Asian Architecture [ARC 60403 /2234]

PROJECT 2: CASE STUDY

Building Orientation of the S11 House as a Passive Design

Consideration for Architecture in a Tropical Climate

NAME: KENNETH CHANG WEI JIAN 0318252

KOH SUNG JIE 0318912

LUM SI CHU 0319502

LIEW JIN 0318499

NG EE SHIUNG 0314228

PABLO IDRIS BIN BADRUL 0321895

LECTURER: MS. SHARIANNE MOHAMED

SUBMISSION DATE: 29 NOVEMBER 2016

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Building Orientation of the S11 House as a Passive Design

Consideration for Architecture in a Tropical Climate

Table of Contents Page

Abstract......................................................................................................................... 2

1. Introduction ..................................................................................................... 4

2. Advantages and Disadvantages of Building in a Tropical Climate ................... 5

3. Ways to Provide Passive Design for Tropical Architecture ............................... 8

4. Building Orientation as a Significant Element of Passive Design ................... 10

5. Other Passive Designs Affected by Building Orientation ................................ 14

6. Overall Design Governed by Building Orientation .......................................... 18

7. Drawbacks Encountered when Using Passive Design ................................... 21

8. Conclusion ..................................................................................................... 25

9. References .................................................................................................... 26

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ABSTRACT: Case Study of S11 House

The reason of doing an academic study of building orientation as a passive design

consideration for Architecture in a tropical climate is to find out how the climatic context

would affect the design of a tropical residential building. Every location has its unique

climatic characteristics; this influences the decision of the building orientation in order to

improve the way of living in a residential building. However, every designer has different

methods of approach towards solving a common problem. The uniqueness of Malaysia’s

climate and environment forces an architect to focus on the weather conditions to

achieve thermal comfort. In assisting the validation of research, literature reviews based

on various sources regarding S11 House and the Malaysian climate were conducted to

enhance the process. On-site experience help give a real-life perspective of the building

and the effects of the passive design. The building in interest is the S11 House which

boasts an exemplary use of passive design and was awarded the highest level Platinum

rating of Malaysia’s Green Building Index (GBI). A traditional Malay house is built as a

shelter to protect from the frequent rain and the scorching heat of the Sun. It uses wind

flow to passively cool the building and pitched roof to shield from rainfall. However, the

S11 House encounters the same issues and uses the same concepts but applies them

in a different manner. The placement of most of its windows at the north and south side

to allow unobstructed cross ventilation; the positioning of heat retaining walls on the east

west ends to counter the Sun’s rays throughout the day. The application of materials

such as solid walls on the east and west and more glass windows on the south to provide

gentle natural light into most of its activity space such as the living room, dining room

and the family room. The architect also applies a strict code of using minimal mechanical

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means to create cooling artificially. However, the architect does not ignore the potential

of man-made designs to further enhance his design. One such way is to place pools of

water on the front and back of the building to increase the cooling of the building through

evaporative cooling. Therefore, building orientation is a significant part in responding

towards the climatic context of a particular building. It will also govern the overall design

of the building as well. Malaysia resides in a hot and humid environment where thermal

comfort becomes a main priority for passive design. It is how the S11 house uses its

surroundings as a solution towards the issues presented by the surroundings itself

without using any mechanical means.

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1. Introduction

Located just across the Universiti Malaya Hospital, the S11 House sits atop a small hill

located among the suburbs. The house is a replacement to the previous abandoned

house which was built during the 1960’s. The building reacts sensitively towards its

immediate surroundings as well as the tropical climate. The S11 House was built to

achieve the highest level Platinum rating of Malaysia’s Green Building Index (GBI).

This paper will investigate one of its major elements affecting its passive design, which is

the building orientation by responding to the following questions:

Question 1: What are the advantages and disadvantages when building in a

tropical climate?

Question 2: What are the ways to provide passive design for tropical architecture?

Question 3: How is building orientation a significant part of passive design in S11

House?

