Types and Prototypes Analyzing the Typological Patterns of Terraced House Transformation in Malaysia

• Published in: International Review for Spatial Planning and Sustainable Development
• Main Author: Fairus M.; Kasmuri K.; Zaharin P.M.B.; Nasrul N.A.B.A.
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Published: SPSD Press 2025
• Online Access: https://www.scopus.com/inward/record.uri?eid=2-s2.0-85216981939&doi=10.14246%2firspsd.13.1_84&partnerID=40&md5=714c9fc026569ed219739b77db4da0c9

Terraced houses are the most popular and dominant type of housing in Malaysia. Its design has remained unchanged despite the evolving needs of society, thus proclaiming the conventional attributes of a typical house. These attributes conform to dynamic conditions through extensive house renovations, resulting in the personalization of the home space. While a strong trajectory of spatial congruence exists, documentation and typological explorations are lacking. This paper explores a typological approach as a design framework in studying the terraced house transformation by discussing its current manipulation strategies towards hypothesizing new potentialities. Typological and spatial patterns are identified by observing transformations in two sets of case studies: ‘Actual’ projects presented in the book Terrace Transformations In The Tropics (2021) and ‘Prototype’ projects proposed in the Sime Darby Concept Home 2030 Competition. The data analysis is interpreted into a series of diagrams, using building anatomy to inform its correlation to the spatial context - establishing a design framework indicating terraced transformation. Findings suggest that the transformation of terraced types and prototypes in Malaysia is motivated by human-centric priorities based on the design framework transformation that integrates (1) agentic attributes through the notion of ‘desire-based design’ manifested in the following aspects: Desire by the Absence of Damage Needs, Home Micro-Economic, Optimizing Space/Maximizing Value, and Personalization-Customization; and (2) adaptive attributes from the eccentric value of ‘void’ driven by ‘composition-forms-programs.’ The study concludes that ‘programmatic’ adaptation is key in driving the transformation, demonstrating a better human-centric approach to exploring the capabilities of future terraced housing in Malaysia. Copyright@SPSD Press from 2010, SPSD Press, Kanazawa