Asian ArchitectureProject 1: Case Study Paper

Case Study: Deck House, Janda Baik

Prepared by: Teoh Hui Yu (0313701)Tutor: Pn. Nor hayati Ramli

RESEARCH TITLE: SOLUTIONS TO HEAT GAIN CHALLENGES USING OPEN LAYOUT

PLAN IN DECK HOUSE

RESEARCH QUESTIONS:

1. Why open layout plan is consider as an effective nature driven approach in tropical climate?

2. What are the strategies implemented by Deck House to reduce the negative impact on the site context?

3. How does the design elements act as solutions to help in solving heat gain problem in Deck House?

This paper show the integration between contemporary Deck House Janda Baik with Malay vernacular architecture to achieve thermal comfort in tropical climate. The main objective of this paper is to investigate the open layout plan used to reduce heat gain in Deck House. Deck House is a light-looking structure build on the hill using mainly steel and glass. It is designed based on the surrounding context and climate which will influence the design, layout and materials of the building. One of the main features that can be seen in Deck House is the open layout plan. Build in the middle of rainforest, Deck house uses open layout plan, which have minimal partitions wall to allow good ventilation to occur. The traditional open layout plan let the air to circulate throughout the interior spaces and remove the heat in the room faster. Based on the semi-outdoor concept, the open space living, dining and kitchen areas are connected to the deck which can enjoy the view of nature. In assisting the validation of research, literature reviews based on various sources regarding open layout plan design was conducted to enhance the process. To further remove the heat gain, there are few solutions that used in the Deck House. The first solutions is the openings(ventilation) in buildings. Deck House uses louvers at ceiling height, operable windows and sliding door to maximize natural ventilation. The large overhang roof aid in sun shading and rainfall. For the material, Deck House used light weight materials such as steel, glass, and timber. The building design are focus on ventilation and shading. Deck House elevated on the site, without changing much on the contour and blend in with nature. The orientation of Deck House are design according to the sun path and wind pattern in the site. (Vernacular Architecture, 'Malay Houses'. N.p., 2011)

ABSTRACT:

Research question 1: Why open layout plan is

consider as an effective nature driven approach in tropical climate?

Research question 1: Why open layout plan is consider as an effective nature driven approach in tropical climate? Research Methods: Literature Review Methods:-Document Analysis

- Floor plans -Observation

- Digital camera

- Thermal measurement (thermometer)

Data Analysis:

Comparison:

Traditional Malay House Deck House

- Elongated open plan of the traditional houses allow easy passage of air and good cross ventilation- Absence of portions or solid wall -Divided into areas, rather than rooms, for various social and household activities.

-Uses traditional vernacular layout plan as a design guide in arranging spaces - Less partition walls found in the house- Open space living, dining and kitchen connect to open deck area.

Importance and advantages of open layout plan: 1. more open wide space2. better ventilation3. natural light 4. healthy and nature indoor environment

The concept of ventilation in the Malay traditional house is a combination of three approaches which are ventilation from top, bottom and cross ventilation at body level.

The less partition walls in Deck House allow ventilation at body level to occur efficiently. The body level is the most vital area for ventilation for comfort. Traditional house and Deck House allow ventilation at the body level by having full length full operable windows and doors at body level.

Traditional Malay house

Deck House

From the photos we can see that Deck House are applying the traditional Malay house building layout into design. The living area are connecting to dining and kitchen area, with no partition wall in between.

Synthesis:

Conclusion:Deck house integrates successful with traditional Malay house open layout plan. The use of open layout plan in Deck House help to achieve good ventilation throughout the day. The less partition walls create no obstacles to cross ventilation and views to outside. Also, the interior spaces are flooded with light like most of the traditional Malay house.

Deck house uses traditional Malay house plan as a guide to design the building layout. The Deck house is open layout plan with less partitions wall, high ceiling and close to nature. The open plan allow the cross ventilation to occur in the building throughout the day. To further improve the thermal comfort in the building, selection of materials and buildings design should be considered. This will be explain in the following slides.

Research question 2: What are the strategies implemented by Deck House to reduce the negative impact on the site context?

Research question 2: What are the strategies implemented by Deck House to reduce the negative impact on the site context? Research Methods:-Document Analysis

- Section drawings-Observation

- Digital camera

Data Analysis:

Comparison:

Traditional Malay House Deck House

Elevated to: -Prevents floods and animals - provide privacy-Catches winds of higher velocity Trees to: -Provide shading - Privacy - Do not block wind passage

Elevated to: -Not changing much on site contour - Nature hydrology - Catch wind at high velocity Trees to: -Shading - Maintain the most of the trees - Wind velocity

Advantages of elevated buildings : 1. Less impact to site2. Ventilation

Just like vernacular house, deck house elevated on the site, without changing much on the contour. The elevated design has less impact to the original site context and also the hydrology. The elevated Deck House allow well ventilation to occur in higher velocity. The double volume of space allow the air to circulate well in their interior, and bring much amount of daylight into building.

As we can see, interior of Deck House are bright without on the lighting.

Advantages and use of vegetation:

In traditional Malay house, the coconut trees and other tall trees are use to provide good shade and also it does not block the passage of winds at the house level.

In deck house, the forest trees are avoid being cut. As trees can provide privacy and do not block winds flow, Deck house can be build open to nature. Trees are uses for shading, to reduce the temperature surrounding.