Question 4: How does building orientation influence other passive design

strategies?

Question 5: How does this strategy govern the overall design of the building?

Question 6: What are the drawbacks encountered when using this strategy in the

S11 House?

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2. Advantages and Disadvantages of Building in a Tropical Environment

Humidity is a common problem that is faced as Malaysia is a tropical country, hence high

humidity throughout the year is assured. In Malaysia, the average relative humidity lies

around 80% throughout the month. Extreme humidity whether high or low can cause

discomfort to the occupants of the buildings where in this case is high humidity.

Figure 1 shows the average relative humidity faced in Malaysia

Rainfall is another common problem encountered in a tropical environment. Malaysia

receives an expected average of 225 mm of rainfall per month, hence the constant

downpour is a common issue to be dealt with as a tropical country. Overhangs are

recommended in tropical building designs.

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Figure 2 shows the average monthly rainfall that Malaysia receives.

Due to the rainfall constantly experienced in Malaysia, the water content in the soil is

expected to be high. With high water content in the soil, soil erosion has a high probability

to occur which will be an issue to the foundation of the buildings.

Figure 3 shows the average monthly sunhours that Malaysia receives.

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Finally, Malaysia is also located at the equator which means that sunlight received is

constant throughout the year, which may cause thermal discomfort and sun glare to occur

during the peak of the day where sun is the most intense, the issue can be resolved the

same method as rainfall with roof overhangs to be implemented in building design.

One advantage is that in a tropical environment, wind is fairly common, and by utilizing

the wind in passive designs for building. Thermal comfort can be achieved while still being

eco- friendly to the environment. Vegetation is also in abundance in a tropical

environment which can be used to act as a shade and reduce the heat received.

Figure 4 shows the wind and vegetation that are prevalent in a tropical environment.

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3. Ways to Provide Passive Design for Tropical Architecture

Passive design follows a certain design approach, which consists of several natural

elements for example heat gain from sunlight and wind direction. Passive design takes

advantage of the climate and uses it to minimize the heat gain for buildings and maximize

cooling for buildings. Systems that employ passive design do not require much

maintenance and consume less electricity by reducing or not using mechanical systems

for cooling. Passive design strategies can be applied to the building structure itself. For

example, building orientation, window placement, skylight installation, insulation can be

designed to aid in achieving cooler indoor temperature by using natural ventilation.

Passive ventilation

Orientating the building to make the most of prevailing winds.

Aligning vents, windows and doors to allow air flow into the building

Minimizing internal obstacles or blockages such as internal walls in major flow

through areas to allow for unimpeded ventilation.

Raising the building off the ground to catch breezes

Ventilating the ceiling cavity with cooler air from outside using convection. It will

reduce heat radiated from the ceiling cavity to the inner parts of the building.

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Landscaping for a cooler building:

Reducing the amount of paving and hard surfaces and replacing these with

ground cover or lawn will result in reduced ground temperature around a building.

Reducing the temperature of incoming air through shading by trees and dense

vegetation.

Planting trees to provide protection against solar heat gain for the building.

Water bodies such as fountains, pools, water trickling down walls, and even

plants can provide cooling effects by the process of evaporative cooling. This

works best if the humidity level is low.

Example of a few systems that can be easily found in a tropical country:

Figure 3.1 Evaporative Cooling Figure 3.2 Earth Coupling Method

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4. Building Orientation as a Significant Element of Passive Design

Dr. Tan Loke Mun positions and orientates the building in a such a way that it achieves

three things at once. It aims for reject heat from the Sun, at the same time receive natural

light as well as allowing natural wind to flow across the spaces in the building. Hence, it

has become an important aspect towards passive design.

The S11 House has orientated its long directional axis towards the north and south

where minimal surface area is directed towards the east and west. Furthermore, the

architect erects massive walls on the east-west side of the building as a response

towards the path of the Sun.

The walls act as a barrier to block off the heat rays from entering the household. Thus,

securing a cool environment on the interior.

