Semiramis, as the project name suggests, is inspired by the legendary Lydian-Babylonian queen for whom the Hanging Gardens of Babylon were built. This revolutionary residential development is located at Jalan Field Force in Kuching, Sarawak. Developed by Urbanpro Development Sdn Bhd, with architectural design by Project Shop PLT and engineering by N.D. Consultant, the project aims to set a new standard in residential housing.

The primary design vision for Semiramis is to craft a garden space where each house sits within, with its own private garden. Unlike the typical townhouse typology in Kuching, these townhouses are designed to offer all the features of a landed house, including a spacious private car porch, garden, and all necessary rooms. It features a ramp for access to the upper levels, enhancing privacy by providing separate car parks and exclusive entrances for each unit.

The project envisions a new standard of residential housing, balancing individual privacy with communal facilities like clubhouses, swimming pools, and a grand entrance lobby reminiscent of a hotel.

Inspired by the Hanging Gardens of Babylon, the design integrates layered landscapes to create complex, pocket-like spaces instead of large plaza areas, enhancing human-centric scale. Influenced by Thomas Heatherwick, the project emphasizes not only functionality but also the emotional impact of design.

The design creates numerous pocket gardens, enhancing aesthetic appeal and providing a unique experience of living within a garden community while maintaining exclusive privacy. Key aesthetic elements include the entrance gateway with hanging planter boxes, the multipurpose function room fronting an infinity pool, and a grand lobby with double-volume space, natural stones, and waterfall features.

While not explicitly stated, Semiramis adopts local vernacular architecture principles, focusing on the spirit of community. The garden spaces between residential blocks foster unplanned encounters and are connected by an elevated clubhouse platform, which features a cathedral-like multipurpose function room for community gatherings.

The design is not constrained by any architectural style; instead, the focus is on increasing the surface area of the building envelope to create varied depths and craft emotional engagement from both the inside and outside. Though the floor plans are similar for construction considerations, they are not identical due to the context and avoid crafting a monotone space. This approach reflects a blend of Le Corbusier’s machine philosophy with Frank Lloyd Wright's organic philosophy to honour and enhance the context.

Semiramis offers a new typology of housing focused on quality of life, providing exclusive privacy and community living with necessary facilities and amenities. The innovative design addresses privacy issues common in typical townhouses by providing exclusive entrances and car porches for each unit.

The project employs passive design strategies to maximize natural daylight and ventilation in major functional rooms. The emphasis on landscape design contributes to a cooler microclimate, improving the thermal comfort inside the residential units.

One of the biggest challenges was designing the ramp and driveway to the upper floors without blocking daylight into the ground floor driveways and car porches. This was addressed by integrating specially designed drains that allow penetration of daylight and ventilation along the entire driveway.

This project is a design-led development where the developer collaborated closely with the architects to address typical townhouse issues. It introduces a new townhouse typology that emphasizes human needs for both privacy and community, integrating landscape design to enhance the microclimate.

Reflecting on the project's impact, it is envisioned to become a lasting part of residents' lives, where significant life events and everyday interactions are intertwined with the design. As Thomas Heatherwick suggested, even after a century, the emotional and functional significance of Semiramis may make it difficult to consider its demolition. This project is designed to nurture the collective memory of residents, creating a timeless and emotionally resonant living environment.