Asian Architecture [ARC 2213/2234]PROJECT 2B: CASE STUDY report

The deck house. Janda baik

Integration of the Passive Design Strategies from Traditional Malay House into the Deck House, in Order to Correspond with the Malaysia Local Climate to Achieve Thermal Comfort.

NAME: KEVIN FONG JIA ZHENGSTUDENT ID: 0317166LECTURER: MS. ALIA AHAMAD

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Table contents Page.

Abstract

Introduction

1.0 passive design strategies in the deck house1.1 sun shading device1.2 passive cooling strategies

2.0 Design configuration response with environment

3.0 reformation with modern building materials

Conclusion

References

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ABSTRACTThe purpose of this study paper is to analyze the integration of the architectural design

strategies which extracted from the traditional vernacular architecture into the contemporary

architecture. By correspond with the site context and climate, it able to achieve thermal comfort

in architecture. Due to the geographical location of Malaysia, it result summer all the year

round. Various methods have been devised to deal with hot and humid environmental

conditions. Lacking of interpretation of vernacular planning led to poor relation of site

surrounding and natural environment. Therefore, thermal comfort turn into the main issue to

serve when we design a building. In this urbanization developing era, the Deck House where

located at Janda Baik, Pahang is an outstanding example that used as the precedent study for

this paper, which bring back the ideas of vernacular architecture and implement into modern

design which able to minimize heat gain of the building. Not only in term of form, spatial

arrangement, materials and also the passive designed strategies. In assisting the validation of

research, literature reviews based on various sources regarding of the Malay houses were also

conducted to enhance the process. By taking advantages of the use of traditional passive

design ideas, such as open plan layout with tall ceiling to promote better stack ventilation,

overhang pitched roof to create buffer area for the air circulation, ample openings for efficient

ventilation. The building is able to regulate heat effectively by itself. While preserving the Malay

vernacular architecture, The Deck House have successfully illustrated one of the new

exploration of Malaysia contemporary architecture. The integration of the traditional Malay

vernacular architecture into contemporary era is an innovative method to conserve the

Malaysia’s identity while adapting the changes of the environment, culture and user’s need

through decades.

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Introduction .

The Deck House is a 2-1/2 storey

house located in the lush greenery of the

Janda Baik forest, at the foothill of Genting

Highlands. This house consists of 3

bedrooms, 3 baths with approximately

370m2. of enclosed and outdoor area.

The building was completed in

2012 and it was designed by Ar Choo Gim

Wah. The brief from the Client was to

design a simple, unassuming and modern

looking house.

This case study report will focus on

how the traditional vernacular architecture

integrate with modern housing design in

order to correspond with the local climate to

achieve thermal comfort.

By going in deep, several research questions will be explain according to the case study.

1. How is the passive design strategies to minimize the heat gain of the Deck House?

2. What is the design configuration implement into the building structural components to response with the site environment?

3. How is the modern building materials which replaced the traditional local material used to enhance the thermal comfort experience?

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1.0 Passive Design Strategies Introduction .

Passive design refers to a design approach that uses natural elements, often sunlight, to heat, cool, or light a building. Passive solar or passive cooling designs take advantage of the sun’s energy to maximize heating or cooling based on a building’s sun exposure. Systems that employ passive design require very little maintenance and reduce a building’s energy consumption by minimizing or eliminating mechanical systems used to regulate indoor temperature and lighting.

The passive design approach can include the structure of the building itself, including building orientation, window placement, skylight installation, insulation and building materials, or specific elements of a building, such as windows and window shades. For example, installing operable windows, or windows that can be manually opened and closed, allows residents to control the amount of air entering a space, and placing operable windows directly across from each other can direct breezes into a building, creating natural ventilation.

The Deck House is a well-known building which introduce the passive design and integrate into the building design. Passive designs can be branch into several approach. On this chapter, the research will focus on the passive cooling design strategies that help to reduce the heat gain of the building, which is an issue to deal with the Malaysia local climate.

