Inside Malaysia's Smallest House | Romantic Villa House tour | Tiny Garden Home

Summary

In this episode of Design Seed, Alex Lee introduces Villa Sang Turi, the smallest home ever featured on the channel, designed by Inch Lim and Jamaliah Hamdan. The villa, located in the hills of Sungai Langat, Malaysia, blends intimate design with nature, featuring a romantic pavilion, a serene garden, and open-to-sky bathroom under the forest canopy. The project emphasizes biophilia and sustainable design, using recycled timber from an old sawmill. The design encapsulates tranquility, privacy, and harmony, creating a unique retreat that feels like a ‘piece of heaven’.

Takeaways

• 😀 The smallest home featured on Design Seed is a romantic honeymoon villa designed by Jamalia Hamdan in 2017.
• 🌳 The villa is located on a hillside with stunning views of Sungai Langat, just 29 km from Kuala Lumpur.
• 🏡 The villa’s design includes a single-story pavilion that is 3.6m wide and features an intimate living area, bedroom, and open-to-sky bathroom.
• 💧 The villa is surrounded by a serene garden with ponds and waterfalls, creating a peaceful and therapeutic atmosphere.
• 🛏️ The bedroom is designed for privacy and romance, with a four-poster bed facing lush greenery.
• 🌞 The villa is oriented to avoid direct sunlight and offers scenic views of the cascading landscape.
• 🛁 A standout feature of the villa is an open-to-sky bathtub beneath a high gable roof, offering a unique outdoor bathing experience.
• ♻️ The structure was built using recycled timber from an abandoned sawmill, giving it a one-of-a-kind, handcrafted feel.
• 🌱 The garden and villa embrace biophilic design principles, aiming to foster a deep connection with nature.
• 🌄 The villa provides tranquility and peace, with visitors enjoying the calming sounds of nature, such as cascading water and birds chirping, creating a meditative space.

Q & A

What was the initial inspiration behind the honeymoon villa design?

The idea for the honeymoon villa came to Jamalia Hamdan in 2017, while planning her daughter's wedding. She envisioned a romantic getaway that would offer intimacy and tranquility.

What makes the villa so unique in terms of its location and design?

The villa is situated on a hillside overlooking Sungai Langat, offering stunning views. Its design is simple and intimate, with features like a cantilevered balcony, an open-to-sky bathroom, and a romantic bed chamber that creates a serene atmosphere.

Why did Inch Lim advise Jamalia Hamdan to build a house instead of just a garden?

Inch Lim believed that a garden alone wouldn't encourage people to visit frequently. By creating a small, comfortable house alongside the garden, people would be more likely to stay and enjoy the natural surroundings every day.

What role does the garden play in the villa's overall experience?

The garden, designed by Inch Lim, is an integral part of the villa's experience. It includes water features like ponds and waterfalls that create a soothing atmosphere, while also providing a therapeutic space connected to nature. The design also ensures privacy and intimacy, with walls, doors, and hedges to define the space.

How does the villa's design incorporate biophilic principles?

The design embraces biophilia, which emphasizes the therapeutic benefits of nature. The villa and garden are designed to allow visitors to interact with the natural world, fostering a sense of peace and healing through the use of plants, flowing water, and direct connections to the forest canopy.

What was the significance of using recycled timber in the construction?

Recycled timber from an abandoned sawmill was used in the villa's construction to create a unique, sustainable structure. The timber's previous life as part of a sawmill adds character to the building, and using it ensures a project that couldn't be repeated, making it special and environmentally conscious.

Why was the pavilion designed to float above the jungle floor?

The cantilevered design of the pavilion, which appears to float above the jungle, was intended to provide a serene and elevated experience. The structure offers stunning views and a shaded space to relax while maintaining minimal disruption to the surrounding environment.

How does the villa's design maximize privacy while still offering scenic views?

The villa's design ensures privacy by placing the bedroom in a way that faces larger greenery, providing shade and seclusion. The villa is oriented to avoid direct sunlight while offering a picturesque, cascading landscape view.

What role does the water feature play in the villa's garden?

The water feature serves both a functional and aesthetic purpose. It directs views, cascading down the hill to create a calming sound while also reflecting the surrounding trees. The water flow is carefully tuned to maintain a peaceful atmosphere without becoming overwhelming.

How does Jamalia Hamdan feel about the completed villa and its impact on her life?

Jamalia describes the villa as 'a piece of heaven,' a space that offers tranquility, peace, and harmony. She finds great contentment in the project, believing that the villa embodies her dream of connecting with nature and creating a place for reflection and peace.