Sibu Terrace House: A Ventilation-First Plan Against Mould
Ventilation + AC zoning + moisture-safe material upgrade
2–3 weeks design, staged with the renovation
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, sometimes within months of a previous renovation.
The Approach
Started with airflow, not finishes. Planned cross-ventilation and exhaust paths through the wet areas, kept cabinets breathing with airflow gaps instead of sealing them, zoned the air-conditioning with dehumidification, and specified E0 and moisture-safe materials in the humid runs. Ceiling services were coordinated on one plan to avoid condensation traps.
The Outcome
Designed to keep the middle of the house moving air instead of holding it — the condition that breeds mould is removed at the planning table rather than fought with repainting later. The material choices reinforce the airflow strategy rather than working 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
*Illustrative scenario based on conditions ELS by ALUMAX plans for across Sarawak — figures are indicative and not a quotation. We are actively building our project portfolio; named, photographed case studies will follow.