – living room, dining area and kitchen space – are positioned on the highest level to be on the same level as the green reserve.
Meanwhile, the photo gallery and studio are located on a level below to limit the main living activities to the top floor.
What’s interesting is the 1.2m fish pond – also used as a swimming pool – on the highest floor of the house which features
a retractable roof.
“Although the swimming pool looks adventurous cantilevering over the road level, it is safe structurally. The salient point is perhaps it is also a natural swimming pool, as it does not use chlorine to keep the water clear. The credit is due to the client who wants to keep it free of chemicals,” said Wooi.
Then there’s the “secret garden”, which is the leftover void at the undercroft of the building which has been turned into a modern urban farm.
The urban garden below the house provides vegetables for the family and is also used as a social gathering space.
“It is also a casual and informal gathering space for friends and family. With the fish harvested on the floor above, this urban farming area complements, in a way, the owners’ intention of having a sustainable and self-sufficient home,” he added.
Located at the front of the building is the staircase, which is an artwork in itself.
“The staircase in the gallery is conceived as a sort of permeable art installation that is so light that it keeps the integrity of the gallery as one voluminous space. It also allows natural light and ventilation to penetrate the interior,” explained Wooi.
Overall, the interior exudes a warm, cosy feel with a touch of an industrial feel.
“The material palette is limited to concrete with a bare finish, and the floors are mainly polished concrete and some in-situ terrazzo.
“The local hardwood timber, yellow Balau, which clads the floor, wall and ceiling of the living and dining areas, provides a certain warmth to the space,” said Wooi.
The main living spaces of the house, which embraces natural light, ventilation and its surrounding greenery.
To allow the occupants to adapt the house to the weather, a few design features were specially created.
These include large openings that incorporate 5m x 5m vertical, mild steel foldable walls on the gallery floor; generous sliding doors on the living and dining floor; a retractable canvas canopy over the fish pond, and external roller blinds.
“In summary, like all architectural endeavours, this house is but an embodiment of the story of the owners and their worldview.
“From that point of view, the right dynamics between the clients and the architect is crucial for a successful outcome.
“I enjoyed the process of (working on) this house very much because the trust we had developed has allowed this house to evolve. This means that good design adapts to the dynamic nature of construction.
The fish pond, which is also used as a swimming pool, has a retractable overhead canopy.
“For example, things like views and breeze may be revealed to you during construction, which was probably not expected during the earlier planning, so the design should change to adapt to the discovery.
“The standard mass-produced houses would not have this opportunity; they tend to be rigid. That’s why owners of a new home tend to renovate the house.”
In terms of sustainability, the Oculus House certainly scores in a few areas.
“Firstly, ample natural light and ventilation minimise the dependence on air-conditioning. The collapsible doors and the overhead canvas moderate the weather conditions.
“Local building material, like timber, constitutes almost the entire project, which means eliminating the carbon emission due to transport. The floor and wall are largely pared down to the minimum for the same reason.
“The undercroft of the house now takes on another dimension as the clients’ urban farming matures, (contributing to self-sufficiency),” said Wooi.
And last but not least, the fact that the key living spaces face the green reserve outside is an example in biophilic design, maintaining a close connection to nature.
The dining area is located on the top floor and has a great view of the surroundings. Photos: Sim Yong Wah
The Oculus House as seen in the evening.
The front facade of the Oculus House, which is situated on a sloped site.
The staircase in the gallery is conceived as a sort of permeable art installation.
Ample light permeates the gallery space.
The fish pond, which is also used as a swimming pool, has a retractable overhead canopy.
The Oculus House was a Gold winner at the PAM Awards 2023 under the Single Residential category.
The main living spaces of the house, which embraces natural light, ventilation and its surrounding greenery.
The urban garden below the house provides vegetables for the family and is also used as a social gathering space.
The house also includes a cellar.
The library is located on the top floor of the house.
A view of the fish pond when the retractable roof is opened up.