Passive cooling design strategies:1.1 sun shading strategies1.2 passive cooling strategies

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1.1 Sun Shading Device .

Sun shading device is a feature that used to control the amount of sunlight that admitted into a building. It is not only function as a passive heating but also passive cooling. The climate is taken as a consideration during the design process of the shading device. In the Deck House, the shading device that used are mainly use for passive cooling due to its geographical location, Malaysia. Malaysia is a country which located at the equator, which result hot and humid climate throughout years. Therefore, passive cooling strategies haven been well considered by the local architects.

1.12 Large Overhang Eaves

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The Deck House

From the figure, we can see that the eaves located in front of the bedroom is extended longer. This large overhang feature provide a bigger area of protection from the direct sunlight which encourage outdoor movement. Different with traditional Malay house, the Deck house use glass to form the skin of the building, which allow maximum sunlight seep into the interior. Therefore, much area will be exposed if there is not shading device. So, this large overhang eaves is used to reduce the direct sunlight that heated up the interior and also provide protection from driving rain to prevent discomfort.

Figure 1.1 the balcony from main bedroom

Source: (Archdaily, 2013)

1.12 Surrounding Vegetation

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Traditional Malay house

The extended eaves and the low exposed vertical area (windows and walls) in the traditional Malay house provide protection to the occupants from the driving rain, provide sun shading, and allow window to be left open most of the time for ventilation.

The Deck House

The Deck House located at the tropical forest which it naturally provide a great shading to the building itself and have lower average temperature compare to the normal Malay house. The forest surrounded also allow the Deck house to be built open to nature but preserve a sense of privacy to the occupants.

Traditional Malay House

Traditional Malay house usually surrounded by tall tree to provide shading to the surrounding area and reduce glaze for the opening windows. The vegetation surrounding create a wind passage and create comfort to the occupants.

Figure 1.2 an exterior view of Malay house

Source: (Mmadventure, 2008)

Figure 1.3 an exterior view of the Deck House

Source: (Archdaily, 2013)

Figure 1.4 an exterior view of the Emas house

Source: (thedusun, 2005)

1.13 Building Orientation

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The Deck house orientated based on the sun orientation. Brick wall are used on the east-west facade to minimize the area that exposed to the direct solar radiation, therefore reduce the heat gain. The longer facade facing north which have more opening allow indirect sunlight bright up the interior and provide thermal comfort.

Traditional Malay houses are often oriented to face east-west direction for religious reasons. The east-west orientation minimizes areas exposed to solar radiation. This orientation also suits the wind patterns in Malaysia (north-east and south-west).

Figure 1.5 plan of the Deck House

Source: (Archdaily, 2013)

Figure 1.6 plan of the typical Malay house

Source: (Anzasca, 2002)

1.2 Passive Cooling Strategies .

Passive cooling is a building design approach that focuses on heat gain control and heat dissipation in a building in order to improve the indoor thermal comfort with low energy consumption. This approach works either by preventing heat from entering the interior (heat gain prevention) or by removing heat from the building (natural cooling).Natural cooling utilizes on-site energy, available from the natural environment, combined with the architectural design of building components (e.g. building envelope), rather than mechanical systems to dissipate heat. Passive cooling uses free, renewable sources of energy such as the sun and wind to provide cooling, ventilation and lighting needs for a household. It can also reduce levels of energy use and environmental impacts such as greenhouse gas emissions.

1.21 Tall Ceiling

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The added height at the middle of the Malay house allow the air to regulate which let the hot air in the house rise to the top and cool air to sink ( convection). Basically the added height function as a ventilated roof space to cool the house.

Figure 1.7 view to the interior ceiling of Malay house

Source: (Anzasca, 2009)

Figure 1.8 interior view of the Deck House

Source: (Archdaily, 2013)

The double volume design in the Deck house enhance the idea of ventilated roof design which provide larger space for the air convection. The hot air rise to the ceiling area and the louvers which installed at the top part of the wall help discharge the hot air out from the interior to cool the house and improve thermal comfort.

