Walian house case study

The objective of the study is to achieve environmental value in Architecture through sustainability and

minimizing solar heat gains in building through passive designing in the Walian House.

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Asian Architecture

(ARC2234)

PROJECT 1: CASE STUDY

The objective of the study is to achieve environmental value

in Architecture through sustainability and minimizing solar

heat gains in building through passive designing in the

Walian House.

NAME: JOSHUA LEE YEE KAI

STUDENT ID: 0315820

LECTURER: MS SHAHRIANNE

SUBMISSION DATE: 28th June 2016



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The objective of the study is to achieve environmental value in

Architecture through sustainability and minimizing solar heat gains in

building through passive designing in the Walian House.

Table of Contents Page

Abstract…………………………………………………………………………............3

1.0 Introduction ………………………………………………………………………...4

1.1 Introduction to Issue………………………………………………………5

1.2 Site Overview………………………………………………………………6

2.0 How Sustainability Helps In Achieving Environmental Value in Architecture..9

3.0 What Are The Features And Considerations of The Walian House That Makes It

A Sustainable Architecture………………………………………………………….10

3.1 Orientation of The building and Space Planning……………………...10

3.2 Open Space Planning…………………………………………………....11

3.3 Garden and Vegetations…………………………………………………13

3.4 Chengal Timber……………………………………………………………15

3.5 Heat Sink…………………………………………………………………..18

3.6 Layered Roof………………………………………………………………19

3.7 Long Overhanging Eaves………………………………………………...21

4.0 How Can Passive Design Strategies Help In Maintaining A Harmonious

Balance Between Man-made Structure And Nature…………………………...22

5.0 Conclusion…………………………………………………………………............24

6.0 References…………………………………………………………………............25



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Abstract

The purpose of the study is to identify current issues in the building industry that lead to global

warming and addressing it by incorporating sustainable architecture for the tropical climate

extensively. The objective of the study is to achieve environmental value in Architecture through

sustainability and minimizing solar heat gains in building through passive designing in the

Walian House. The phenomenon of global warming happening can be greatly reduced if

modern day houses looked into practicing a more sustainable approach. By taking necessary

steps towards practicing sustainability in the construction industry in our tropical climate,

environmental value in architecture can be achieved. The study will look into how contemporary

houses like the Walian House which was built in the 1980’s by the architect Jimmy Lim as an

example and how it has started addressing the issues of global warming by practicing

sustainability. Passive designing strategies like the orientation of building, space planning,

vegetation, roof design and material usage are discussed as solutions to reducing the internal

heat gain for thermal comfort. The study will discuss on striking a harmonious balance with

nature, working towards achieving environmental value in architecture.



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1.0 Introduction

This paper will investigate current issues in the building industry that lead to global warming and

addressing it by incorporating sustainable architecture for the tropical climate extensively and

achieving environmental value in Architecture through sustainability and minimizing solar heat

gains in building through passive designing in the Walian House by responding to the

subsequent research questions:

Q 1: How sustainability helps in achieving environmental value in Architecture?

Q 2: What are the features and considerations of the Walian House that makes it a sustainable

architecture?

- Orientation of the building & space planning

- Open space planning

- Gardens and vegetations

- Chengal timber

- Heat sink

- Layered roof

- Long overhanging eaves

Q 3: How can passive design strategies help in maintaining a harmonious balance between

man-made structure and nature?



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1.1 Introduction to Issue

Figure 1: Image showing an aerial panorama shot of Kuala Lumpur

As development progress, more and more buildings are being built by the days rapidly.

Majority of the modern buildings in Malaysia uses HVAC and the uses of HVAC will continue. All

of these factors contribute to the disruption of nature. It is as if people development has drove

people to the point where they start forgetting and not being sensitive to the environment

surrounding them. However, this may not be the case, because we could not live in our modern

society comfortably without the usage and developments of current technologies. Therefore, a

balance would be what we must seek after. In the case of the impact of building a home, a lot of

consideration can be done to reduce the environmental impact. For instance, the basic

necessity of a human is a safe place to call home. Hence, humans build buildings. However, by

building a building, a more sustainable approach can be done to minimize the impact towards

the environment. With these in mind, every construction project in the construction industry

should practice sustainable architecture in order to achieve environmental value in architecture.

Due to the hot and humid climate of Malaysia, It is understandable that the people uses

HVAC frequently to achieve thermal comfort in Malaysia. However, it must be highlighted that

HVAC can still disrupt the ozone layer despite popular belief on our achievements with current

technologies. Also, the power needed to generate electricity requires a great amount of coal.

When coals are burned, Carbon Dioxide are released, resulting in global warming. Instead of

relying on HVAC, buildings can be designed passively to respond to site, our tropical

environment and at the same time achieving thermal comfort. By doing so, it would not only

respect the site, but at the same time, enhance it for the living and existence between man-

made structure and nature.



