What old homes got right

Malaysian real estate developers and contractors once built homes designed to beat the heat without air conditioning, an approach that deserves a second look.

With the country reportedly about 1.2OC hotter than it was in 1969 and temperatures expected to rise further by 2050, architects say older features such as breeze blocks, airwells and ventilated roofs offer useful lessons for designing more comfortable and energy-efficient homes today.

A 1.2OC rise may sound modest to some but in a tropical climate it can translate into a heavy dependence on air-conditioning, higher household electricity consumption and increased cooling costs for both homeowners and building operators.

Before air-conditioners became a standard fixture in Malaysian homes, houses had to turn to innovation to stay cool. Builders relied on airflow, shade and functional roof design rather than compressors and thermostats.

But in the past few decades, many of those older features have gradually disappeared from modern housing estates.

Ventilation tiles have been replaced by sealed windows, internal courtyards have given way to larger built-up areas and roofs are now tightly enclosed for waterproofing and energy efficiency.

Yet architects say some of these supposedly outdated elements are proving surprisingly relevant again as homeowners look for lower energy bills, better indoor comfort and more sustainable homes.

“Many traditional Malaysian homes were designed before air-conditioning became common, relying instead on passive design strategies to keep interiors cool and comfortable.

 

“Many of these features remain highly relevant today as homeowners and developers place greater emphasis on sustainability, energy efficiency and healthier living environments,” says Veritas principal Michael Tan.

Breeze blocks were silent heroes

One of the most recognisable features of older Malaysian homes is the ventilation tile, also known as a breeze block.

These patterned concrete or clay blocks were often installed above doors and windows or along boundary walls. Their function was simple: to allow air to keep moving even when the main openings were shut.

Unlike a fully sealed wall, breeze blocks create permanent ventilation paths to help warm air escape and encourage cross-ventilation through the house. The openings are small enough to preserve privacy while still letting in light and air.

Today, architects are reviving the idea in a more contemporary form through perforated facade screens, aluminium louvres and shaded balcony panels.

Tan says the principle remains the same, which is to improve natural ventilation, reduce direct solar heat gain and add architectural character without relying entirely on mechanical cooling.

Interestingly, the breeze block has also enjoyed an unexpected aesthetic comeback, appearing in cafes, boutique hotels and high-end tropical homes, where it is now seen as a design feature rather than a budget construction material.

Why old shophouses had a hole in the middle

Another feature that has stood the test of time is the airwell, the open-to-sky space commonly found in traditional shophouses and terraced homes.

In many pre-war shophouses, the building footprint was long and narrow, which meant that their centres would otherwise have been dark and very poorly ventilated. The airwell solved both problems by bringing daylight and fresh air into the middle of the building.

Veritas principal Syah Kamaruddin says airwells and courtyard gardens were part of a broader passive cooling strategy that allowed buildings to remain comfortable while reducing dependence on artificial lighting and air-conditioning.

The open space also created a stacking effect – as hot air rose through the airwell, cooler air was drawn in from lower openings, helping to keep the interior ventilated throughout the day.

Modern urban homes are beginning to reinterpret this concept through internal courtyards, double-volume voids and naturally ventilated atriums. These spaces are particularly useful on narrow plots where side windows may be restricted by neighbouring buildings.

Beyond cooling, courtyards provide something many urban homes lack, a small pocket of greenery and natural light in the centre of the house.

Not completely sealed roof

Older Malaysian roofs were less airtight than modern ones and that was partly intentional.

Small gaps beneath clay roof tiles allowed hot air trapped under the roof to escape naturally. Combined with high ceilings, the roof space acted like a buffer that kept living areas below noticeably cooler.

Modern roofs are designed to be far more weather-tight but the need to remove trapped heat has definitely not disappeared.

Instead, the same principle is achieved through ventilated roof cavities, ridge vents, insulation layers and double-roof systems.

“While modern buildings are more airtight for waterproofing and energy efficiency, proper roof ventilation remains essential in Malaysia’s tropical climate,” Tan says, reiterating that for many landed homeowners, the roof is one of the largest sources of heat gain.

Unpleasant experiences follow when a poorly ventilated attic or ceiling space becomes extremely hot during the afternoon and continues radiating heat into the house even after sunset.

Concrete stores heat

Older homes were also known for their solid reinforced-concrete construction which contributed to their durability and long service life.

Many houses built in the 1960s and 1970s remain structurally sound today. However, concrete is not automatically a cooling material.

Syah says exposed concrete has high thermal mass, meaning it can absorb and store heat during the day and release it later. Without adequate shading, this can make interiors feel warmer, especially in the evening.

Traditional homes addressed this by pairing concrete or masonry walls with deep roof overhangs, covered verandahs and surrounding vegetation that protected the building from direct sunlight.

Modern homes can apply the same strategy through external shading devices, ventilated facades, landscape buffers and proper insulation rather than relying on bare concrete surfaces alone.

Old ideas in modern homes

The renewed interest in these features shows how Malaysian architecture is hurtling back in time towards climate-responsive design.

Rather than replicating traditional houses exactly, architects are adapting the fundamental principles using modern materials and construction methods.

A contemporary home might use a ventilated facade instead of breeze blocks, a small internal courtyard instead of a large airwell, and an insulated roof system instead of gaps beneath clay tiles.

Syah said the goal right now is to create buildings that are environmentally responsive, energy-efficient and better suited to the wellbeing of their occupants while still being rooted in the local climate and cultural context.

So, the lesson from older homes is not that everything built in the past was better.

Modern houses offer advantages in waterproofing, security, acoustics and space efficiency. But many traditional homes were designed around the realities of a hot and humid climate right from the very beginning.

As electricity costs rise and sustainability becomes a bigger priority, the humble airwell, breeze block and ventilated roof may be less of a relic and more of a gentle reminder that some of the smartest cooling technologies were invented long before the air-conditioner became a household necessity.