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Linking bioc limatic theory and environmental performance

in its c limatic and cultural contextan analysis into the tropical highrises of Ken Yeang

Puteri Shireen Jahnkassim, PhD (1)

Kenneth Ip, PhD (2)

(1) Depar t m ent of Bui ld ing Tec hnology and Engineer ingKu l i yyah o f Arch i tec t u re and Env ironmenta l Design

In ternat iona l I s lamic Un ivers i t y Malays iaput eri shr @iiu .edu.my

(2) Sc hool o f t he Env i ronm ent ,Un ivers i t y o f Br igh ton, Un i ted K ingdom

K .Ip@bt on .ac .uk


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Aims of study

an analysis of the bioclimatic theories by Malaysianarchitect Ken Yeang.

Focusing on case studies representing the three mainphases of Yeangs work analysed through simulationand post occupancy studies.

an analysis of selected key bioclimatic features as

forwarded in the theories; An analysis of bioclimatic highrise forms and its climatic

performance under the Malaysian climate;

The aim is to link theory and performance of thehighrises and identify any underlying conflicts betweenthe two;

To attempt to reconcile theory and performance under itsclimatic and cultural context


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Development of theories

The idea of the environmental filter (1983) a general armature for design

The tropical verandah city (1985)

Kuala Lumpur as a tropical urban garden.

a city connected by a system of landscaping and verandah-ways. The useof multiple variations of this verandah-way system

a form capable of variations and permutations that would not only serveto connect spaces between buildings but to be integrated as recessed

elements into buildings.

Tropical urban regionalism(1987) developed from his theories of the critical vernacular

The tropical skyscraper (1990)

The green and ecological skyscraper ( 1999 -.)


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To identify the key bioclimatic features

To evaluate the energyperformances of selecyed

bioclimatic features based onhis theories and writings

To evaluate the overallperformance of the bioclimaticenvelopes in terms of energyuse, interaction with daylight andheat gain and occupantassessment of internalenvironments under theMalaysian climate

To compare with performancesof the generic models

To compare Yeangs designs withthe performances of several

highrises by his contemporariesunder the tropical context.

Comparison and discussion

To select appropriate case studiesto represent the different phases inthe evolution of his theories anddesigns


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Richards (1993) and defines that Yeangs designs asevolving from three major phases :

- primary-level design experiments projects which had

examined one big idea in a single building;

- projects which had focused on the bioclimaticskyscraper within the context of the ecological agenda.

- projects which had integrated various ideas andconcentrated on the issues of tropical and regionalaesthetics;

Series 1 (1983 1989)

Series 2 (1989 1992)

Series 3 (1992 1996)


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The regionalist phase which was based on a search fora distinctive regional language within the tropical Asiancontext;

The bioclimatic/ecological phase which was directed

towards a more global context and focused on theenvironmental agenda.

Powell (1999) also identifies three similar phases in boththeory and design in his seminal book Rethinking the

Skyscraper the complete architecture of Ken Yeang:

The climatic phase which was based on

intuitive climatic principles and was focused onthe idea of the environmental filter;

CLIMATIC PHASE

REGIONALIST PHASE

BIOCLIMATIC/ECOLOGICAL PHASE


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The Roof-Roof House, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia (1985)

THE CLIMATIC PHASE

Plaza Atrium, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia (1984)


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MBf Tower, Penang/Hi-techniaga tower,Malaysia (1994)

THE REGIONALIST PHASE


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The EDITT Tower proposal, Singapore (2000), Elephant and CastleTowers, London (2000)

THE BIOCLIMATIC / ECOLOGICAL PHASE


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The Plaza IBM, Kuala Lumpur (1984-1987)

representing the climatic phase

CASE STUDY 1


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The Menara Mesiniaga, Kuala Lumpur (1989-1992)representing the regionalist phase

CASE STUDY 2


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The Menara UMNO, Penang (1996-1998)

representing the bioclimatic/ecological phase

CASE STUDY 3


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An analysis of key bioclimatic features

under the Malaysia climate

Key bioclimatic features

Service core positioning;

Skycourts and balconies;

External shading (vertical); Vertical landscaping ( vegetation on facade);

Naturally ventilated ground floor

Roof as fifth facade

Tested through extensive simulation study using generic and bioclimatic/as designed models


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METHODOLOGY The Simulation Process

Shadow analysis

Buildingmodel

Weather data

Constructiondata

Operating

schedules

APACHE

Heat

Gain

APACHE SimulationDynamicThermal

Simulation


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BIOCLIMATIC FEATURES

Assessing the impact of core-positioning- positioning of the core areas ( Plaza IBM)

N N N

GENERIC COREWEST

CORE EAST


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BIOCLIMATIC FEATURESPlaza IBM energy and cooling load impact of core placement options

