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Architecture

02-10-2025

This home is a quiet retreat designed for a high school teacher and his family—a space where he can spend time peacefully, play with his children, and nurture his love for gardening. Simplicity and connection with nature were at the heart of the design approach.

The house comprises three bedrooms, a living area, a dining space, and a kitchen on the ground floor. An upper-level living area, combined with a cozy library, opens out to a planter box that enhances the biophilic experience. A shaded pond on the southern side, benefiting from the shadow of the adjacent building, contributes to the home’s thermal comfort and creates a tranquil microclimate.

Thermal comfort was a key concern highlighted by the client during the design brief. The zoning and placement of openings were carefully considered to enhance cross ventilation and passive cooling, based on the family’s lifestyle and the behavioral pattern of window usage.

The structure is built entirely using Compressed Stabilized Earth Blocks (CSEB), blending harmoniously with the tropical environment while reinforcing the home’s sustainable and earthy character. These materials also support the house’s biophilic design intent and respond well to the local climate.

As a west-facing residence, the house incorporates thoughtful facade treatments to mitigate heat gain. The ground floor features a shaded sit-out and a well-protected living room, while the first-floor balcony opens to an expansive field, offering stunning sunset views. This space doubles as a quiet corner for gardening and evening relaxation. The planter boxes not only serve as green buffers but also enhance the visual serenity of the balcony.

Landscape spaces are planned in a flexible manner, allowing the client to design and develop them in his own way over time, and to accommodate future changes as the family’s needs evolve.

This home is an expression of minimalism, climate sensitivity, and the client’s lifestyle—designed to grow with the family while staying rooted in nature. While embracing a biophilic and sustainable approach, the design also responds to modern needs and ensures ease of maintenance, making it both practical and well-suited for everyday living.