#RESIDENTIAL ARCHITECTURE PROJECTS
Tropical Box House stays naturally cool with geometric perforated concrete skin
The unique Tropical Box House in Kuala Lumpur uses geometric concrete forms to create naturally cool private spaces for a family in the middle of the jungle.
Designed by WHBC Architects, the grid-like concrete shell integrates interior spaces with lush greenery and flowering plants, allowing the resident family to enjoy the flora in the cool shade. The home’s perforated concrete envelope blocks the harsh tropical sun, while encouraging plants to grow over it.
Interior climate control is an important factor when designing homes for the tropical heat of Kuala Lumpur. In order to combat the blistering sun sustainably and economically, WHBC designed a gorgeous concrete skin of mismatched rectangular grid shapes that stretch from the ground and extend into the home’s ceiling areas. The grid acts as a sun filter, blocking direct rays while also allowing daylight to naturally illuminate much of the interior. With varying sized rectangles and squares, the light intensity fluctuates for different shared spaces throughout the home.
Set on a grassy slope, most living areas were arranged to be elevated from the ground, giving residents a view of the surrounding trees from many of the rooms. On the first floor, the living and dining area open up onto a serene pool, which meets the interior. Criss crosses of patterned shadows are cast across the pool room as light filters through the concrete shell. The first level also includes a semi-enclosed garden that offers a panoramic view of the forest. Upstairs, the bedrooms directly face the treetops, which in the lush tropical climate double as privacy screens from passersby. The ground floor houses a garage and service area that whisks away moisture from the rest of the house, keeping it cool and dry.
