Internal · façade design

The façade is a performance system.

For a mid-terrace house, treat the façade as a performance system, not decoration. In Sarawak, heavy rain, strong sun, humidity, security and the narrow frontage should drive the design.

METMalaysia notes that western Sarawak receives much of its annual rainfall during the northeast monsoon, so drainage and weather protection deserve priority. METMalaysia climate guidance

The decisions

Ten façade choices, in order

Renovation scope and approvals
Options
Repainting / cladding only; replacing doors / windows; new canopy; changing the roofline; enlarging openings; extending rooms
Recommended baseline
Identify structural, planning and party-wall work before designing or ordering materials. Use a submitting person / engineer where required.
Common trap
Ordering aluminium, glass or stone before the approved dimensions and structural supports are confirmed.
Car porch and frontage use
Options
One or two cars; motorcycle / bicycle space; pedestrian route; EV point; storage; washing area
Recommended baseline
Test the layout using the owners’ actual vehicles — door-opening, turning, gate movement and walking clearance.
Common trap
Designing the façade first and discovering later that columns, gates or entrance steps obstruct parking.
Façade composition
Options
Modern / minimal / classical; symmetrical or asymmetrical; horizontal or vertical emphasis; a focal entrance
Recommended baseline
For a narrow terrace frontage, use one dominant frame or feature, one secondary layer and a calm background. Limit the palette to about three main materials.
Common trap
Too many boxes, profiles, colours, lighting lines and “feature” materials competing on a small elevation.
Car-porch roof and entrance canopy
Options
RC slab; metal roof; aluminium-composite roof; laminated glass; polycarbonate; open pergola
Recommended baseline
Provide a positive roof fall, accessible gutters, drip edges and a protected entrance. Consider heat below transparent roofs and rain blowing in from the sides.
Common trap
Nearly flat canopies, concealed gutters without maintenance access, or downpipes discharging toward the neighbour.
Doors, windows, daylight and privacy
Options
Solid or glazed entrance; aluminium or timber; sliding, casement or top-hung windows; clear, tinted, Low-E, laminated or tempered glass
Recommended baseline
Decide by façade orientation, privacy, ventilation and rain exposure. Use external fins, screens or overhangs for strong east / west sun instead of relying entirely on dark glass.
Common trap
Oversized glazing that creates heat and privacy problems, or decorative screens that prevent window cleaning and emergency access.
Gate, fence and security level
Options
Sliding, folding or swing gate; solid, perforated or open design; a separate pedestrian gate; digital lock, intercom and CCTV
Recommended baseline
A semi-open gate usually balances ventilation, visibility and security. Integrate the pedestrian entrance, mailbox, house number and intercom into one zone.
Common trap
A fully solid gate that traps heat, blocks visibility and makes the whole frontage feel like a service yard.
Exterior materials, colours and profiles
Options
Exterior paint; tiles; stone; aluminium panels / profiles; textured coating; WPC; fair-face finishes
Recommended baseline
Use UV-, moisture- and corrosion-resistant exterior systems. Detail aluminium trims, expansion joints, drip edges, sealants and wet-to-dry material junctions.
Common trap
Using interior wall panels outside, depending entirely on sealant, mixing incompatible metals, or selecting finishes that cannot be replaced consistently.
Rainwater, drainage and waterproofing
Options
Exposed or concealed gutter; downpipe position; porch falls; balcony outlets; door thresholds; wall flashings
Recommended baseline
Make water movement visible in the drawings: roof fall → gutter → downpipe → approved drain. Provide overflow paths and accessible cleaning points.
Common trap
Porch floors falling toward the house, hidden outlets without overflow, leaking party-wall junctions and downpipes concealed permanently behind panels.
Integration of external services
Options
Electrical meter / DB; water meter; AC condensers; condensate pipes; fibre box; CCTV; lighting drivers; hose tap and drainage
Recommended baseline
Create a ventilated, accessible service zone, screened as part of the architecture. Keep shut-off points and equipment removable without dismantling the façade.
Common trap
Completely boxing up AC condensers, hiding meters behind immovable cladding, or running exposed pipes across the finished elevation.
Lighting, landscaping and maintenance
Options
Ambient, entrance and feature lighting; planter type; washing access; a repainting and replacement strategy
Recommended baseline
Use restrained warm lighting, illuminate steps and house numbers, and select plants that will not obstruct drains, gates or CCTV. Review the façade in both day and night views.
Common trap
Excessive linear LEDs, glare toward neighbours, inaccessible high-level features and materials that need frequent pressure washing.

Because you share walls

Special mid-terrace controls

Because the house shares boundaries with neighbours, pay particular attention to:

Party-wall and neighbour-roof junctions.
Canopy flashings and rainwater discharge.
Avoiding attachment to the neighbour’s structure.
Fire separation where the car-porch roof approaches the party wall.
Construction access without entering neighbouring property.
Keeping façade projections within the approved boundary and building line.

For projects under MBKS, its building-plan checklist specifically addresses car-porch / patio roofs at party walls, party walls carried above the roof, and Council consent for openings in party walls. Verify the exact current requirement with the relevant local council before construction. MBKS Building Plan Checklist · Sarawak Buildings Ordinance

Sensible default

A sensible default: a simple three-material palette, shaded openings, a semi-open aluminium gate, a properly sloped aluminium canopy, accessible external drainage and one consolidated service zone.

The register family

Other registers in this family

What ALUMAX supplies

Product standardisation

Selection, packages & design

The façade is a performance system.

Ten façade choices, in order

Renovation scope and approvals

Car porch and frontage use

Façade composition

Car-porch roof and entrance canopy

Doors, windows, daylight and privacy

Gate, fence and security level

Exterior materials, colours and profiles

Rainwater, drainage and waterproofing

Integration of external services

Lighting, landscaping and maintenance

Special mid-terrace controls

Other registers in this family