No_2_August_1963 — Page 98

Petaling Jaya all-timber home gives lead

for tropical housing

HEN a storm recently hit Petal-

ing Jaya. Malaya, it blew off parts of the roofs of many houses in the area leaving behind a litter of broken roof tiles. gaping holes through which case ded heavy rain to flood the houses.

Right in the centre of this destruc tion, however. stood one house un- scathed an all-timber house which did not lose a single wooden shingle from its roof.

92

VERANDAH

BED RM.

BED

RM.

เ

ATH'

BED RM

The house, pioneered by Malaya's Director of Museums, Haji Mubin Sheppard (its owner), "to give the lie to the belief that timber houses are inferior and cheap" was design- ed by a Kuala Lumpur architect. Mr. Kington Loo and was the first all- timber house to be built in the Federal capital's satellite town.

As Haji Sheppard put it: "I was inspired by the fact that there are many palaces in Malaya like the old istanas in Seri Menanti (Negri Sem-

PLAN

SCALE

8

16

24

32

DINING

LOUNGE

NH

-UP

VERANDAH

LAV

KIT.

SVT. RM.

GARDEN SHED

YARD

SVT. SVT.

GARAGE

VERANDAH

40 FT.

bilan) Kuala Kangsar (Perak) and in Kota Bharu (Kelantan), built of timber, some of them over 100 years old, still standing and in good con- dition.

"I felt that if I could build a modern timber house of high stan dard it might lead to a building trend producing cool, airy, pleasant houses. ideal for the tropics and also utilise One of Malaya's richest natural resources timber."

The house cost Haji Sheppard about M$45,000 and is built of Malaysian timbers: chengai (Balano- carpus Heimii). keruing (Dipterocar- pus Sp.), kempas (Koompassia Malac censis). red meranti (Shorea Sp.) all of Malaya and kayu belian (Argania Sideroxylon) roof shingles from Sarawak.

The house designed by Mr. Loo. of Booty Edwards & Partners, is a modern home incorporating many architectural features found On Malaya's East Coast. It is on one floor and the rooms are arranged as the spokes of a wheel so that they can take advantage of the prevailing breezes

The house has a lounge. dining room, three bedrooms, kitchen, three servants' rooms and a garage. The lounge and dining room (on split levels) are designed for easy conver- sion (by removing a central divider cabinet) into a long room for typical Muslim use, kenduris and prayers.

The whole room is orientated to face Mecca and for prayers. Haji Sheppard and his family have just to face one end wall where a framed inscription bears the word Allah in Arabic.

Its construction was not by the usual tender. Haji Sheppard himself brought a foreman and a team of 12 handpicked Malay artisans and car-

THE HONG KONG & FAR EAST BUILDER VOI.UME 18. NUMBER 2