The New Malaysian House is a collection of 25 contemporary houses that demonstrate a remarkable flowering of Malaysian design talent that has been germinating since the mid- 1980s. The houses range from luxury detached bungalows set in extensive tropical gardens to weekend retreats in the forest, from the gated communities springing up throughout Malaysia to extended family homes. All are distinguished by a singular quality of innovative design as the architects sought to explore new approaches for designing with the climate and in the cultural context of Malaysia.

25 Tropical Houses in Singapore and Malaysia features top architects and designers with ideas that are stylish, contemporary, and show twenty-first century savvy. The difference between a house and a home cannot easily be explained, but anyone walking into a building that is a home, rather than a house, can almost immediately feel the difference. While called 25 Tropical Houses in Singapore and Malaysia, this book is at its heart about buildings that share a common spirit: structures that are home to a diverse cross-section of families around Singapore and Malaysia. Positioned as a global city at the hub of South East Asia, Singapore has a thoroughly modern sensibility balanced by an inherited culture and sense of place. This new global consciousness is reflected in its architecture, which demonstrates a seamless marriage of vernacular and modernist forms. The luxury homes in this book illustrate how architects work with, rather than against, the singular landscape to generate beautiful tropical homes embellished with modern Asian decor. A new wave of highly distinctive architecture has seen Singapore recognized, for the first time, as one of the world's most dynamic architectural centers. Malaysian architecture retains a greater interest in vernacular forms, but the nation's strong economic growth has seen a push to recast the urban landscape. Architects are now working to accommodate the 'brave new world' of an affluent technocratic society within the Asian architecture vernacular currently found throughout most of the country. The most interesting new homes in Malaysia reflect a balance between traditional values and an optimistic global outlook. 25 Tropical Houses in Singapore and Malaysia is an amazing source of home inspiration and insights, whether one seeks to know more about Singapore architecture, Malaysian traditions or tropical architecture in general. Architects featured in this book include: SCDA WOHA Bedmar and Shi CSYA Kevin Low K2LD Seksan WOW Architects John Heah

With over 350 vibrant photographs, extensive commentary and architectural plans, this architecture and design book showcases the modern luxury homes of Asia. The Sustainable Asian House celebrates modern architecture as an expression of environmental, social and cultural sustainability, as seen in some of the most breathtaking luxury homes in Southeast Asia. Gorgeous residences in Thailand, Malaysia, Singapore, Indonesia and the Philippines beautifully exemplify the trend towards sustainable architecture that engages with the natural world. The 27 houses featured in this fascinating and stunningly photographed architectural digest provide endless inspiration for architects, designers, builders and home buyers. The Sustainable Asian House illuminates the region's reinterpretation of tropical architecture and the growing interest in traditional materials and craftsmanship. There is a new emphasis on fresh air, natural light and spatial variety, reflecting the importance of well-being. Designers are considering issues such as orientation to the sun and prevailing winds to reduce energy consumption and carbon footprint. Instead of treating the tropical climate as something to overcome, the architects featured in this book present regional solutions on how to live appropriately in the contemporary tropical world.

Singapore Houses features top architects and designers with ideas that are stylish, contemporary, and show twenty-first century savvy. The houses in this book epitomize cutting-edge residential architecture in Singapore. they demonstrate a remarkable surge of design exploration in the city-state. Architects in Singapore are producing work with a level of refinement and sophistication that is comparable with the best in the world and one would be hard pressed to find a nation of similar size with such an abundance of accomplished young designers who have built independently. The houses include recent designs by doyens of the profession such as Sonny Chan Sau Yan, Kerry Hill and Ernesto Bedmar in addition to the firmly established "next" generation including Mok Wei Wei, Chan Soo Khian, Siew Man Kok and Richard Hassell. For those looking for new architecture or interior design ideas, Singapore Houses will surely add a unique, fresh element to their homes and projects.

25 Tropical Houses in Indonesia offers a selection of the best contemporary architecture and interior design in the archipelago. Architects working in Indonesia--and elsewhere in Southeast Asia--face the challenge not only of creating spaces to suit the lifestyles of their users but also of addressing the environmental and climatic problems associated with living in the tropics. Featured in this book are twenty-five of the most innovative solutions to these challenges by some of Indonesia's foremost architects, among them Jeffrey Budiman and Andra Matin. Economic crises and political change within the country have inspired a new spirit of appreciation of modernist architecture and fostered a wave of architectural creativity which is distinctly Indonesian, lively, and refreshing. Featured projects range from a new type of urban shop house to dramatic and flamboyant buildings emerging from the countryside. Drawing on classical Indonesian aesthetics and conventions and blending these with dynamic, cutting-edge design ideas, modern architecture in Indonesia has become dramatically aligned with international concepts of space, incorporating stunning local elements and materials.

