The Dry House Weekly - Week 6

Welcome to Week 6 of The Dry House Weekly. After completing the villa’s structure, envelope, and MEP systems, we now move inside to explore the internal finishes.

Phase 6: Interior Finishes

1. Design Intent

In keeping with the Dry House philosophy, every finish is:

• Fully dry-installed — no plaster, grout, adhesives, or paint.

• Demountable — panels, floors, and ceilings can be lifted or unclipped.

• Repairable or replaceable — damaged modules can be swapped without demolition.

• Aligned with the Kit of Parts (KoP) — finishes are prefabricated, standardized, and modular, making them easy to assemble, maintain or upgrade.

2. Room-by-room finishes palette

Living Room & Common Areas

• Floor: Interlocking bamboo woven mats or coconut fiber composite panels over raised subfloor.

• Walls: Prefabricated gypsum or bamboo-laminate wall panels, mechanically fixed.

• Ceiling: Stretched fabric system or clip-in bamboo veneer panels.

Bedrooms

• Floor: Engineered bamboo or timber click-lock planks, factory oiled/varnished.

• Walls: Gypsum board panels finished in woven bamboo veneer or natural laminates.

• Ceiling: Clip-in acoustic panels with textile or bamboo veneer finish.

Storage & Utility Rooms

• Floor: High-durability modular vinyl or composite planks (click-lock).

• Walls: Plain demountable gypsum or fiber-cement panels.

• Ceiling: Standard demountable grid system or unfished for maximum service access.

Kitchen (Kit of Parts Zone)

• Floor: High-density laminate click-in flooring with water-resistant core.

• Walls: Composite wall panels with factory-applied stainless steel or HPL in splash zones.

• Ceiling: Clip-in washable ceiling tiles with concealed service void.

• KoP Integration: Kitchen cabinetry, counters, and splashbacks arrive as prefabricated modules that bolt into place. Plumbing and electrical connections align with service walls behind, making future upgrades easy.

Bathrooms & Toilets (Kit of Parts Zone)

• Floor: Prefabricated modular shower trays and raised floor panels with gasket-sealed connections.

• Walls: Moisture-resistant composite panels (HPL or fiberglass-reinforced panels) fixed mechanically.

• Ceiling: Demountable waterproof ceiling panels with clip-in LED fittings.

• KoP Integration: Bathrooms function as complete modular pods or sub-assemblies:

  • Shower trays, drainage kits, and wall panels form a watertight, demountable shell.

  • Toilet and vanity modules are factory-built, delivered ready for bolt-in installation.

  • All services (water, waste, ventilation) connect through accessible manifold walls.

Corridors

• Floor: Durable modular vinyl planks or bamboo woven runners.

• Walls: Ventilated gypsum/bamboo veneer panels with integrated louvers.

• Ceiling: Linear clip-in panels with recessed lighting strips.

Balconies & Outdoor Areas

• Floor: Modular deck tiles (bamboo, recycled plastic or Wood Plastic Composites (WPC) raised on pedestals.

• Walls: Ventilated cladding panels, mechanically fixed.

• Ceiling/Canopies: Demountable bamboo lattice or aluminum louver panels.

Staircase

• Floor: Prefabricated bamboo or timber treads, prefinished and bolted to steel stringers.

• Walls: Demountable wall cladding panels (bamboo or HPL veneer).

• Underside: Clip-in slatted panels for access to MEP services.

3. Maintenance

Traditionally, wet areas are the weak point of any house, requiring cement screeds, tile grout, and membranes that eventually fail. In The Dry House, bathrooms and kitchens are engineered as Kits of Parts:

• Prefabricated Shower Trays — factory-molded, watertight, with integrated slope to drain.

• Raised Floor Panels — sealed with compression gaskets, fully removable for inspection.

• Waterproof Wall Panels — factory-laminated, clipped into frames; joints sealed with EPDM gaskets, not silicone.

• Drainage Kits — use compression fittings, allowing replacement without chiseling.

• Accessible Service Zones — manifold walls behind panels ensure leaks are immediately visible and repairable.

Result: Wet areas remain completely waterproof and easy to maintain — no hidden risks of leakage, no demolition required.

4. Product Examples

Flooring:

• MOSO® Bamboo Elite click flooring (factory finished, no adhesives)

• Interface® modular carpet tiles (liftable, replaceable)

• Buzon® pedestals with outdoor decking tiles

Walls:

• Parklex® Prodema HPL panels (mechanically fixed, factory finished)

• Fundermax® laminates for kitchens and bathrooms

• Woven bamboo modular wall panels

Ceilings:

• Barrisol® stretch fabric systems (clip-in, demountable)

• Hunter Douglas® linear clip-in ceiling systems

• Armstrong® acoustic tiles (demountable grid)

Wet Areas (KoP examples):

• Fibo® click-lock waterproof wall panel system (grout-free)

• Trespa® HPL bathroom panels

• Duravit® prefabricated shower bases with integrated drains

• Pop-up prefabricated bathroom pods (e.g., Walker Modular, Offsite Solutions)

5. Why KoP Matters for Finishes

By adopting the Kit of Parts approach into the design:

• Wet areas become plug-and-play modules, not fragile, site-built zones.

• Kitchens can be upgraded like appliances — counters, panels, and storage units swapped with minimal disruption.

• Finishes are standardized and demountable, ensuring resilience in a tropical climate.

• Reduction in space usage.

Next Week (Phase 7): Furniture & Built-ins — Modular Systems for a Flexible Lifestyle.