A kinder style

Don't expect to see traditional architecture in The Sustainable Asian House.

THE SUSTAINABLE ASIAN HOUSE By Paul McGillick Photography by Masano Kawana ISBN 9-780794-607487 207pp, 1,250 baht Available at Asia Books

The book features 27 abodes in Thailand, Malaysia, Singapore, Indonesia and the Philippines that show how architects have reinterpreted the use of local materials and craftsmanship to build stylish homes.

These houses have been chosen not only for their sustainability, but also for their personal, social and cultural contexts. Some have managed to maintain the Southeast Asian idea of the extended family. The architects are also concerned about climate-related issues such as reducing energy consumption and carbon emissions.

Architect Chatpong Chuenrudeemol, the owner and designer of Ekamai House in Bangkok, has balanced privacy with street life as well as modernity with traditional style in his house.

For example, the double-glass doors hint at a traditional Thai house.

Being on the top floor isn't always a disadvantage for a tropical country such as Singapore. Interior designer Tristan Tan and architect Juliana Chan turned their home in a 1980s apartment block into a loft apartment. The couple avoided demolition and rebuilding to maintain the character of the apartment.

Or try one of the most irregular house designs in Sentosa, Singapore. Although made from concrete, the house is dressed in a copper skin.

Architect Sacha Cotture has created his own little world in a gated community because he isn't interested in seeing the outside. He's doing it by using discreet local material such as bamboo to mask the house from the street.