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1.2 Site Overview

Figure 2: Average temperature of Kuala Lumpur throughout the year (worldweatheronline, n.d)

Figure 3: Average rainfall of Kuala Lumpur throughout the year (worldweatheronline, n.d)



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Malaysia is a multiracial country located in the equatorial region. Kuala Lumpur which is

the capital of Malaysia experiences a hot and humid weather all year long. Based from Figure 2,

the average temperature in Kuala Lumpur all year long is ranging from 23 c̊ to 34 ̊c. Based from

Figure 3, Kuala Lumpur also experiences at least an average of one rainfall per week. Hence,

due to our tropical climate, the architect Jimmy Lim has his own take about how to practice

sustainable architecture in such a kind of climate. Jimmy Lim mentioned “people living in the

tropics do not require much to survive. There is plenty of sunlight, rain and wind to provide

comfort. The forests are full of fruits, berries, nuts, a multitude of herbs and other bio-diversity

awaiting research. There are no cold winters to freeze the people and the environment. The

seas and rivers are full of fishes to feed the people. There is plenty of drinking water coming out

of springs and forest to quench the thirst of the people. This sounds like paradise! Is this the

garden of Eden as described in the Genesis? It could certainly pass as one. A situation like this

would hardly require much energy to survive. As these countries seek for modernization

implementing or emulating out of context solutions creates a dependence on energy which is

usually acquired from fossil fuel; and the earth’s reserve of fossil fuel will most likely last another

40 years. The question we need to ask ourselves is, how are we going to tackle this problem

from a tropical point of view?” (Jimmylimdesign, n.d). One of the many ways the architect

explored the issue would be designing the house to incorporate passive designing that would

result in eliminating the need on relying totally on HVAC for thermal comfort.

The Walian House is designed by Malaysia’s renowned architect, Jimmy C.S Lim. The

house located in Kuala Lumpur, covering 148.6 square meters, was designed in the 1980’s and

was built by the year 1985. When designing the Walian House, Jimmy Lim incorporated

Chinese Geomancy, Feng Shui (wind-water) elements as a crucial and important role in the

sitting and orientation of his design as part of what the client requested for good fortune. With

that in mind, The Walian House design was still able to strike a balance engaging with nature

and its surrounding site context.

The Walian House incorporated many traditional architectural expression such as the

Chinese bracket system but modified it with the usage of bolts and nuts. By widely using

Chengal timber that was salvaged from another 100 year old house, the Walian house was able

to practice being sustainable. The house was divided separating the guest and the family

building surrounded by a gathering space, the courtyard. With the implementation of the open



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planning courtyard, the house was able to better engage with the site. The Walian house will be

used as an example in our contemporary and modern development in architecture as the

beginning of practicing sustainable architecture while achieving a balance between man-made

structure and nature.



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2.0 How Sustainability Helps In Achieving Environmental

Value In Architecture

In recent times, people started shifting from worrying on what nature can do to us, and

more into what we have done to nature (Williamson, 2003). With the shift in mindset, many

architects started adopting sustainable architecture into their designing. The word, sustainability

means the ability to be sustained (dictionary, n.d). By practicing sustainability, environmental

value in architecture can be achieved.

Before diving in on achieving environmental value in architecture, we have to first understand

the meaning of environmental value. ‘Environmental’ the word means being related with the

impact of human activities on the natural environment (thefreedictionary, n.d). On the other

hand, the word ‘value’ means something that is of importance (thefreedictionary, n.d).

Combining the two, we get the meaning, the importance of the impact of human activities on the

natural environment. We coexist with nature, therefore the way we live will impact the

environment in one way or another.

To achieve environmental value in architecture is to practice sustainable architecture. By doing

so, we get to calculate future risk ahead of us. For instance, by practicing green, the future

generation will be able to have a cleaner, fresher air and therefore remain healthy as our

offspring. By protecting nature, we are inevitably protecting humankind as well. Therefore

striking a harmony between nature and mankind.



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3.0 What Are The Features And Considerations of The Walian

House That Makes It A Sustainable Architecture

3.1 Orientation of The Building And Space Planning

In this case study, the Walian house practiced the application of passive designing by

the smart play of orientating the building to reduce the internal heat gain. Due to Feng Shui

beliefs, the owner wanted the kitchen and dining to be facing the west as the evening sun

signify the money plant is activated (chienergy, n.d). The architect Jimmy Lim balanced the

request of the client by orientating the kitchen and dining towards the north-west and offsetting

the areas deeper to shelter the area from direct sun exposure. With the combination of long

eaves, the area would be shaded and comfortable for long usage.

Figure 4: Orientation & Space planning



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Figure 5: Wind Direction (weatheronline,n,d)

3.2 Open Space Planning

As the architect seeks to respond to the natural wind on site, the Walian House was

designed to incorporate a wide open planning courtyard at the center spaces between the guest

and family buildings to maximize air flow. The courtyard purpose is not only to act as a focal

point bringing people together doing activities but also to act as a wind channel directing wind

through the building for ventilation purposes.

The Walian House is orientated in such a way that the open courtyard captures the

northwest and south east wind. According to Meir, et al.(1995), the positioning has direct

influence with the ventilation or wind velocity. For example, with the correct orientation of the

courtyard, it can improve the thermal comfort greatly.

