View Full Version : [Malaysia] Sekeping Serendah - Ng Sek San
Sekeping Serendah (http://www.serendah.com/home.html) is located on the outskirts of Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, in the foothills of the area of Serendah, a typical small town north of the capital city. The word translated from the Malay essentially means 'A Piece of Serendah'.
And that is basically what it is; on a piece of virgin jungle land away from a busy trunk road, Ng Sek San, (http://www.seksan.com/) a civil engineer turned landscape designer trained in New Zealand, has inserted several interventions into the land – these structures sit among the tropical trees like familiar visitors in a foreign land – sculpting and defining the land in such a way that an urbanite will not have a culture shock stepping into jungle, and yet raw enough that one can experienced 'jungle camping'.
It has been featured in several books (http://books.google.com.my/books?q=sekeping+serendah&btnG=Search+Books), a fact I only found out after I visited recently, stayed a night and thought most of you might enjoy seeing a few pictures of the place.
But first the kmz file
Looking at the entrance from the inside, with partial view of the caretaker's quarters (very Stutchbury?)
The Glass Hut - I only managed pictures of the exterior as I did not want to enter whilst someone else was staying there
Closeups of the bridge across the stream
The Timber Shed amongst the foliage
The approach to the house, framed by the wall of dried leaves - you will spot these elements which are similar to Kevin Mark Low of Small Projects (http://www.small-projects.com/long/index.html) (they have collaborated on projects)
The verandah/boardwalk of the timber shed looking in on entering, followed by view looking back out onto the entry. You can sit on the benches at the edge and look down onto the foliage dangling your feet out into the air with the ten foot drop below to the ground
The simple raw construction framing the view, first a view inside one of the bedrooms, then a view in the toilet.
The third pic is the open air shower reminiscent of the type used in Kampungs (villages) in the countryside. The platform is simply concrete beams sitting on a raised platform whereby the shower waste water falls to the ground below and colelcted into a drain - in the background you can see small trees planted within the enclosure
view of the open area adjacent the entrance and the road leading up to the pool
second and third pic is area approaching the pool (second pic lookng back toward road, and third looking toward pool)
views of the pool set in a jungle, cool stream water diverted from a mountain stream collected in an off form concrete pool - imagine dipping in this by candlelight ...
The two Mud Sheds set amongst the jungle - apologies but I did not get any closeups of the mudhut - my itinerant mistake which I shall correct if I visit again
one of the local residents
make no mistake that this is jungle, with insects, arachnids, wrigglies and the tropical humidity lumped together with essential mod cons. Camping without a tent.
redstone
19-08-2008, 17:53
Is there any barrier around the house, like a fence?
My favorite the mesh stone-wall:rock on:
Love the Wild,& the pool amidst it.:clap:
spadestick
19-08-2008, 18:35
i have some pictures too, will post when I get the chance. One of the most magical and most fantastic - both architectural and naturalistic places I've been to on Earth. We were lying under the stars and extremely tall rainforest trees. The microclimate created by the high canopy cover cooled the surrounds by a few degrees in the day. Truly bar none experience. The gentle gurgle of a small stream running beside your "shed" while you dreamt the night away. Mosquitoes did not seem to exist. We brought our ipods and plugged into a subwoofer based speaker setup with lounge music filling the air and drank merriment into the blissful night.
Seksan, a New Zealand trained landscape architect based his glass shed concept on one of Peter Stutchbury's bush houses, except with less structure and less support. The entire shed is built 5 100x100mm steel columns, and framed (including floor) with such thin members. This would not be possible with any building code of most countries for much of the developed world. Nor would any engineer volunteer to design with such slender intent.
The water you see from the pool there is actually from hillside aquifers, filtered naturally without pumps.
Truly remarkable stuff. I don't think words and pictures can fully describe my experience in this place.
Is there any barrier around the house, like a fence?
No. If view the Glass Shed or Timber Shed pictures can see clearly the house is just sitting in the jungle.
If you are thinking tiger or something like that I doubt we have such large carnivores in numbers adjacent such populated areas anymore (sad to say or not depends on pov).
I forgot to add there is an Orang Asli (aboriginal peoples) village just a km or so down the road and some housing nearer to the trunk road, and you can see from the Google Earth pic that it is not deep jungle but for all intents and purposes, jungle enough.
i have some pictures too, will post when I get the chance. One of the most magical and most fantastic - both architectural and naturalistic places I've been to on Earth. We were lying under the stars and extremely tall rainforest trees. The microclimate created by the high canopy cover cooled the surrounds by a few degrees in the day. Truly bar none experience. The gentle gurgle of a small stream running beside your "shed" while you dreamt the night away. Mosquitoes did not seem to exist. We brought our ipods and plugged into a subwoofer based speaker setup with lounge music filling the air and drank merriment into the blissful night.