Figure 2.1 shows a diagram of heat rejecting walls and roof aligning to the Sun path.

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In Malaysia, the Sun moves at an incline, positioned at 31 degrees to the south when it

is at its peak. Therefore, it gives the architect a reason to face the S11 House to the south

instead of the north due to the fact that most leisure based activities are done near the

front of the house. This also explains the placement of most of the windows on the south

side of the building.

Figure 2.2 shows a diagram of leisure spaces (yellow) on the ground floor (left) and first

floor (right) in close proximity to the sun path (orange).

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According to the wind rose diagram, most wind comes from the south followed by the

north-east. The building that is orientated towards the south is able to capture the

prevailing wind. With the abundance of apertures on the north and south side, cross

ventilation that is in effect allows for constant air circulation where hot air is not able to

linger within the house.

Figure 2.3 shows a

diagram of wind

rose acting on the

ground floor plan of

S11 House.

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Due to Malaysia’s hot and humid climate, human comfort can only be achieved when the

home is constantly cooled and heat gain is lowered.

Figure 2.4 shows a sectional diagram indicating cross ventilation from the south to the north.

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5. Other Passive Design Affected by Building Orientation

Thermal Massed Materials

Materials Plan Diagrams Advantages Disadvantages Examples

Wire Netting Screen Wall

The wire netting screen walls is for plants and creepers to grow on the specific walls and were used in the house to shade the east walls to reduce its heat gain though the walls.

-Takes up only very little space - Aesthetics

- Needs to be well maintained

Old Crushed Concrete

This material was reused from the previous houses’ roof tiles and are now used for stonework purposes such as bathrooms, driveway and ground floor living areas.

- low construction cost - save its natural resources - easier to get its supply

- low tensile strength.

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Old Clay Brick

These bricks were cleaned from project rejects or old scraps and were used as featured walls and walls for the interior spaces.

- good insulator - fire resistance| - thermal insulation - high compressive strength.

- uncertain compressive strength

Old Recycled Waste Plywood

The modular book shelves in the house were built using these recycled plywood cut-offs from project rejects.

- to prevent cutting down of trees - good strength

- low cost.

- quality is uncertain. - needs to be well maintained

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Old Recycled Chengal

This wood is used for the ground floor timber deckings. This wood is classified as heavy tropical hardwood with high enduring qualities, sturdiness, durability and its resistance against termites.

- lesser trees will be cut down - provides raw aesthetics

- longer time is needed to search for supply

Insulated Aerated Light Weight Concrete Block

This lightweight concrete blocks were used and constructed on the east and west walls.

- high thermal insulation - lightweight - convenient - easy to be used and handled.

- quality is hard to be maintained

Table 5.1 shows the materials involved in the S11 House.

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Placement of Windows i. Casement Windows

These windows are great in ventilation with varieties of design features. These windows

are mainly placed at the South West and North East side.

ii. Awning Windows

Awning windows has a 100% ventilating advantage. These windows are weather-tight

construction, having it to be good in damped climate conditions.

Figure 5.1 & 5.2 shows the appearance and placement of casement windows.

Figure 5.3 & 5.4 shows the appearance and placement of awning windows.

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6. Overall Design Governed by Building Orientation

Figure 6.1 shows the large overhangs that are used to shade the S11 House.

Through the utilization of large overhangs, shade can be provided to shelter the

occupants from rainfalls and the scorching heat as this is common in a tropical climate

like Malaysia. This too allows large vertical surface to be designed on the facade as the

large overhangs are sufficiently large enough to shade the vertical wall from top to bottom.

Figure 6.2 shows the double volume space in the S11 house that encourages cross ventilation.

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The double volume space encourages cross ventilation to occur as they are openings on

both ends of the building in order to create a complete air circulation which will cool the

interior of the building and its occupants. Not only that, the larger volume space amplifies

the cooling experienced due to the huge space allowing more air flow hence resulting in

a better thermal comfort level to the user.

