Is the Honeycomb Layout Suitable for Sloping Sites?

Developers in Malaysia generally flatten large expanses of land for the terrace houses, but let detached houses go gently up and down to better suit the original contours.



Detached housing units have compact footprints that allow more level changes to be placed between the blocks. The shape of blocks of Honeycomb housing is very much like big detached houses and there is more opportunity to introduce level changes in between the blocks.




The party wall at the rear of the quadruplex or duplex houses can also easily cater for changes in levels – up to 3 meters – fitting in with the structure of the house. In this way the amount of free-standing retaining structure is minimized.


Here only a one meter retaining wall is shown at the party wall between the two units, but a 3 meter one fits in easily too

For even steeper sites, cul-de-sacs, being disconnected, adapt better to topography. Quite large level differences in levels between adjacent courtyards can be managed because the roads do not connect directly but instead snake around in a loop.