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SCHOOL OF ARCHITECTURE, BUILDING

& SCIENCE

BUILDING SCIENCE 1 (BLD60803)

PROJECT 1: Case Study

(Identifying innovative passive design strategies)

LOCATION

The Pinnacle @ Bandar Sunway, Malaysia.

PREPARED BY:

Alex Wong 0303228

Chew Wen Lin 1007c10646

Chin Pui Man 0310331

Daniel Yap 0309100

Gan Chin Bong 0313738

Teo Kian Hui 0310165

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No

Content

Page

1

Introduction

1

2

Detailed Information

2-3

3

Appendix

4-8

4

Climate Data

9-12

5

Wind Analysis

13-14

6

Sun Path Case Studies and Psychometric Chart

15-16

7

Passive Design Features

17-23

8

Conclusion

24

9

Reference List

24-25

TABLE OF CONTENT

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SOLARIS is state-of-the-art facility that forms an integral part of the renowned

Fusionopolis clusters based on the design of Eco-Green mindset with a goal to be

certified BCA GREEN MARK PLATINUM which is the highest green certification

given by the benchmark of Singapore's Sustainable building. It is a 15 story

multi-tenanted structure with has the main function for info-communications, media,

science, research and clean-tech development at One-North. The overall energy

consumption for this building is the local precedents consumption with the reduction

of 36% which leads to the winning project in JTC competition. In addition, it also

introduces plantation that exceeds by 113% from original area site that is 8,000 m2 of

landscaping.

INTRODUCTION

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Project by:

Soilbuild Group Holdings Ltd

Building Address:

Solaris Fusionopolis 2B, One North

Architect:

TR Hamzah Yeang

Photo source from: http://www.realwowz.net/2013/01/science-centre.html

Figure 1: Solaris, Singapore

Photo source from: http://www.spring.gov.sg/AboutUs/CI/Pages/map-solaris.aspx#.U2szSBaZ2gE

Figure 2: Site plan

Detailed Information

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Green Design Features of the Solaris, Singapore

Green design features that can be found in the Solaris building are

I. Spiral Ramp Design

II. Naturally Ventilated Spaces

III. Skylight/ Actuated Smoke Vent Louvers

IV. Rain Harvesting System

V. Climate Responsive Façade System

VI. Planter Box Design on Landscape Spiral Ramp

VII. Roof Gardens and Corner Sky Terraces

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Figure 3: Level 2 floor plan

Figure 4: Level 3 Floor plan

APPENDIX

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Figure 6: Level 10 floor plan

Figure 5: Level 6 floor plan

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Figure 7: Level 17 floor plan

Figure 8: Entrance of Solaris from interior Figure 9: View of interior with skylight

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Figure 10: Panorama view of roof garden

Figure 11: Panorama view of roof garden

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Singapore is located on the southern tip of the Malaysia Peninsula in Southeast Asia,

between the Indian Ocean and the South China Sea. Singapore lies on north of the

Equator near Latitude 1.3667º N and Longitude 103.8º E. Singapore features a hot,

wet climate and tropical rainforests.

Singapore's climate is divided into two different seasons, which are the Northeast

Monsoon, and the Southeast Monsoon season. These two seasons are separated by

two short inter-monsoon periods.

Figure 12: Average Daily Maximum and minimum temperature ºC chart

The minimum temperature in Singapore is ranged 23ºc to 26ºc and maximum

temperature ranged 25ºc to 31ºc throughout the year. From the chart, January and

December are the coolest month throughout the year.

0

5

10

15

20

25

30

35

Daily Maximum ºC

Daily Minimum ºC

Climate Data

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Figure 13: Average Sunlight and Average Daylight Chart

Singapore receives sunlight throughout the year and it is very rare for Singapore to

have full day of clear skies. Singapore temperatures are varying less than 3ºc

annually.

Figure 14: Relative Humidity (%) Chart

0

2

4

6

8

10

12

14

16

18

20

Daylight (Hours)

Sunlight (Hours)

64

66

68

70

72

74

76

78

80

82

84

Daily Maximum (%)

Daily Minimum (%)

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Relative humidity in Singapore is in the range of 70% -82% throughout the year.

Singapore is a country where it has high level of humidity. It differs from 82% in the

morning and falls to 60% in the afternoon, when it is not raining.

Figure 15: Wet Days chart

Singapore is located on the equator, thus the country experiences rainfall throughout

the year. As mention in the introduction, Singapore climate is divided into two

seasons, which is;

A) Northeast Monsoon; which happens on the period of December to March. From

the chart, December and January achieved the highest value, which labeled as "wet

phase" while February and March has lower value that is labeled as "dry phase"

B) Southwest Monsoon; which happens on the period of June to September. From the

chart, this period has average number of wet days that usually last for most 2 hours.

17

11

1415 15

13 1314 14

1618

19

02468

101214161820

Wet Days

Wet Days

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Wind Direction

Percentage (%)

North 18

Northeast 29

East 6

Southeast 5

South 19

Southwest 56

West 10

Northwest 6

Table 1: Wind Direction for year 2013

Month

Wind Force (kph)

January 15.1

February 9.2

March 5.1

April 3.3

May 4.0

June 8.9

July 9.9

August 8.8

September 10.1

October 9.8

November 6.4

December 10.9 Table 2: Wind Force for year 2013

Wind Analysis

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Figure 16: Wind Arrow of Singapore

From the wind arrow chart, we can conclude that there is always strong wind

at the direction north-east while weaker wind at the direction south-east. The darker

blue represent longer hours, while lighter blue represent shorter hour.