This sustainable architecture and design book featuring elegant photographs and showcases the ultra-modern homes of Singapore. Singapore is celebrated as one of the most livable cities in Asia, and Sustainable Luxury shows how the prosperous, forward-looking nation is pioneering innovative solutions for environmental, economic, social, and cultural issues faced the world over. Dr. Paul McGillick, the author of The Sustainable Asian House (Tuttle, 2013), presents twenty-seven recent residential projects created by Singapore's most talented architects to address the many complex and interconnected aspects of sustainability. Some of the homes featured here emphasize environmental needs, while others are concerned with preserving cultural traditions or supporting societal and interpersonal needs--such as extended family dwellings. Each residence, however, exhibits solutions developed from a holistic point of view. These homes typically embrace the tropical climate rather than fight it, and illustrate how smart manipulation of air flows, light, shade, water, and landscaping sustain higher levels of comfort without resorting to air-conditioning. In addition to profiling individual residences, Sustainable Luxury looks at the big picture, canvassing the most pressing issues--including changing demographics and lifestyles--and examining the available solutions. Anyone concerned with the future of our world will be fascinated by the houses presented here and the ways in which Singapore is leading the way in the development of residential architecture that is as luxurious as it is sustainable.

Malaysia is one of the most intriguing countries in Asia in many respects. It consists of several distinct areas, not only geographically but ethnically as well; along with Malays and related groups, the country has a very large Indian and Chinese population. The spoken languages obviously vary at home, although Bahasa Malaysia is the official language and nearly everyone speaks English. There is also a mixture of religions, with Islam predominating among the Malays and others, Hinduism and Sikhism among the Indians, mainly Daoism and Confucianism among the Chinese, but also some Christians as well as older indigenous beliefs in certain places. This second edition of Historical Dictionary of Malaysia contains a chronology, an introduction, appendixes, and an extensive bibliography. The dictionary section has over 500 cross-referenced entries on important personalities, politics, economy, foreign relations, religion, and culture. This book is an excellent resource for students, researchers, and anyone wanting to know more about Malaysia.

What is it about some books that makes them timeless? Cultural History of Reading looks at books from their earliest beginnings through the present day, in both the U.S. and regions all over the world. Not only fiction and literature, but religious works, dictionaries, scientific works, and home guides such as Mrs. Beeton's all have had an impact on not only their own time and place, but continue to capture the attention of readers today. Volume 1 examines the history of books in regions throughout the world, identifying both literature and nonfiction that was influenced by cultural events of its time. Volume 2 identifies books from the pre-colonial era to the present day that have had lasting significance in the United States. History students and book lovers alike will enjoy discovering the books that have impacted our world.

With rich photography and insightful commentary, this Thai architecture and interior design book showcases some of the finest modern masterpieces in Southeast Asia. A tremendous body of sophisticated and sensitively designed architectural work has been produced in Thailand in the first decade of the 21st century. The 25 houses in The Modern Thai House illustrate the radical new ideas coming from a dynamic younger generation of architects who are producing work comparable with and sometimes even surpassing the very best architecture in the world. Most of these architects were trained in the U.S. or U.K. and reflect not only American and European sensibilities but also affinities with their contemporaries in Asia --including Japan, China, Singapore, and Bali--all hotbeds for innovation in modern design. The houses in this book are readily accessible from Bangkok, Phuket, and Chiangmai. They reflect a wide variety of concerns and solutions, such as: sustainability; responses to climate; strategies for cooling with minimal electricity; openness versus security in a large metropolis such as Bangkok; cultural sensitivity and responsiveness, as evidenced in a "three-generation house," built for a society in which the extended family is still prevalent; and cultural memory, as in the use of elements such as pilings, verandahs, and steeply pitched roofs with large overhangs that echo traditional Thai designs. Nurtured by an increasingly knowledgeable and wealthy clientele, modern architecture in Thailand is emerging with a variety of innovative architectural expressions.

From three architecture industry experts comes a book nearly as sophisticated as the luxury homes profiled within. Inspired by new architectural agendas, such as rethinking congregational spaces and promoting a minimalist lifestyle, the luxury homes from across of Southeast Asia collected in this book dazzle with a bold new perspective on modern architecture. The 400 color photographs inside place you in beachfront scenes where the waves crash only inches from your feet; where you laze dreamily, jungle-side, in dazzling hotels; and finally, you come face to face with the most innovative concepts in all of Asia. With an additional 200 architectural plans to further inspire modern architecture aficionados, New Directions in Tropical Asian Architecture presents breathtaking specimens from throughout Southeast Asia, including: India Indonesia Malaysia Singapore Sri Lanka Thailand Let the luxury homes and residences in this book wow you, and open your eyes to a side of Southeast Asian architecture that you've never seen before.