Synthesis:

Conclusion:

Just like traditional Malay houses, Deck House are build considering the site context. With the elevated structure, the contour was not affected much and so does the hydrology on site. The tress on site are mostly maintained. User in Deck House can have enough privacy, shading and also the beautiful views into the nature. My suggestion is to have a social space at the deck, to let the users spend time outdoor enjoy the nature.

By applied traditional Malay house elevated feature into design, the site was not affected much. The stilts help the building to look more attractive, beside from its function. Elevated above the ground let the building to catch wind into interior more efficiently. The trees in the surrounding not only provide shading to the building, but it also provide sense of privacy to the house.

Research question 3: How does the design elements act as solutions to help in solving heat gain problem in Deck House?

Research question 3: How does the design elements act as solutions to help in solving heat gain problem in Deck House? Research Methods:

Literature Review Methods:

-Document Analysis- Floor plans - Materials used- Section drawings-

-Observation - Digital camera

- Thermal measurement (thermometer)

Data Analysis: Comparison:

Traditional Malay House Deck House

Materials-Light weight timber frame structure-Timber or woven bamboo walls and screenings.

-Design: - Elevated floors- sloping long roof with large overhangs- minimize area of east-west orientation

Openings: - louvered windows - Door and windows

Materials: -Steel frame structure - Vast use of glass - concrete and timber

Design: -Elevated Floors - Large overhang roof - minimize area of east west orientation - building build consider of wind pattern.

Openings: -Louvered windows - Doors and window

Research question 3: How does the design elements act as solutions to help in solving heat gain problem in Deck House?

Openings: 1. Louvers 2. Doors and windows

Louvers are integrate into building design. The aluminum louvers not only protect interior space from excessive heat, it also allowing excellent air and air exchange during day and night time. The use of full length full operable windows can be open during daytime for cross ventilation. It also design for people to close to nature.

The large overhang roof provide good protection against driving rain, provide good shading and allow window to be left open most of the time for ventilation.

Orientation:

Traditional Malay house are often orientated to face Mecca for religious reasons. The east-west orientation minimize areas exposed to sun radiation. In contemporary Deck House, the longer facade is north-south facade with more openings to allow air flow directly into the building; while the shorter facade is east-west facade with less openings.

Materials: Traditional Malay house Deck House

STEEL GLASS

CONCRETE TIMBER

The construction of Malay vernacular house are using lightweight timber-framed structure with low thermal capacity materials to keep the house cool. In contemporary Deck House, it uses modern materials such as steel-frame structure, glass and concrete. The concrete are mainly used to build stilts in Deck house, to withstand the load of the building. The steel-frame structure itself are light weight, and also suitable for the climate on site. The uses of glass allow no obstacle to view the nature.

Synthesis:

Conclusion:

To further reduce hear gain into the building except from open plan, Deck House take considerations of its building design, openings and materials use in the house. The strategies used had helped Deck House to achieve cooling effect. My suggestion to the Deck House is add more full operable windows into the building instead of fixed window for some area in the house.

Deck House uses lots of openings as traditional Malay house. The openings in Deck House are covered by large overhang roof in Deck House, which can allow the operable windows to open throughout day time for ventilations, without worry about the exposure of direct sunlight into interior. Deck House maximize north-south facade with more openings. The materials used in Deck House are lightweight and suitable to climate on site even though it uses modern materials. These strategies had helped Deck House to reduce heat gain into building.

Elements Malay Vernacular Deck House

Building materials Local materials, wood, bamboo

Steel, glass, concrete, timber

Climate concern Yes Yes

Contextual response Yes Yes

Lighting good Very good

views Certain area Large area (glass)

Ventilation Roof space, body level, stilts

Louvers near ceiling, body level, stilts

Conclusion: Deck House has designed climatically, by following the basic requirements of traditional Malay house design. The Deck House boasts an uncluttered and unassuming interior, flooded by light, like most of the traditional Malay houses. The open space living, dining and kitchen areas are connected to the deck which can enjoy the view of nature. The using of vernacular architecture elements to build deck house had allow the building itself to achieve thermal comfort without using technological systems. The Deck House applied a lot of ventilations and shading in its design. the building well designed to blend in with the surrounding and rooted in local tradition. People can truly feel the harmony with nature even it is in modern design.

References:

Admin, Habitat. 'Deck House In Janda Baik'. Habitat-my.com. N.p., 2015. Web. 25 Sept. 2015.Retrieved from: http://www.habitat-my.com/house-renovation-design/315-deck-house-in-janda-baik

 Chan, M. 'The Deck House - Malaysia Premier Property And Real Estate Portal'. Malaysia Premier Property and Real Estate Portal. N.p., 2012. Web. 24 Sept. 2015.From: http://www.starproperty.my/index.php/articles/living/the-deck-house/ S.K., Kamarul. Climatic design of the traditional Malay house to meet the requirements of modern living . N.p., 2015. Web. 21 Sept. 2015. From: http://anzasca.net/wp-content/uploads/2014/08/ANZAScA2004_Kamal.pdf .Sahabuddin, F. 'Chapter 2: Malaysian Vernacular Architecture And Its Relationship To Climate'. Academia.edu. N.p., 2015.

Web. 29 Sept. 2015. From: http://www.academia.edu/2377416/Chapter_2_Malaysian_Vernacular_Architecture_and_Its_Relationship_to_Climate Vernacular Architecture,. 'Malay Houses'. N.p., 2011. Web. 23 Sept. 2015

Retrieved from: https://vernaculararchitecture.wordpress.com/2011/12/30/helloworld/#comments