1.22 Aluminum Louvers

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The Aluminum louvers act as a vent to allow the stack ventilation occurs. The louvers installed at the top part of the Deck House provide protection for the occupants from the excessive heat and guarantee pleasant temperatures without the use of technological systems.

Figure 1.9 section of Malay house

Source: (Anzasca, 2002) The traditional Malay house welly utilized the roof joint or the connection of roof to ventilate the house throughout day and night time. The spaces created by the roof joints allow the air flow in and out.

Figure 1.10 view of balcony from main bedroom

Source: (Archdaily, 2013)

1.23 Opening

2.0 Design Configuration Response with Environment .10

Traditional Malay house have a lot of opening such as windows and doors. By coordinate with the external device, the windows can be open throughout the day. The windows and doors which installed at the body level height help bring the heat away from the interior of the house.

The Deck house are mainly used glasses to form the skin of the building. The full panel glass window are operable and open for the ventilation. A passage is created when the windows open, it allow the air to flow across the interior.

Figure 1.11 section of Malay house

Source: (Anzasca, 2002)

Figure 1.12 elevation of the Deck House

Source: (Archdaily, 2013)

The Deck House which located at Janda Baik is built in the tropical forest. In order to built a building which create strong connection with the nature, several design configurations are Implement into the building structural component which response to the site environment. The profile and section of this house hugs the terrain with minimum interference of the existing slope. Despite its steel and glass construction, the house functions like a traditional tropical house with tall ceiling heights, well-lit interior spaces, and sufficient ventilation with windows on most walls and aluminum louvers at the highest part of building for the hot air to escape.

2.1 Pitched Roof

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Duo-pitched roof constructed by same-length rafters and joined in the middle. It provide excellent water drainage, leading to fewer leak and longer life span. Besides, it also provide more space for the attic to allow better ventilation. The main disadvantage is the added height make it vulnerable to strong winds and tornado.

A mono-pitched roof allow the ceilings tilts higher and allow rainwater to runoff. It provide a space for clerestory windows below the eye level. This would also allow much more sunlight into the interior. Moreover mono-pitched roof would also help to create a sense of enlarged space.

Figure 2.1 elevation of the Deck House

Source: (Archdaily, 2013)

Figure 2.2 section of the Malay House

Source: (Anzasca, 2002)

2.2 Elevated Foundation

2.3 Open Plan Layout

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Figure 2.6 interior view of the Deck House

Source: (Archdaily, 2013)

Figure 2.5 interior view of Malay House

Source: (Alamy, 2011)

Figure 2.4 exterior view of the Deck House

Source: (Archdaily, 2013)

Figure 2.3 exterior view of the Malay House

Source: (Mmadvanture, 2008)

Elevate the building from the ground which surround by obstacles allow the house to catch higher velocity wind. Besides, the elevated Malay house protect the occupant from the animal attack and flooding. It also provide privacy for the occupants which away from the eye level view.

By adapting the building to the hilly rainforest environment. Stilt foundation can protect the building from damage of flooding and soil shifting. It also create lesser impact to the site context.

There are operable partitions and minimal walls in the house, which allow for the flexible use of the spaces. Minimize interior wall also allow well ventilation and lighting of the interior.

The deck house applied the idea of open plan into the space planning. There is no any partition wall separate the kitchen, living and dining area. This arrangement visually enlarge the interior space.

2.4 Cantilevered Deck

2.5 Glass Wall

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Figure 2.10 exterior view of Deck House

Source: (Archdaily, 2013)

Figure 2.9 exterior view of Malay House

Source: (Sabrizain, 2012)

Figure 2.8 balcony of the Deck House

Source: (Archdaily, 2013)

Figure 2.7 balcony of the Malay House

Source: (Mmadvanture, 2013)

Some of the traditional Malay house built an extension out from the main hall. It fully covered by the overhang eaves extend from the main roof and provide shading to the occupants. The verandah are mainly serve for outdoor activity and relaxation.