Plaza IBM - Impact of core placement

209.4

186.7 193.0 178.8

170.8

283.8

261.1 259.6 253.1 246.1

0

50

100

150

200

250

300

Typical core-east core-west Double sided1 Double sided2model

Kwh/m.sq./

yr

Cooling

Total



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Nabalc

onies

N N

Center-core Double-sided

core

with balconies

N

Core east Coreplacement

withskycourts

Menara Mesiniaga Skycourt options (as designed)

Plaza IBM (generic studies) Balcony option


The impact of balconies and skycourts


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Fig. 5.36.a Plaza IBM - 11th floor planshowing the location of the balconies onthe eastern and western side of thetower

Fig.5.36b. Plaza IBM - Detail ofbalconies (as designed)located on east and westsides

Small balconiesbalconies


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BIOCLIMATIC FEATURESMesiniaga Cooling and total energy impact of skycourts

Mesiniaga - Impact of skycourts

208.6

185.7 190.1

280.8

263.4 265.1

0.0

50.0

100.0

150.0

200.0

250.0

300.0

typical core placement skycourt

model

kwh/m.sq./yr

cooling

total


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The impact of shading systems

Menara UMNO (generic) shading system

Generic Core - East With shading

Plaza IBM (generic)

Generic Double sided With overhangs

Fig.5.53. Plaza IBM (generic studies) Impact of shading


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BIOCLIMATIC FEATURESThe impact of shading ( vertical) Mesiniaga as designed

Fig. 5.62a. Mesiniaga Shading option

Fig.5.62b. Mesiniaga Shading as

obstructions

N


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BIOCLIMATIC FEATURESPlaza IBM Impact of vertical shading

Plaza IBM (generic model) - impact of vertical

shading

209.4

178.8

147.5

283.8

253.1

224.1

0.0

50.0

100.0

150.0

200.0

250.0

300.0

typical double sided with shading

cooling

total


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Mesiniaga ( shading) Impact on peak cooling demand

Mesiniaga(peak demand) - Impact of shading

540.4494.6

413.9

0.0

100.0

200.0

300.0

400.0

500.0

600.0

generic without shading with shading

model

kw


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BIOCLIMATIC FEATURESPLAZA IBM (generic) Impact of vegetation

Plaza IBM ( generic model) - impact of balconies

and vegetation

209.4

178.8169.5

283.8

253.1242.8

0.0

50.0

100.0

150.0

200.0

250.0

300.0

typical double sided balc + vegetationmodel

kwh/m.sq./yr

cooling

total

S mmar of energ performance res lts


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Summary of energy performance resultsbioclimatic features

Summary of performance of bioclimatic features ( as designed)

-2% 0% 2% 4% 6% 8% 10% 12% 14% 16%

shading

core

skycourt

ground floor

vegetation

PV roofs

feature

s

percentage reduction in energy use

UMNO

Mesiniaga

IBM


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Conflicts between theory and performance

Bioclimatic features Generally all features have energy saving

impact under the tropical climate

Core positioning theory andperformance

Skycourts - Mesiniaga theory andperformance


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Impact of bioclimatic forms Comparison between overall forms and generic forms

The net energy effect - in terms of overall performance of the

bioclimatic envelope or form - representative of the interactionbetween the control of heat gain and provision of usable daylight.

Comparing the bioclimatic form refers to the highrise form is asdesigned by Yeang with the generic form (simplified model withsimilar treated floor area and a central core).

In the past, generic forms (with central cores) have been usedas standard models for benchmarking purposes ( sometimes

called the base-case ) ;

Part of architects thinking process regionalising the modernhighrise typology


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Assessment of the impact of bioclimatic forms

BIO-CLIMATICDESIGN

GENERICor

BASE CASE


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BIOCLIMATIC FORMSOptimisation process of the bioclimatic ( design) and generic forms

UMNO(design) - Variation in cooling and total

energy use with daylight

120

140

160

180

200

220

240

260

0 0.2 0.4 0.6 0.8

window-to-wall ratio

kwh/m.s

q./yr

cooling

total


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Overall performances of bioclimatic forms a summary of the generic, bioclimatic performances

Overall envelope performance summary

190 200 210 220 230 240 250 260 270 280 290 300

IBM

Mesiniaga

UMNO

208.4

222.0

210.6

Generic

(optimised)

Generic

Generic

Generic

Generic

(optimised)

Generic

(optimised)

232.6 297.2

204.1 283.0

214.9 283.8

Kwh/m.sq./yr.

