asian architecture case study belum rain forest

The usage of man-made elements and natural vegetation as shading devices to achieve optimum thermal

comfort in Belum Rain Forest.

1 ARC 2234 Asian Architecture

Asian Architecture [ARC 2213/2234]

PROJECT 1: CASE STUDY

The usage of man-made elements and natural vegetation as shading devices to

achieve optimum thermal comfort in Belum Rain Forest.

NAME: LOO GIAP SHENG

STUDENT ID: 0310390

LECTURER: Pn. Nor Hayati Ramli

SUBMISSION DATE: 11th November 2014




Table of Contents

Abstract 3-4

1.0 Introduction 5

2.0 Overview of Shading Device 5-6

3.0 The Approaches of Man-Made Elements as Shading Devices in 7-16

Achieving Thermal Comfort

4.0 The Approaches of Natural Vegetation as Shading Devices in 17-19

Achieving Thermal Comfort

5.0 The Problems and Drawbacks When Having Shading Devices 19-21

6.0 The Methods in Helping to Solve the Problem Faced 21-23

7.0 Conclusion 24-25

8.0 References 26-27




Abstract

Malaysia is one of the country that sits along the equatorial belt, therefore, Malaysia has

tropical climate which experiences hot and humid weather throughout the year. Malaysia has

excessive rainfall and varies in every quarter of the year. In the past, the mean temperature of

Malaysia was 27°C, hence, due to critical global warming, the mean temperature in Malaysia

has increased to 31°C. In such hot and humid country, appropriate shading devices shall be

installed to achieve optimum thermal comfort. To increase the efficiency of research, literature

reviews based on various sources regarding shading devices were conducted.

The major shading devices are roofing. Majority of the roofs used in Belum Rainforest resort are

gable roof to deal with the hot climate. Gable roof has large attic space that could reduce heat

radiation. Moreover, the gable roofs overhang eaves are used to shade the area in the balcony

and the roofs are cladded with reflective aluminium panels to reflect the heat from sunlight.

Gable roof can be built easily and does not require much maintenance. Lesser technical work at

the site meaning reducing the impact to the nature. The architect also uses translucent skylight

in some area to bring in natural lighting while reducing the heat gain of the space. At the resort,

the architect abuse the tree branches by aligning them outside the window of the resort.

Besides shading purposes, the tree branches also provides aesthetic value as the branches

covered the air-conditioned shaft. Furthermore, the mesh shelter found in phase 2 allows ficus

plant to creep on it, obstructing the sunlight to enter. The trees near the resort are well

preserved, hence, the trees have grown tall reaching around 12 metres. Tall and large span




trees provides good shading and they evaporates the heat away. Evolution from the ancient

civilizations inspired majority of the architects to create a shaded outdoor living spaces. The

outdoor living spaces provide both experiences of indoor and outdoor space. Therefore, it is

clearly expressed that the architecture concept of Belum Rainforest is merging between man

and nature. When man and nature are combined, thermal comfort can be achieved certainly

which makes an ideal architecture.




1.0 Introduction

Before shading devices were introduced, man created shelter to keep them from rain, heat

from the sun and wild animals. In the earliest Stone Age period, trees were the earliest shelter

that provides minimum protection from cold and heat. Moreover, trees also protect man from

wild animals that could not climb trees. Then, slowly man learned to use branches and stones

and eventually, dried earth was used to make clay bricks till bricks were introduced.

In the ancient civilizations, the ancient Egyptians started building flat-topped roof houses made

from dried bricks in 3100 BC. Whereas the ancient Greeks lived in stone houses with slanted

roof so that snow and rain can fall off. The Greeks had inspired the Romans to improve by

introducing central heating during cold weather to achieve thermal comfort.

Evolutions have brought us so far until shading devices were introduced. Shading devices

functioned the same as a shelter where they are connected to the whole to achieve optimum

thermal comfort. In ancient civilizations, portico and colonnades were used in Greeks and

Romans building respectively. Subsequently, portico and colonnades have inspired to the

creation of verandah and engawa from the Indian and Japanese respectively. These spaces have

large overhangs and provide an outdoor living space and shading to the building.

This paper will discuss on the shading devices used in Belum Rainforest resort integrating with

natural vegetation to achieve optimum thermal comfort by responding to the following

question:-




• What are the approaches of achieving optimum thermal comfort using man-made

elements and natural vegetation as shading devices?

