Frontier Rowhouse by Lee Yang Yang, Amanda Lau and Edmund Limadinata
Architect’s description This idea was submitted for the Concept Home 2030 Competition, which reimagines the Malaysian terrace house typology. As the world is slowly recovering from the pandemic and heading toward catastrophic climate change, we ask: What is the role of the future house in the face of these challenges?
The Malaysian terrace house or “rowhouse” – the most prevalent housing typology in Malaysia – is an attached townhouse divided by party walls and sharing access to the street. Originating from the colonial shophouse of the 1800s, with its (now cherished) central courtyard, the terrace house came into its own in the 1970s. As car ownership has grown, the front yards of these houses have increasingly become double car bays.
The idea of Frontier Rowhouse was to merge the best qualities of the courtyard shophouse and the terrace house. As car use is discouraged and ride-sharing becomes more common, we propose swapping out the second car bay for a flexible space that connects to the street, contributing to street life and the local economy. This front extension could accommodate a variety of uses,