Seksan, a New Zealand trained landscape architect based his glass shed concept on one of Peter Stutchbury's bush houses, except with less structure and less support. The entire shed is built 5 100x100mm steel columns, and framed (including floor) with such thin members. This would not be possible with any building code of most countries for much of the developed world. Nor would any engineer volunteer to design with such slender intent.
The water you see from the pool there is actually from hillside aquifers, filtered naturally without pumps.
Truly remarkable stuff. I don't think words and pictures can fully describe my experience in this place.
Would be interested to see your pics as well - I didn't get as many as I would have liked in hindsight. We went whole family with kids, and minding the kids etc was a handful all of its own! Anyway the kids love it, and did not want to leave. On the drive back they asked if they are going back 'next week'! :)
Thanks for the info on the pool water!
Certainly a unique space, especially in the area around Kuala Lumpur where the No.1 leisure activity of most of the population must surely be shopping ...
Forgot to add, that the cost of rental of each of this is not budget price - the cost of staying in the Glass Shed example is approx US$180 which in Kuala Lumpur city can get you a veerrry nice hotel room in a nice hotel. Of course the hotel room takes 2, whereas the Glass shed takes many more; they typically charge you extra per head if you bring more than say 4 adults to stay, and can provide additional mattresses etc.
You can also go for a day trip, and they charge per head. Best to view the website for rates, or contact them on email or phone. We dealt with them via phone as we are local, and paid a deposit for booking approx a month ahead of the date.
One word for booking is that they appear to be typically booked solid on most weekends for at least a month to two months ahead - depending on the season of year (whether school holidays etc). Do check with them for availability ahead of your schedule.
redstone
20-08-2008, 12:37
No. If view the Glass Shed or Timber Shed pictures can see clearly the house is just sitting in the jungle.
If you are thinking tiger or something like that I doubt we have such large carnivores in numbers adjacent such populated areas anymore (sad to say or not depends on pov).
I forgot to add there is an Orang Asli (aboriginal peoples) village just a km or so down the road and some housing nearer to the trunk road, and you can see from the Google Earth pic that it is not deep jungle but for all intents and purposes, jungle enough.
I'm more worried about burglars and robbers.
The house functions as some sort of chalet?
spadestick
20-08-2008, 12:43
it's not a house, it's an eco-retreat! almost a resort, it is completely a world away tucked away from its actual social condition, fenced off elegantly with caretakers and grounds keepers who ensure a very hospitable stay.
spadestick
21-08-2008, 05:38
more photos
spadestick
21-08-2008, 05:40
the glass sheds, beautifully proportioned and constructed.
spadestick
21-08-2008, 05:43
night photos
spadestick
21-08-2008, 05:45
more pool spouts and some window detail
spadestick
21-08-2008, 05:47
bath area, sleeping area, and the barbie
spadestick
21-08-2008, 05:53
in our professional opinion, as architects, we went around to view all the structures, and none compared to the glass sheds in terms of construction, detailing, and effort from the designer. We were truly blown away by the glass sheds.
The price for 1 night in the glass shed (accomodates up to 6, but 4 is more comfortable) - priceless. The mud sheds and timber one have airconditioning, but we didn't come here for this.
Nice thread, behhl. It is truly an interesting part of the world I'd like to visit some day.
This is one sharp project. Love the abundance of glass and the rawness of the exposed steel and corrugated siding.
Certain aspects of this remind me a little of Eames' Case Study House No. 8.
redstone
21-08-2008, 22:58
in our professional opinion, as architects, we went around to view all the structures, and none compared to the glass sheds in terms of construction, detailing, and effort from the designer. We were truly blown away by the glass sheds.
The price for 1 night in the glass shed (accomodates up to 6, but 4 is more comfortable) - priceless. The mud sheds and timber one have airconditioning, but we didn't come here for this.
Is it hot inside the glass shed?
spadestick
22-08-2008, 12:36
not at all, the microclimate totally cools the place at night, even in the day it felt comfortable
Thanks for sharing- this is beautiful. I know where I'm staying if I ever go to KL...
Its all in the detail......
Its all in the detail......
As you mention detail in relation to that picture, I would like to mention again that parts of the Sekeping Serandah design was a collaboration with architect Kevin Low (http://www.pushpullbar.com/forums/showthread.php?t=8441). Of the 'handrail' shown in that photo, he says on his website:
"Safety rail detail in mild steel
During the construction of Sekeping Serendah, a set of glass jungle huts in the foothills of Serendah North of Kuala Lumpur, it was felt that typical handrails for the link bridge and windows seats would have created too much visual noise and undermined design aesthetics. At the same time total omissin would have been a bit harsh if not negligent.
