Asian Architecture (ARC 2234 / ARC60403) Project 1: Case Study Paper

Topic & Issue Proposal (10%) Due Date: 30 Sept 2014

Prepare a two-page type-written proposal, including a concept mapping, a summary of the topic and/or issue to be explored, some of the questions you hope to address, along with a title, and an annotated bibliography of sources.

Student name and ID: Christiody 0304191

Tutor: Mr. Koh Jing Hao

Study of the natural building materials on building design in Belum Rainforest Resort, Pulau banding to achieve thermal

comfort

Materiality Natural Building

Materials: - Timber -concrete

-rammed earth -bamboo

Humidity

Thermal comfort

Temperature

Research Question(s):

1. What is thermal comfort?

- What is the main factor affecting thermal comfort?

2. What is the properties of each natural building materials? 3. How does each of the natural building materials help to achieve thermal

comfort? 4. How does the application of each natural building materials affect temperature

and humidity?

Summary of the topic (300 words):

Materiality is one of the important part in designing a building. With applying natural building

materials, it can create a different feeling and quality of space. Besides that, it also can help to

achieve sustainability. Materials as one of the important role in building design also help to

decrease the environmental impact to achieve thermal comfort.

There are some factors can ruin thermal comfort. The main factor in Belum rainforest resort is

Temperature and humidity. Furthermore, this paper will discuss about the natural materials that

apply into the building design in various space to achieve thermal comfort in Belum Rain Forest

Resort. Majority of the natural materials used in Belum rainforest resort is Timber, Concrete,

Rammed earth and Bamboo. Timber is known to have a low thermal conductivity which allows

the resistance of heat into building. While Concrete is known as a thermal mass b ecause it can

decrease heat and also rammed earth and bamboo. All of the natural building materials together

with the properties and the characteristic will be studied more and will be discussed on the

paper. At the end, this paper will focus on how the natural building materials affect the building

design to achieve thermal comfort in Belum Rainforest resort.

Annotated Bibliography

Nevin Aydin Gezer. (2003). The Effect of construction materials on thermal comfort

in residential buildings; An analysis using ecotect 5.0 (Unpublished doctoral

dissertation). The Middle East Technical University.

- This thesis or dissertation the effect of any construction materials including the

natural material which help to achieve thermal comfort

Oscar hidalgo. (2003, October 16). Natural Building Colloquium. Retrieved from

http://www.networkearth.org/naturalbuilding/bamboo.html

Special characteristics and uses of bamboo. (2008, May 6). Retrieved from

http://www.pcaarrd.dost.gov.ph/home/momentum/bamboo/index.php?option=co

m_content&view=article&id=838:special-characteristics-and-uses-of-bamboo-

&catid=118&Itemid=5

-characteristic and properties of bamboo

Building Construction & Finishing. (2013, May 18). Retrieved from http://www.free-

ed.net/free-ed/resources/trades/carpentry/building01/default.asp?iNum=0501

- characteristic of concrete

NBS. (n.d.). Achieving 'thermal comfort' in timber frame buildings - Building

technologies article from NBS. Retrieved from

http://www.thenbs.com/topics/constructionproducts/articles/achievingThermalComfor

tInTimberFrameBuildings.asp

- The advantages of using timber in case to achieve thermal comfort

Advameg inc. (2014). How rammed earth construction is made - material, making,

history, used, structure, product, History, Raw Materials, Design, The Manufacturing

Process, Byproducts/Waste, The Future. Retrieved from

http://www.madehow.com/Volume-3/Rammed-Earth-Construction.html

- The properties and characteristic of rammed earth together with the advantages of

using rammed earth to achieve thermal comfort.