Chengal House in Nibong Tebal, Penang, is an inspirational showcase of what can be achieved with salvaged timber
Before sustainability and adaptive reuse became buzzwords in design, Gooi Kok Wah built Chengal House almost entirely from architectural materials salvaged around Malaysia.
Gooi, who used to be an accountant, leaped into making a business of salvaging timber structures from disused railway quarters, sawmills and kampung houses, which led to renovating and restoring old buildings over a decade ago.
As his business grew, Gooi needed to build a multi-purpose space to serve as a storage showcase and workshop, as well as for weekend stays or possibly his retirement home in the future. Nibong Tebal was a natural choice as he had grown up on the very land Chengal House would be built on, which used to be an oil palm orchard.
Read more: 5 inspiring heritage homes in Penang
Steady growth
“This location is right at the end of Penang state where the borders to Kedah and Perak are within a 3 km radius,” says Gooi. “Here, there’s clean air and blue skies all the time, and we still get fireflies at night. There’re permanent forest reserves at the back of this property and a Penang State Water Reservoir just behind the hill.”
Building took six months of consistent work, which this self-taught designer describes as a process of many experiments and trial and error. He adhered to the ideal ratio of 1: 3 for built-up to garden with approximately 3,200 sq ft of built-up space vs over 8,000 sq ft of landscaping.
See also: 10 terrace houses in Malaysia with amazing renovations
