天窗屋丨马来西亚八打灵丨Eleena Jamil Architect

Skylight House was overhauled by Eleena Jamil Architect, modernising a disrepaired end-of-terrace building, which had been rented out for years. Completed in 2024, the structure’s design prioritises daylight and airflow improvement, while incorporating sustainable materials. Located in Taman SEA, one of the oldest housing suburbs in Petaling Jaya, Malaysia, this two-storey home utilises natural materials to transform the exterior and rejuvenates interior spaces with warm, open, and bright living areas.

Completed in 2024, Skylight House is a 1970s family home located in Taman SEA, Petaling Jaya. After being rented out for an extended period, the client’s family decided to move back in and enlisted local studio Eleena Jamil Architect to remodel it.

“Years of renting have left the house in a state of disrepair, and a significant upgrade was required,” said the studio. “Rudimentary additions and modifications over the years left the existing house cramped and gloomy,” it continued. “The challenge was to modernise spaces by working within the tolerance of the existing structure.” Externally, the remodelling exercise references traditional Malay construction through its use of local materials while also providing renewed external spaces.

A side garden and rear extension, created from terracotta-coloured compressed earth bricks, area now houses a shaded terrace, en-suite guest bedroom and utility rooms. The terrace is directly accessible from the living room through sliding doors and can be used as an outdoor dining or party area. “The extensions on the ground floor and in the attic do not overwhelm the scale of the house, and this helps maintain a respectful volume alongside its neighbours,” said the studio.

Internally, a skylight was added to the top of the stairs, flooding the two-storey home with daylight. Materials were muted, providing a calm and relaxing environment within. The floors on the ground floor are polished natural stone, which complement the warm tones of the wood veneers used in the cabinetry. “The living, dining and kitchen are reoriented towards each other but gently separated by a double-height central space where the original staircase was,” said the studio.

The main staircase was created from folded steel plates suspended on rods, with bamboo treads providing a soft finish that continues into the bedrooms. “The bouncing of light off the natural flooring onto the white-washed walls adds a layer of softness to the overall atmosphere of the private spaces,” said the studio.

The studio opted for low-carbon materials where possible, reducing the carbon footprint. The home’s roof, for example, remains untouched aside from the addition of solar panels. It also used compressed earth bricks produced from locally sourced soil and stone to create the walls. “The design of the house aims to reduce both carbon footprint and embodied carbon,” said the studio.