Architect's Brief
The initial brief of the Salinger house was a weekend retreat away from the hustle and bustle of the city. Dr. Hj. Rudin Salinger and his wife Puan Munira Salinger were then living in Petaling Jaya, 15 minutes drive from the central Kuala Lumpur. At the time, the site was highly undeveloped and essentially a rural district located on the outskirts of a small Malay village. With their knowledge and understanding of Malaysian culture, the clients were looking to build a modern home which would embrace their Malaysian heritage and Muslim faith. Having lived in Malaysia for over 30 years, Dr. Hj. Salinger had developed a great interest in Malaysian's heritage and culture. This has since a number of papers written on timber woodcarving and handmade roof tiles as well as the ability to cook many local dishes.
The program was simple. To design a house with two bedrooms, a kitchen, a living and dining room. With his culinary skills, Dr. Salinger requested that his kitchen be easily accessible and in direct contact with the dining room. An area with a direct relationship with the garden was necessary for him to indulge in another of his bobbies, gardening. However, what was of greater importance was the clients' desire for a distinctively Malaysian house.
