Sayang House

Though it looks like it resides in a more tropical climate, Sayang House from Carlos Gris Studio is actually not far from where we are based in Cambridgeshire, UK. This majestic piece of architecture can be found in the small, cathedral town of Ely and it is definitely one of the most modern looking and stylish properties to be found there. Completed in 2021, Sayang House has some 187m² of living space and boasts a mighty tranquil setting that makes it ideal for relaxing and unwinding.

Expertly designed by Carlos Gris Studio, Sayang House in Ely is a new pavilion property that was designed for Gretta Funnell as she returns from 20 years living in Malaysia, after Ray, her husband sadly passed away. She purchased an isolated plot of land in the fenlands of Cambridgeshire with the hope of starting a new life living nearer her family. This simple rectangular pavilion is both classical and contemporary in style and absorbs the linear and understated design tastes Gretta adopted from interiors she was so used to in Kuala Lumpur.

ELEGANT, UNDERSTATED DESIGN

Whilst the aesthetic of Sayang House would appear very clean-lined it also tries to blend into the vernacular of the surrounding fenland. It is single-storey build and flattened like the local marshland terrain so as not to impact it too much. The strong geometric roof parapet is a reflection of the long and flat horizons seen throughout the Cambridgeshire Fens. The full property is covered in brown-brushed Shou Sugi Ban as a knowing nod to Asia and also to the muddy backdrop of the fenlands. The proportions of the cladding and its structured layout are carefully considered in order to reflect the wooden sleepers of a rail track that runs through a nearby field.

At Sayang House from Carlos Gris Studio, the front door is centered on an existing weeping willow tree that sits in the rear garden of the beautiful and refined property. When you enter the home, every space within the building, the opposing wall is floor-to-ceiling glass to offer an immediate framing of the exterior garden beyond. Even though it has two curtain walls on the north and south-facing elevations, Sayang House is extremely economical with an SAP reading not far from becoming a PassiveHaus.

There were five house designs submitted before a concept was approved by the planning authorities. This was due to the fact it is in such a sensitive, agricultural piece of land and it needed to fit in with its surroundings. It was specified that it had to be a single story and of architectural merit. The foundations were made with 8 metre deep piles and a concrete ring beam on top. Following this, there was a steel frame made with infills of SIPS (structural insulation panels) and the north and south-facing elevation of Sayang House is a breathtaking, glass curtain wall. Last but not least, the property was wrapped in a bespoke Shou Sugi Ban cladding – which is Douglas fir that is charred and then browns brushed.

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Photographs: Ed Reeves