Boyan Heights
Located in Kampung Git, a small Bidayuh village about 30 km southwest of Kuching, Boyan Heights Residence faces a striking limestone cliff — one of the key reasons the clients chose this site. Originally inaccessible by road and surrounded by lush tropical vegetation, this five acres land offered both a challenge and an opportunity to create a home deeply connected to nature.
Cameron Maclean, an Australian expatriate who worked in Sarawak for many years, and his wife, Suriyanna binti Hamid, an ethnic Melanau from Kuching, envisioned the residence as their retirement home. They first met while Cameron was working on aquaculture projects for the Sarawak state government. Since then, they lived abroad for several years before returning to Sarawak to build their retirement home.
The house is sited at the highest point of the land, selected through several on-site visits where the clients and design team marked out the footprint using wooden twigs. From the beginning, the design intent was clear: a house that blends into the jungle, offers strong views, and is rooted in tropical living—both aesthetically and functionally.
The layout draws inspiration from the traditional kampung house, arranged as a cluster of pavilions connected by an open corridor. Public and private zones are separated by an entrance lobby that frames the limestone cliff. The public wing—containing the living, dining, and kitchen spaces—references the Bidayuh longhouse, where the pool deck functions as the ruai (traditional covered communal space) and the infinity pool as the tanju (outdoor communal space). This layering of spaces mirrors traditional longhouse arrangements.
The main living area is designed as a porous pavilion. Sliding folding doors open to the pool deck, while clerestory windows and ceiling fans allow for natural ventilation. Most days, air-conditioning is unnecessary. The infinity pool, reflecting the cliff beyond, is cantilevered to conceal its support structure, reinforcing the sense of lightness and openness.
The entrance lobby serves as both a threshold and transition space, featuring a custom display pedestal that blocks direct sightlines—a Feng Shui element requested by the clients. The private wing consists of the master bedroom, two rooms for the couple’s sons, and a guest room. Each bedroom is housed in a separate pavilion, slightly rotated for privacy and to capture distinct views. Timber louvres along the corridor provide shade from the evening sun.
With limited access to the site during construction, the structure was designed for ease of transport and assembly. A hybrid system of steel hollow sections infilled with site-mixed concrete was used, minimising reliance on pre-mixed concrete. Meranti floorboards, supported by galvanised iron channels, reduce the need for structural timber while maintaining a natural finish.
The cantilevered pool was a notable structural challenge. The initial concrete mix failed, causing cracks to appear. A secondary layer of reinforced concrete was wrapped around the original shell, resolving the issue.
Despite concerns about insects due to the house’s open nature, infestations have been minimal, negating the need for screens that would have compromised the design. The home’s openness appears to invite harmony with the surrounding jungle rather than conflict.
Boyan Heights Residence stands as a thoughtful response to site, climate, and cultural context—an example of how architecture can be both modern and rooted, open yet private, and in every way a part of the landscape it inhabits.
Text by the architect
PROJECT GALLERY
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Architect : IDC Architects
Client : Mr. Cameron Maclean and Mrs. Suriyanna Maclean
Area : 400 m²
Project Location : Padawan | Sarawak
Year : 2018 -
C&S Engineer : Perunding JL Maju
Interior Designer : IDC Architects
Contractor : Aru Maju
Design Team : Ar. Ng Chee Wee | Yon Syafni | Azizah Sahmat
Photography : Main photos by Shen Yeo of ShenSnaps Photography | IDC Architects -
Floor | Floor Finishes
• Tile : Floor tiles by Feruni
• Timber : Solid timber floor boards by Merbau
Roofing Systems : PolyOrb roofing sheets by Amcan
Paint Systems : Weathershield or Emulsion Paint by ICI Dulux
Waterproofing | Coating Systems : Sika
Sanitary Fittings | Systems : TOTO
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