By creating an intimate connection with the surround environment, a cantilevered deck is created to promote outdoor movement and allow the inhabitant to enjoy the surrounding forest view.

Most of the traditional Malay houses are construct by local building material, timber which minimal the cost. Solid wall create privacy to the interior and isolate from the surrounding. The main issues are to preserve from the decaying effect of tropical weather as well as termite problems.

By challenging the normal traditional Malay house, the building extensive use of glass form the skin of the building to blur out the interior and exterior space. Glass walls maximize the sunlight and allow it penetrate into the interior, so the building is able to self-sustain.

3.0 Reformation with Modern Building Materials .

The traditional Malay house mainly constructed by timber which is low thermal capacity. In the deck house which represent the contemporary architecture of Malaysia, it challenge the traditional way and replace the timber with modern material such as steel, glass and concrete. Concrete for the stability of foundation, steel for the lightweight structure and glass for the self-sustainability.

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Medium hardwoodWall

Meranti

The traditional Malay house used hard wood as the structural frame. Timber is also use as the non-structural part, which is the doors, walls and windows. The roof finishes are made from nipah, rubmia or bertam.

Roof finishRumbia

FlooringBalau

Heavy hardwoodMain structure

Cengal

Figure 3.0 construction detail of Malay House

Source: (seindahkampung, 2007)

Building Materials used in the Deck House

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Figure 3.1 Building materials of the Deck House

Source: (Archdaily, 2013)

STEEL STRUCTURE

Light weight material which combined with glass to reduce the massiveness of the building.

CONCRETE FOUNDATION

High durability material which strong enough to support whole structure and the cantilevered feature with long life span.

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GLASS WINDOWS

Glass walls maximize the sunlight and allow it penetrate into the interior, so the building is able to self-sustain.

TIMBER FLOORING

The extensive use of timber has created a rich and warm texture which complementing the forest nearby.

4.0 Conclusion .

After completed this research paper, we can see that the building that have been chose for this analysis, The Deck House, this contemporary building is perfectly implement the idea of traditional vernacular architecture into the modern building design. The Malay vernacular architecture is geared towards based on the ventilation and solar radiation control through the implementation of site response and environmental context to provide climatic comfort for the house. Ar Choo willing to explore and challenge the ordinary way of thinking which combine the traditional Malay house idea with modern building material and illustrated a new kind of contemporary architecture of Malaysia.

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5.0 References .

1. Chapter 2: Malaysian Vernacular Architecture and Its Relationship to Climate. (2016). Academia.edu. Retrieved 28 June 2016, from http://www.academia.edu/2377416/Chapter_2_Malaysian_Vernacular_Architecture_and_Its_Relationship_to_Climate

2. Gang, d. (2013). JOM Balik Kampung: Chapter 3 The Malay House. Seindahkampung.blogspot.my. Retrieved 28 June 2016, from http://seindahkampung.blogspot.my/2013/08/chapter-3-malay-house.html

3. Malay Houses. (2011). Vernacular Architecture. Retrieved 28 June 2016, from https://vernaculararchitecture.wordpress.com/2011/12/30/hello-world/

4. Passive cooling | YourHome. (2016). Yourhome.gov.au. Retrieved 28 June 2016, from http://www.yourhome.gov.au/passive-design/passive-cooling

5. Shading | YourHome. (2016). Yourhome.gov.au. Retrieved 28 June 2016, from http://www.yourhome.gov.au/passive-design/shading

6. Sustainable Design Part Three: The Basic Principles of Passive Design. (2016). Slideshare.net. Retrieved 28 June 2016, from http://www.slideshare.net/tboake/sustainable-design-part-three-the-basic-principles-of-passive-design

7. The Deck House. (2016). Architizer. Retrieved 28 June 2016, from http://architizer.com/projects/the-deck-house/

8. The Deck House / Choo Gim Wah Architect. (2013). ArchDaily. Retrieved 28 June 2016, from http://www.archdaily.com/424699/the-deck-house-choo-gim-wah-architect

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