Eleena Jamil's Anjung blends bamboo and steel near Kuala Lumpur

Eleena Jamil, a Malaysian architect, has finalized Anjung, a guesthouse and studio situated close to Kuala Lumpur, utilizing bamboo and steel canopies to provide shade for its terraces. This project includes a four-bedroom guesthouse alongside a small workspace dedicated to Jamil's architectural practice. Both structures are single-storey and constructed with locally sourced, minimally processed materials: whole bamboo poles fitted into green-painted steel supports hold roofs made from recycled packaging sheets above walls of compressed earth sourced from the area. The guesthouse is designed around a central courtyard, featuring simple rooms that lead to a raised walkway of concrete and stone. Vertical bamboo screens ensure privacy. The roof directs rainwater to two collection points crafted from reclaimed concrete pipes. Jamil emphasized that the design is influenced by climate, integrating traditional verandahs and terraces for effective cross-ventilation and rainwater harvesting. The studio includes eight desks arranged back-to-back, raw brick walls, a ceiling supported by bamboo trusses, and clerestory windows. Based in Kuala Lumpur, Jamil has been practicing since 2005 and previously designed a bamboo pavilion for the city's botanical gardens. Photography is credited to Zakee Man.