Insight House: A masterpiece of space optimization and minimalism in Subang Jaya

Amidst the particular challenges of the late Covid-19 pandemic, a remarkable conversion project was created in the Malaysian satellite town of UEP Subang Jaya. The "Insight House", a living example of space optimization and minimalist design, was conceived with the aim of offering residents a unique insight into the essence of living.

About the project

Insight House is a small conversion project with in the "smart-budget" range for a corner plot in the townhouses of UEP Subang Jaya, a satellite town outside Kuala Lumpur that was developed in the late 1980s. The built-up area of the original house was about 130 square meters, and the completed project expanded it to about 185 square meters.

The project took place in early 2022, towards the end of the Covid pandemic, when people were eager to leave their homes and building materials were in high demand due to supply shortages. A young couple who had lived in the property throughout the pandemic and had been through several lockdowns approached Core Design Workshop, the architect of this project. The couple's main concern was that the original house was suffocating and claustrophobic, despite being designed for just the two of them and their dog.

Due to budget constraints and rising construction costs, Core Design Workshop's initial approach was to challenge conventional user expectations and focus solely on the homeowners' essential needs rather than their wants. This led to the concept of "minimalizing" as a guiding principle.

The original house was stripped down to its basic structure, leaving only the staircase and roof intact. Fully glazed walls were added to the front and rear extensions, without windows. Internally, the house was divided into two linear blocks: an inner block and an outer block.

Inner block

All rooms were positioned in this inner block, which runs along the neighboring property, with bathrooms located at either end of the block. Each room has glass doors that open to the opposite side of the house - the outer block.

Outer block

This linear double volume outdoor area houses an open plan dining area and kitchen, accompanied by semi-covered tree gardens at either end. To ensure sufficient daylight and ventilation in this space, openings were drilled into the exterior walls. Hovering above the open kitchen is the extended living room, which serves as the master bedroom and invades this part of the house, breaking the monotony of the linear double volume space.

The design eliminates the need for curtains in the rooms as they are transparent with fully glazed doors and windows. Privacy is ensured by the strategic placement of punctured openings in the exterior walls, allowing glimpses of the outside world.

In Insight House, there is a deliberate intention to maintain a clear distinction between the interior and exterior spaces, although they exist in interdependence. Embedded in the whitewashed outer shell, both the habitable interior and exterior spaces are protected from the harsh tropical climate and the busy environment outside.

The main aim of Insight House is not to blur the boundaries between indoor and outdoor spaces, nor to emphasize form and aesthetics. Instead, it is to express the richness of what is inside and redefine the spatial experience.

"To get insight into the house, you just have to go inside."

Insight House is another conversion project in Core Design Workshop's 'Inside the Houses' series.

Images courtesy of: Core Design Workshop and Bricksbegin (photographer)