• What are the drawbacks and problems encountered by having shading devices in Belum

Rain Forest?

• How does each of the features acts as solution and help in solving the problems faced?

2.0 An Overview of Shading Devices

In tropical climates, architects should take account in keeping off the solar radiation to the

windows to reduce direct heat gain. In the process of designing a shading devices can be very

complicated. With today’s technology, computer programs are able to calculate the shape

shades accurately for architects to determine the most effective shading devices. Nevertheless,

experienced architects understood the mechanics of sun position and can apply into sun-path

diagrams and other manual methods can be used.




Figure 2.0 is a sun path-diagram showing different sun position at different time.

(Source: greenpassivesolar)

External shading devices are preferable and more effective than internal shading devices. In

every quarter of a year, the solar position changes, which is the most prominent characteristic

to study the sun.




3.0 The Approaches of Man-Made Elements as Shading Devices in Achieving Thermal Comfort

3.1 Orientation

Proper orientation of a building can reduce the energy use of the building. Proper orientation

can accept morning's warmth sunlight and as part of natural lighting to reduce energy

consumption and avoid afternoons hot sunlight to reduce the usage of cooling mechanism. The

long axis of a building should be orientated within 15 degrees of east-west axis. East and west

facing should be shorter than north and south facing due to the area of exposure to the sun.

The walls area of north and south are larger therefore, the window and openings should be at

least 50 percent more than the combined window area of walls facing east and west. This

benefits from accepting natural lighting from north and south windows while reducing the heat

gain.




Figure 3.1 shows proper orientation of a building in sketch. (Source: Pima Country Arizona)

If possible, the building can be positioned to the existing natural features such as small hills or

trees with large span to benefits from natural shading. In Belum Rain Forest, the façade of most

buildings are west-facing. In this case, it require a different approach, as the evening sun is

difficult to shade. However, during the evening, occupants can enjoy the evening sunset as the

façade opposite the buildings are green mountains.

3.2 Materiality

Selection of materials are the key to achieve thermal comfort. The windows of the resort are

shaded with tree branches while timber has relatively low thermal conductivity and is a good




heat insulator. It creates a cool environment during the warm day. Besides, the tree branches

also provide aesthetic value to the exterior as they covered the air-conditioned shaft.

Figure 3.2 shows the tree branches covering the windows of the resort.

Moreover, the roof of the houses are cladded with aluminium because aluminium has shiny

based texture, making it a good reflector therefore, it reflects the heat away from the sunlight.




Figure 3.2.1 shows the traditional chalets are using aluminium cladded roof.

At the corridor of the rooms in the resort, the architect uses polycarbonate as skylights.

Polycarbonate is widely used in skylights because polycarbonate diffused sunlight to reduce the

heat gain into the space. Polycarbonate is made of plastic based therefore, it has a very good

heat insulation. This material benefits from gaining natural lighting into the space while

reducing the heat gain. Polycarbonate has higher light transmission which allows it to blocks

the sun’s ultraviolet rays.




Figure 3.2.2 shows polycarbonate skylights used in the corridor of the resort. Photo by Ho Leon

Shading glass is a good way in protecting excessive heat from entering the interior spaces.

Shading glass is environmental-friendly and efficient, hence, it is widely used by architects.

When the radiant heat penetrates through the glass, only minimum amount of heat is able to

pass through the glass, reflecting the rest of the heat to the exterior.

Bamboo as shading devices can also be found in the lobby of Belum Rain Forest. Bamboos have

high growth rate and low maintenance, also, it matched the context and produce no harm to

the environment. At times, when raining, the bamboo acted as the rain shelter, also, it creates

the wave sound effects as the rain water gushes through the bamboo.




Figure 3.2.3 shows bamboo used as shading device in the lobby. Photo by Ho Leon

3. 3 Types of Shading Devices

Having the appropriate types of shading device installed is crucial because it has to match the

building design so that the overall does not look odd. In Belum Rain Forest houses, the architect

uses gable roof with limited of over hanged eaves.




Figure 3.3.1 shows the traditional chalet using gable roof. Photo by Fazlin Lin

In tropical climates, the attic spaces in a gable roof usually are not occupied because the attic

spaces are the warmest places of the house. Attic spaces are used to radiate heat and acted as

a heat barrier to the house. The steeper of a gable roof pitch means the longer it can last and

the cooler the interior spaces would be. For the houses in Belum Rain Forest, it has a standard

pitch which is 4:12 ratio.

