Sibu Terrace House: A Ventilation-First Plan Against Mould

The Challenge

A long, narrow terrace with a dead-air middle zone — the classic Sarawak condition where trapped heat and humidity grow mould on ceilings and inside closed cabinets.

The Approach

The proposal starts with airflow, not finishes. It plans cross-ventilation and exhaust paths through the wet areas, keeps cabinets breathing with airflow gaps instead of sealing them, zones the air-conditioning with dehumidification, and specifies E0 and moisture-safe materials in the humid runs. Ceiling services are coordinated on one plan to avoid condensation traps.

Proposed resolution

Designed to keep the middle of the house moving air instead of holding it — the condition that breeds mould can be removed at the planning table rather than fought with repainting later. The material choices are meant to reinforce the airflow strategy rather than work against it.

Key Lessons

• →In Sarawak, ventilation is a design decision — not an optional upgrade
• →Sealed humid storage is where mould starts — give cabinets airflow gaps
• →Coordinate ceiling, A/C and ventilation on one plan to avoid condensation traps
• →Material grade (E0, moisture-safe) supports the airflow strategy; it does not replace it