(1994-1998)

(1984-1987)

(1989-1992)

Bioclimatic

(optimised)

Bioclimatic

(optimised)

Bioclimatic

(optimised)

Conflicts between bioclimatic theory and performance


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Conflicts between bioclimatic theory and performance -

Mesiniaga Mesiniagas envelope not able to outperform that of its

generic counterpart

. affected by the spiralling incisions made into its basicform (compared to a more efficient cylindrical formtheconsequent high conduction gains due to an increase inits surface-to-volume ratio)

For an air-conditioned building in the tropics, ( ascompared to a naturally ventilated building) thecompactness of form determines overall exposure to

heat gains while allowing perimeter areas to be lit byusable daylight.

Yeangs regionalist agenda during this period hasinterfered with his bioclimatic or environmental one.


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Mesiniaga regional achievement awarded the Aga Khan award in 1995 in recognition to thecontribution to the development of regional architecture in Eastern

societies. :

for having boldly designed a meaningful tall building in a tropical

climate..Eschewing the box-like curtain-wall structures so common in

corporate office buildings, this project promotes a new language

that punches out parts of the structure and wraps a spirallingseries of interactive open gardens around the main core of thebuilding.

. It raises the kind of architectural debate in which the corporateworld generally, and the Muslim world, more specifically, canfruitfully engage.

(Masters Jurys comments, Aga Khan award for architecture 1995)


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Excerpt from Hawkes The Environmental tradition

He is thoroughly conscious of the loose fit,

that architects know only too well,between form and performance;

a space in which cultural pressures canproduce strange distortions.

(Maxwell, 2000)


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Likewise, Mesiniagas performance can be explainedas related to the extent of this distortion which causes

a compromise in climatic terms and can be related tothe articulation of an architectural form that would besignificant in representing its cultural context.

Richards (1993) points to Mesiniagas success interms of achieving such a regionalist form:

The resultant building - within the philosophical frameworkofmodern architecture which is inflected with appropriateregional characteristics of climate and culture -

produces a far-Eastern hybrid form.


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An evaluation at two levels i.e. on one

level as a critique of homogenous high- risetypeforms within a rapidly modernising

context - and on another level in relation to the

necessity of icons as symbols ofprogress in a rapidly developing country inthe tropical Asian context.

An analysis against the background of


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An analysis against the background of

developments in a post-independent nationThroughout the post-independent years of 1960-2000, there have been

various approaches to highrise regionalism with varying emphasis

on the climatic and iconic.

His design is compared in terms of both climatic performance andregionalist intentions to four other buildings :

State Mortgage Bank by Geoffrey Bawa ( Sri Lanka)

Esso tower ( David Russell) ( Bangkok)

Telekom Tower ( Hijjas Kasturi_ ( Kuala Lumpur)

Petronas Towers ( Cessar Pelli) ( Kuala Lumpur)

Balfour (1999) highlights


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Balfour (1999) highlights

The evolution of Yeangs architecture is embedded in theemergence of Malaysia as a distinct culture. One hundred yearsmade the task of establishing the cultural voice of Malaysia aftercolonisation more complex

The restoration of aregional and national identity had specific

targets: how to inflect architecture with modernist reason whiledetaching it from Europes tendency for symbolic abstraction;howto frame an architectural language which, while showing anunderstanding of traditional values, would express the economicambitions of the new nation.

Kusno (2000) observes on the highrise typeform:..

This represents aprocess ofarchitectural localisation- a cultural

negotiation of the authority of the international style .Thetechnique of incorporating climatic modifiers into what is essentiallya modernist structure presupposes an ultimate rejoining of thetropical with the modern and the re-identification of the latter to theformer.

Comparative Analysis (1960s 1990s)R i li hi h i f


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Regionalist highrise forms

Regional

Generic

Mortgage Bank ESSO Telekom Petronas

Yeangs compromise in terms of performance in relation toregionalist approaches to the highrise


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Yeang's position within the continuum of regionalist positions

1%4%

9%

26%

43%

0%

5%

10%

15%

20%

25%

30%

35%

40%

45%

50%

Bawa Russell Yeang Kasturi Petronas

regional 'positions'

%

regionalist approaches to the highrise

CONCLUSIONS


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CONCLUSIONS

highlight certain conflicts between Yeangs bioclimatictheories and the performances of his designs.

Yeang should be evaluated not only in bioclimatic termsbut critical regionalist terms; Mesiniaga may be regarded as a point of maximum

tension between two agendas;

Its level of compromise is argued as representative ofYeangs critical regionalist position.

Yeangs achievement can be argued achieving a criticalregionalist position that results in a minimumcompromise to attain a culturally differentiated formsymbolic significance under its particular culturalcontext;

Can be argued as a position of equipoise or balancedtension between two competing agendas in adeveloping Asian nation

A k l d


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Acknowledgements

Professor David Robson, School of

Architecture and Design, University ofBrighton;

Professor Dean Hawkes, CardiffUniversity, United Kingdom

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