One inch horizontal steel bars were attached to the outside edges of the bridges and window seats. In both cases the psychological sense of safety was accomplished by extendng the clear edges and keeping the fine line of the drop ambiguous. For the window seats in particular the hand bars permitted leaning back for a secure hold when seated."
SO you can see the obsession with the detailing! Many designers would just slap some rails on and call it a day ...
The following pictures are from Kevin Low's web site - sorry for the resolution but they are flash and could only get a printscreen - do visit is site to see more.
more pics for clarification of Kevin Mark Low's statement of the design
You might also be interested to read some interviews with NG Sek San who comes across as a straight talker with some views unique in this part of the world (oh, yes, in my experience the opinions he states makes him certainly a unique one).
'cuse the language as they say ...
How did the Sekeping Serendah come about? Tell us generally what the brief for the project was. Do you think it's something urbanites will latch on to, to be sleeping and dining under the stars in the jungle amid mosquitoes?
Sekeping Serendah is a response to the slash-and-burn-cut-and-fill way of building in this part of the world. It is a personal demonstration that we can build on the land in a bit more sensitive manner. It is about respecting the land while building on it's steep slopes with its abundant vegetation. Sekeping Serendah is about celebrating the things that God has given us so generously.....the sky, the trees, the water, the birds, the snakes, and the insects. Such context is bigger than the architecture. The architecture is really incidental. It is there only to provide some shelter and comfort for that celebration. Of course we hope that more people will take on this direction. It will give our grand children less to gripe about!!!
With reference to the Sekeping Serendah, in your opinion, is the desire to live as one with nature the way of the future or is it the new luxury?
Waaaaa..........first time I hear "new luxury"....... However living as one with nature is old luxury- lah!!!! The orang asli has it and then we went in to screw it in the name of progress. That fallacy is still happening now. The recent trend amongst the developers circle on eco-living, eco city, ecofriendly environment, rainforest community are sadly bandwagon shit. Half the time it is churned up by the McDonald chomping marketing department. Wonderful intentions until you see their development plans. It is the same cut and fill shit. The rhetoric is only meant to sell more units, a marketing ploy. Good intentions are not good enough. It is only 20% of a good project. Good and honest execution makes up the other 80%, otherwise it is only empty promises and under-delivery. Sekeping Serendah attempts to merge the intentions and the execution. It's our little experiment in walking the talk.
In another interview he says:
But I think the training in engineering has helped you a lot in present work. Was the house in Serendah designed by you without the help of an architect? How did you come up with the idea for this weekend house?
Engineering has definitely help in my structural detailing and my understanding of how different material behaves... Sekeping Serendah was conceptualized by me but brought to fruition by many,,, it was inspired by that small Peter Stuchbury designed Israel house in Paradise Beach, NSW. It was a design collaboration of a whole bunch of people including my welder Chew Poh Fook, architect Tam Mei Sim, landscape architect Carolyn Lau, landscape contractor Lau Jian Pyng. Mostly done on back of envelopes, scrap papers and scratching on the ground. Sekeping Serendah: was really a personal experiment to demonstrate that we can build on steep slope with heavy vegetation without destroying too much. it is about some deep reverence for the land... I've been promoting that to a lot of developers in town without much success for the last 10 years! Every time we would kill the goose that lays the golden eggs... it's heartbreaking. so sad. It is also Inspired by the orang asli houses nearby,,, essentially their house is seen as a temporary dwelling to shelter one during the inclement weather and at night. Otherwise it is about enjoying the great outdoors. The Sekeping Serendah sheds aspired to be this. I don't like houses today which aspire to be monumental and looks like a mausoleum.
Some of the structural members I see in your works are taut and spartan. You had a large say in this, I'm sure?
Living dangerously is part of life... otherwise it will be unacceptably boring! The member sizes and also their numbers are kept to its absolute minimum. As a matter of fact the buildings were initially designed to rest on nine posts; it was finally constructed with 5 posts only. The sizes are 100 x 100 I-sections.don't think my learned structural engineer friends would dare go near it! But it has withstood some major storms, ok? One day it will fall down and we will have fun rebuilding it again! Just like the orang asli.
spadestick, thanks for the pictures of the Glass Shed. They are priceless!
nicholas
23-08-2008, 03:51
Great to see the metal great on the terrace; I have designed something similar for a project where there is a high fire danger (timber therefore not suitable) and have not been able to find any examples.
What was it like to walk on in bare feet ?
spadestick
23-08-2008, 18:06
painful! but it served well as bits of food crumbs fell to the earth underneath, for easy cleanup.
youngpong
02-10-2008, 15:36
I went to Sekeping Serendah too. It's really a nice piece of work worth visiting~!
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