Serendah House expresses the common Malaysian 'kampong' (village) heritage of the architect and the client (his wife), but at the same time provides for their modern lifestyle and needs. Elements borrowed from vernacular houses - 'para' (ventilated kitchen shelves), 'pangkin' (a raised platform for seating) and 'serambi' (an informal verandah) - provide the architectural equivalent of 'comfort food', in the words of the designer. Features such as a roof garden and rainwater harvesting promote sustainability. The structure and ground floor are of reinforced concrete, and the upper parts are predominantly of local timber.

Source: Aga Khan Trust for Culture