Besides having a good roofing, over hanged eaves also support the roof in shading. Over

hanged eaves is the bottom edges of a roof and provide two functions. The primary function of

over hanged eave is to keep the rain water off the walls and protect the pathway around the

building. The secondary function is to control sunlight penetration. The over hanged eaves are

designed to deflect high-angle exposure during afternoon midday sun.




Figure 3.3.2 shows the over hanged eaves at the corridor of the Hornbill restaurant.

Figure 3.3.3 shows over hanged eaves deflecting high angle midday sun. (Source: yourhome)

The space of portico introduced by the Greeks during ancient civilizations influenced today's

architecture as to Belum Rain Forest. Portico is an outdoor living space that covers only the top

part, shading the space below. In Belum Rain Forest, they had this living space functioned as an

outdoor reading area, shaded by the concrete slab above. In addition, both sides of the living

space are also blocked by the existing villa, shading the living space.




Figure 3.3.4 shows the reading area of the portico space.

Similarly in the villa, the architect designed an outdoor living space we called "balcony" and it is

well shaded with egg crate sun shading made up of concrete. The best way to apply egg crate

sun shading is to install it to the facade of north or south facing because egg crate shades both

east and west sides.




Figure 3.3.5 shows the egg crate shading applied in the balcony of the deluxe suite. Photo by Fazlin Lin




4.0 The Approaches of Natural Vegetation as Shading Devices in Achieving Thermal Comfort

Natural vegetation is part of the design intention in Belum Rain Forest. The fully grown trees

found in Belum Rain Forest are preserved since the resorts were developed. The existing trees

not only provide and enhance the harmonious environment, they also act as a shading device

to the resort.

Figure 4.0 shows how trees can functioned as shading devices. (Source: yourhome)




In addition, the nature of a tree cools an environment by transpiration and releases fresh air to

the environment, hence, thermal comfort can be easily achieved. Nevertheless, the care taker

of Belum Rain Forest also planted several of potential trees to create comfort environment in

near future.

Figure 4.1 shows the shading of the trees creating a harmonious space.

The architect created plenty of different platform for the ficus plant to creep around it. When

the ficus plants are all over the platform, it is very difficult for the sunlight to penetrate through.

The ficus plant also acted as a heat insulator and reduces reflected radiation to minimize the

heat gain of the interior space. It is one of the approaches of integrating the man-made

element and natural vegetation as shading device.




Figure 4.2 shows the ficus plants creeping over the steel mesh, sheltering the space below.

5.0 The Problems and Drawbacks When Having Shading Devices

Every time when a new mechanism is introduced, regardless of how great it is, it will still

possesses drawbacks in exchange of its benefits. In this case, shading devices also brought out

several disadvantages when installing them.

First of all, shading devices interrupted the initial design intention of an architect. Some of the

buildings after they were built, the buildings might require to add on shading devices after

realizing the heat gain of the building is too much. Some architect underestimated the heat gain

of a building and forced to make slight change to their exterior look to reduce heat gain.




Therefore, in modern architecture, some architects considered and expect higher rate of heat

gain of the building, so they design the building together with shading devices. This method is

well-worth because it will not interrupted the initial design very much as the architects commit

their building design and shading devices as a whole together. Therefore, architects should

place shading devices in their priority.

Figure 5.0 shows a building and its shading devices are merged as a whole. (Source: Arkitiriteros blogspot)

Secondly, shading devices are usually installed at the window or any chance of an opening.

Hence, the shading devices will obstruct the view of the opening. There are different types of

shading devices depending on the area intended to shade. The more area we wished to shade,

the more view will be obstructed.




Figure 5.1 shows the shading devices of ficus plant and tree branches obstructing the view from the

resort.

6.0 The Methods in Helping to Solve The Problem Faced

6.1 Shadow Angle

To achieve thermal comfort in with shading devices efficiently, appropriate shadow angle has to

be established. Shadow angle are categorized into two; horizontal shadow angle (HSA) and

vertical shadow angle (VSA). They are influenced very much by the position of the sun and the

orientation of the window plane. Horizontal shadow angle (HSA) will be formed when it is

compatible with vertical shading devices. Horizontal shadow angle (HSA) is the angle between




the right angle of the window pane and the azimuth of the sun. Meanwhile the vertical shadow

angle (VSA) will be formed when it is compatible with horizontal shading devices. Vertical

shadow angle is measured from the normal of the ground to the shaded surface of the

horizontal plane.

