By Mae Chan

As urban living becomes increasingly hectic and our city centres overcrowded, more city folks seek weekend getaways on a regular basis.

The Deck House Click on thumbnail to view (Photos: Choo Ghim Wah)

For the owners of a secluded house in Janda Baik, Bentong, their idea of a getaway is something more permanent.

Sited on an acre of forested land near the foothills of Genting - about an hour's drive from Kuala Lumpur - this holiday home is 2½-storey tall with three bedrooms and three bathrooms and spans 372sq m (4,000sq ft).

"I wanted to create a modern interpretation of a tropical house," says Choo, who was inspired by the sloping terrain and the forested surroundings.

"The house hugs the terrain unobtrusively," says Choo. The building design also features clean lines and an understated style that complement the beauty and tranquillity of the forest.

Choo describes the design as having a semi-outdoor concept, with nearly equal division of space between the outdoor and indoor areas of the house. With its compact interior space, the concept highlights Choo's aim to keep the focus on the surroundings.

Upside Down Unusually, the entrance to the house sits at the top of the hill, accessible from the driveway by crossing a steel and timber bridge. Upon entering, a small entrance hall leads to the staircase to the lower level, which is also made from steel and timber.

A door to the right of the entrance hall opens up to the spacious master bedroom, which is 6.8m wide and features full-length windows that provide a stunning view of the forest. Sliding glass doors open up to a generous terrace outside, facing the surrounding trees.

The lower floor has an open-plan space that makes up the living room, dining space and kitchen. Featuring a double volume ceiling that provides a view from the master bedroom above, the stunning two-storey void is enclosed in glass and steel, providing a panorama of the landscape. Another two bedrooms are also cleverly tucked away to the side of the main area.

As to the unique arrangement of space, Choo says, "I designed it according to the shape of the slanting terrain."

He adds that the lower floor takes up a much larger space and putting it typically by the entrance would have made the house top-heavy and odd-looking.

Just like any other tropical house, the interior space is bright and airy due to the use of glass and the generous ceiling height. For an authentic experience of the natural surroundings, Choo decided not to install any air-conditioning.

Instead, he added aluminium louvre windows on the upper part of the structure to promote optimum air flow and cross ventilation.

"In the end, you'll be surprised how cooling it is," says Choo, citing that temperature levels range between 19 and 26 degrees Celsius at night. Even though glass is known to trap heat, the naturally cooler temperature levels at Janda Baik effectively keep the house comfortable.

The living room is mostly in white, in keeping with the modern interior design style. Splashes of colour are found in the soft furnishings and artwork on the walls.

Focal Point The open-plan space connects the living area to the outdoor with a massive timber deck that is undoubtedly the highlight of the house!

Running 10.5m in length and 6.8m in width, the deck is where the owners and their family members and friends usually gather.

With almost 360-degree view of the surroundings, the last 2.5m of the deck cantilevers from the supporting concrete beams below, giving the effect of an infinity deck extending into the forest.

While a typical tropical house may feature a lot of timber, Choo deliberately kept its use mainly to the deck in order to create a focal point.

"The use of timber provides a rich and warm texture which complements the forest nearby," explains Choo, relating how the timber deck blends harmoniously as it extends into the forest.

Ultimately, the property owners wanted a cosy getaway that also provides an opportunity to be close to lush surroundings. Choo's unobtrusive design blurs the barriers between the outdoors and indoors and allows them to enjoy just that.