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Figure 17: Sun Path Analysis in the morning on 8th of May

Figure 18: Sun Path Analysis in the afternoon on 8th of May

Figure 19: Sun Path Analysis in the evening on 8th of May

Sun Path Case Studies

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Figure 20: Psychometric Chart of Malaysia (same as Singapore)

From the chart above, we can conclude that to achieve thermal comfort, the

temperature and humidity of the place or area should reach within the yellow box

value showed above. The values inside the box stat that with the range of temperature

from 23 degree Celsius to 27 degree Celsius and the humidity value from 4 to 13 is

the thermal comfort zone. With the present data, a green building should have the

ability to maintain as a thermal comfort zone.

Psychometric Chart

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Throughout this case study, two (2) passive design features are pointed out from the

Solaris, Singapore. Two passive designs are:

I. Skylight / Actuated Smoke Vent Louvers

The primary function of skylight is to bring warm and light into the interior space.

Besides bringing in light and warm, it also brings in the sense of spaciousness and

looks more attractive. The light bring in by skylight are up to 5 times of a wall

window with the same size. If a skylight is equipped with a moveable sash, it can be

the roof window with ventilation function.

Skylight come in varies style in sizes and shapes with different types of glazing such

as plastic, glass or insulated glass.

As an opening of the roof, the skylight framing structure must be strong enough and

able to transfer the skylight roof load properly to the building structure to prevent

failure. Water run off slop design must be applied to prevent water leakage and water

gathering at the surface of the skylight.

The choice of materials for the glazing also plays an important aspect. For example,

a low quality plastic glazing can easily break when something hits on it and

sometimes the low quality glazing can distort by the heat of sun.

Skylight also can be an important architectural element with different types of

skylight to create different types of effect. For example, box like arrangement of

skylight project like turret and tiny glass dome can act as a modern touch.

Passive Design Features

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In Solaris, the skylight besides allowing the natural light to enter, it also serves as

another purpose besides the stacking effect. It is also consider as a fail-safe

system. When fire is detected (via the building's intelligent management system),

the skylight louvers will automatically open and became an exit for the smoke or

harmful gas. For safety reason, the louvers will automatically open even without

power supply. With this system, smoke control system is being eliminates which

leads to saving cost and power. For extra purposes, it is also a weather shield such

as rain by rain detection sensors and direct sunray.

Photo source from: http://www.greenroofs.com/projects/solaris/solaris5.jpg

Figure 21: Skylight view from the interior

Figure 22: Skylight view from the exterior

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II. Climatic Responsive Facade System

According to local sun path analysis, sun rise from east in the morning and fall on the

west  during   evening.   For  a  tall   building   like   Solaris,   most   of  the  building’s   facade   are  

installed with sunshade louvers or light shelves that are controlled by climatic

response censor to adjust them. Sunshade louvers have been designed to reduce direct

sunlight from entering the building but at the same time allowing gentle light to enter

to the interior space. The light shelves reflects the direct sun beam into the interior

space, reducing it to become gentle light to bright up the deeper interior space.

Photo source from: http://www.realwowz.net/2013/01/science-centre.html

Figure 22: Perspectives view of Solaris showing the facade

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Figure 23: Light shelf

By doing so, artificial lighting cost for daytime can be significantly reduced.

Additionally, low-E double glazing glass is used as the curtain wall of the building to

minimize the heat transfer from interior to the exterior. This can also help reduced the

energy cost for mechanical cooling. The   linear   length   of   the  building’s   sunshade

louvers is over 10km. Therefore, the louvers are opened at strategic locations to reveal

high volume entrances and sky terrace activity areas.

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After the survey and research of Solaris, we found out that it is a better working place

compare to other types of building because it doesn't provide a sick building effect

which will reduce the efficiency of the workers production. Through interviews, we

found out that the users are satisfied with the building design and structure. All they

can say is that this building is one of a kind in this century and no one will deny it. As

the conclusion of our group researches, we can solidified that this building is similar

to a living breathing structure which can sustain with a minimum usage of power such

as electricity. The feeling of just standing around the ground floor is able to sense the

cooling effect without the presents of air-condition or fan. It is all based on the air

ventilation designed by the architects. The lighting effect was excellent because even

though there are lots of shading effect, the amount of lighting was just nice and

everything is based solely on natural lighting during daytime. We are hoping that all

the buildings these days are able to provide the same effects as Solaris instead of only

the design or layout. The green and eco-friendly design for a building should be

concern the most in these days as these green designs not only prevent earth from

destruction but also saving cost.

Conclusion

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1. GuideMeSingapore. (n.d.). GuideMeSingapore. Retrieved April 27, 2014, from

http://www.guidemesingapore.com/relocation/introduction/climate-in-singapore

2. Local Climatology. (n.d.). Local Climatology. Retrieved April 27, 2014, from

http://app2.nea.gov.sg/weather-climate/climate- information

3. SINGAPORE. (n.d.). Singapore Map / Geography of Singapore / Map of

Singapore. Retrieved April 27, 2014, from

http://www.worldatlas.com/webimage/countrys/asia/sg.htm

4. Robert Pratt, January 2013, Council on Tall Building and Urban Habitat, Solaris,

Singapore, (6 May 2014) Retrieved From

http://www.ctbuh.org/TallBuildings/FeaturedTallBuildings/FeaturedTallBuildingArch

ive2012/SolarisSingapore/tabid/3854/language/en-GB/Default.aspx

5. SoilBuild Group Holding LTD, N.D. Solaris, Solaris, (6 May 2014) Retrieved

From

http://www.soilbuild.com/showroom_Solaris.html

6. Ken Yeang, 2 April 2012, U*Reka, IN DETAIL: SOLARIS @ONE-NORTH, (6

May 2014) Retrieved From

http://blog.cpgcorp.com.sg/?p=2118

Reference List