Diagram 6.1 shows the illustration of the Horizontal Shadow Angle (HSA) and Vertical Shadow Angle

(VSA) (Source: nzdl org)




6. 2 Shade Dimension

When we have both horizontal shadow angle (HSA) and vertical shadow angle (VSA), we are

able to determine the dimension of the shading device require for a window. If the height value

refers to the vertical distance between the shade and the window sill, the depth of the shade

and the width from each side can be determine using simple trigonometry.

The depth of the shade can be determined by: depth = height/tan (VSA)

The width of the shade can be determined by: width = depth x tan (HSA)




7.0 Conclusion

In conclusion, the integration of natural vegetation and man-made elements can create

incredible architecture. There is no doubt that the architectural concept of Belum Rain Forest is

the expression of merging between man and nature. Although some of the design intention

may be questionable, the overall scheme of Belum Rain Forest had been achieved by the

architect. In my personal opinion, the architect can increase the usage of bamboo plants

because of its efficiency in achieving thermal comfort by acting as shading device. Bamboo

trees have high growth rate and can be maintain easily. Beside this, the ventilation in the resort

is insufficient as the room required to run the ventilation mechanism system very often.

Meanwhile, the space on the opened roof top often experienced strong prevailing winds which

I think the wind can be brought into the resort for better ventilation. In tropical climate, the

most prominent point in architecture is to reduce the heat gain of a building as much as

possible. For hot and humid climates, McGee, C. (2013) stated the essential rule to shade the

walls and high advantageous to shade the whole roof; the external walls and windows facing

the south must be shaded, create outdoor living spaces to shade and cool the incoming air,

install shaded skylights to compensate any resultant loss of natural daylight, select and place

landscaping to maintain adequate shade without obstructing the entry of cooling breeze,

reduce ground temperature and reflected heat by planting instead of paving and a “fly roof” to

shade the building core from radiant heat and allows cools air to ventilate beneath. There are




harmonious connection between human and nature by merging humanity and nature through

architecture in Belum Rain Forest.




8.0 References

Polycarbonate Windows, Doors, Skylights, Structures | Solar Innovations. (n.d.). Retrieved from

http://www.solarinnovations.com/parts/polycarbonate-products/

The properties of aluminium - Aluminium Design. (n.d.). Retrieved from

http://www.aluminiumdesign.net/why-aluminium/properties-of-aluminium/

Stephen G. (n.d.). The Best Orientation When Building a Home | Home Guides | SF Gate.

Retrieved from http://homeguides.sfgate.com/orientation-building-home-70471.html

McGee C. (2013). Shading | YourHome. Retrieved from http://www.yourhome.gov.au/passive-

design/shading

Bureau of Meteorology (BOM). 2011. Climate education: sustainable urban design and climate.

Retrieved from http://reg.bom.gov.au

Vegetation as Shading Devices. (n.d.). Retrieved from

http://www.greenglobes.com/advancedbuildings/main_t_lighting_shading_vegetation.

htm

What Is A Tropical Architecture? (2011, February 5).

Retrieved from http://tropical .blogspot.com/2011/02/what-is-tropical-architecture.html

http://www.solarinnovations.com/parts/polycarbonate-products/

http://www.aluminiumdesign.net/why-aluminium/properties-of-aluminium/

http://homeguides.sfgate.com/orientation-building-home-70471.html

http://www.yourhome.gov.au/passive-design/shading

http://www.yourhome.gov.au/passive-design/shading

http://reg.bom.gov.au/lam/climate/levelthree/cpeople/urban1.htm

http://www.greenglobes.com/advancedbuildings/main_t_lighting_shading_vegetation.htm

http://www.greenglobes.com/advancedbuildings/main_t_lighting_shading_vegetation.htm




External Shading Devices. (n.d.). Retrieved from http://www.new-

learn.info/packages/clear/thermal/buildings/passive_system/solor_acess_control/external_sha

ding.html

Shading: Shadow Angles | Archived Ecotect WIKI. (n.d.). Retrieved from

http://wiki.naturalfrequency.com/wiki/Shadow_Angles

http://www.new-learn.info/packages/clear/thermal/buildings/passive_system/solor_acess_control/external_shading.html



http://wiki.naturalfrequency.com/wiki/Shadow_Angles

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