Openings are placed at the north and south facade of the building in order to receive

minimal sunlight, this also allows wind circulation to flow through the building, creating

cross ventilation.

Figure 6.3 shows the facade of S11 house which consist of open fenestration allowing breeze and

controlled lighting to enter.

Facades voided of openings are place in the east and west side of the building in order

to shade the interior from receiving sunlight and heat from the most intense direction due

to the sun’s natural path.

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Figure 6.4 shows the facade that lacks voids or openings to shade from the sun.

At the end of the buildings are openings where both ends have a water source placed

there, which in the case of S11 house, a koi pond and a swimming pool. Besides aesthetic

purposes, it allows the reduction of temperature through the evaporation of the liquid also

known as evaporative cooling.

Figure 6.5 shows the pool placed at one end of the SS11 house to encourage evaporative cooling.

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7. Drawbacks Encountered When Using Passive Design As Malaysia is a tropical climate country, rainfall is abundant with monsoon seasons.

There are two monsoon seasons, it starts with the Southwest Monsoon occurring from

late May to September, and the Northeast Monsoon from October to March. Both bring

in larger rainfall than usual with the Northeast Monsoon contributing the bulk of

precipitation. Due to this, efflorescence and rust may occur to raw materials used on the

S11 House if not properly coated and maintained.

Figure 7.1 shows efflorescence affects brick work and concrete, two primary materials of the S11 House.

The S11 House has a composite yard that reinforces its green design values by

composting organic waste such as fallen leaves and branches. The damp leaves and

wood could potentially become a catalyst for termite infestation which would endanger

the wooden flooring or timber finishes in the house.

Figure 7.2 shows termite infestations are caused by abundance of dead wood, leaves and moist soil.

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The main designs for the openings of the S11 House are predominantly large overhangs

with unobstructed openings to allow cool air to sweep in. The downfall for such design is

exposing the house for pests such as ants, house flies and mosquitoes to enter. Another

problem is allowing rainwater to affect the inside of the building. This can cause structural

damage. Moreover, the location of the S11 House is near the busy road of Jalan

Universiti, full of carbon monoxide emissions due to the heavy traffic.

Figure 7.3 shows the traffic jams in Kuala Lumpur are a daily occurrence.

The dependency of large overhangs to aerate the S11 House allows unwanted noise

pollution to enter the insides due to the traffic jams in Jalan Universiti and the nearby

power plant.

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Figure 7.4 shows the area with the most noise pollution with yellow being less intense and red being the

most intense.

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8. Conclusion

Malaysia is a tropical country where it is the same season all year round. This allows

passive design to work continuously every day. However, the hot and humid climate

creates small nuisances such as heavy rainfall and intense heat gain.

The stable weather allows the freedom to design a building to suit the surrounding

elements such as heat gain, air flow and vegetation.

The Building orientation of the S11 house is significant due to the height of the building

and the fact that it is on top of a hill. It allows for maximum air flow, sun shading and

natural lighting due to its orientation. The stable geology of Malaysia allowed the architect

to freely choose its building materials, hence the abundance of recycled materials. The

overall design is very minimal with almost no finishings on the exterior of the building.

This follows the core value of a green design building.

With that being said, passive design suffers in being prone to the natural elements itself.

For example, rainwater and strong heat gain can render the large overhangs a

disadvantageous design while pests and noise can freely enter the building due to the

numerous large openings.

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9. References

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2016, from http://www.yourhome.gov.au/passive-design

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9. Efflorescence Causes, Removal, and Prevention. (2016). Retrieved from

Delaware Quarries, Inc.:

http://www.delawarequarries.com/cleaners/efflorescence.html

10. Malaysian Meteorological Service. (2008, March 20). Weather Phenomena -

Monsoon. Retrieved from Malaysian Meteorological Service:

http://www.kjc.gov.my/english/education/weather/monsoon01.html

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http://www.nlc.com.my/termites.html

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