Cross ventilation takes place in the courtyard area allowing for a breezy yet well

ventilated internal gathering public spot while maintaining the indoor temperature to a

comfortable degree. By orientating the building in such manner, it can maximize airflow and thus

reducing the need for HVAC to achieve thermal comfort.



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Although the wind direction sometimes can be unpredictable, the prevailing wind based

from Figure 5 would still be able to be directed inwards to the open courtyard with the usage of

the vegetation placements as well. The natural breezes will cool the interior spaces.

Figure 6: Open Planning & Ventilation



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Figure 7: Garden & Vegetations

3.3 Garden and Vegetations

Right at the front of the covered courtyard hall, lush greenery of garden and vegetations

can be seen planted for a pleasant sight. The garden and vegetations not only helps in

providing a ‘close to nature’ atmosphere, but it also helps in cooling the temperature of the

surrounding site by providing shade onto the ground. This can be explained by biology, as the

plant’s excess warmth are offset by evaporative cooling from transpiration (NCStateuniversity,

2013). Hence, the temperature would be better regulated and would significantly improve the

thermal comfort of the indoor spaces. This can be confirmed by Safarzadeh & Bahadori (2005),

that garden elements can significantly affect the thermal comfort of a space.

As discussed earlier in the open space planning, the vegetations can help in directing

the wind towards the interior spaces. However, in this case, the trees planted around also

provided sound filtering and dust filtering. For instance, being in the heart of Kuala Lumpur, the

air sometimes contains more dust when compared to the rural areas. Therefore, the

surrounding vegetations helps in mitigating the dust pollutions from the vehicles providing the

family with fresher air to breath. Moreover, the sound from vehicles travelling can be greatly



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reduced and filtered by the surrounding vegetations. Hence, a sense of enclosure, privacy and a

sound atmosphere will bring mankind closer to nature separating them from the busyness of life.

Figure 8: Garden & Vegetations Placing

Figure 9: Garden & Vegetations



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Figure 10: Chengal Timber Structure

3.4 Chengal Timber

The objective of the architect, Jimmy Lim was to create a house that uses more of the

natural materials. Hence, Chengal timbers can be seen widely incorporated into his works. The

Walian House can be seen reusing Chengal timber that was salvaged from a 100 year old

house extensively and used as the structure in the Walian House.

Reusing a material is the better alternative when compared to other waste management

methods (Redo, n.d). For instance, whenever objects were to be put through the recycling

method, it would require more man power to sort out the object. This would not be very efficient

when compared to reusing it. Moreover, recycling an object would convert the object from one

form into another form. Hence, the recycling process would be longer and requires more

energy. Speaking from an environmental point of view, more energy input would be lost. Taking

timber for example, when timber goes through the process of being converted into mdf board, it

would require electricity to power the machineries to make the board. At the back of it all, more

and more coals are being burned in order to make mdf boards. Ultimately, we get a different

format medium of timber that can generate a lot of money, however it is all at the stake of our

environment.

In respect of the environment, the Walian House practices a sustainable approach by

reusing Chengal timber instead of purchasing newer ones. On the one hand, it saves cost and

on the other, it benefits the environment as a whole.



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Figure 11: Chart Showing The Specific Heat Capacity of Materials (Greenspec, n.d)



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Based from Figure 11, the chart display the specific heat capacity of the different

materials (Greenspec ,n.d). The specific heat capacity is the amount of energy (joule) needed to

heat up 1 ̊c of the temperature of that material. In it, we see that the specific heat capacity of

timber is 1200joule. Comparing timber with other materials, timber has one of the highest

specific heat capacity which would be advantageous to use it as a building material. This is

because the amount of energy needed to heat it up is comparatively higher than most of the

materials found on earth. Moreover, timber material are from a source of renewable energy.

Hence, making it a reliable and a green choice as a building material.



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Figure 12: Swimming Pool as Heat Sink

Figure 13: Swimming Pool

3.5 Heat Sink

The implementation of a swimming pool or a pool can be seen in many of Jimmy Lim’s

work. When the swimming pool starts storing heat, it would act as a heat sink. This would allow

air from the opposite direction to be attracted inwards. Allowing cross ventilation to take place

and cooling the internal spaces to achieve thermal comfort. This process is known as the

radiative cooling. With the implementation of the swimming pool, the humidity surrounding the

area would also be higher, it can also cause discomfort especially in Malaysia which is a hot

and humid country. However, referring to Figure 6, the building is positioned to capturing the

inward wind. With the breezes constantly being drawn in like a natural fan, the heat from the

occupants can evaporate at a much faster pace (exploreit, 2012). Hence, allowing the

occupants to achieve thermal comfort in the space continuously passively.



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Figure 14: Layered Roof Cross Ventilation

Figure 15: Ventilation Through Openings

3.6 Layered Roof

Traditional Malay houses used high volume living spaces to create thermal comfort

(Tettoni, 1997). The Walian House is no exception and it is inspired by both Chinese and Malay

architecture. When the wind is coming from a single direction, cross ventilation would take

place. With the many openings found on the layered roof, the wind can easily find a way to pass

through the building, allowing for a comfortable interior space. The swimming pool based from

Figure 12, allows heat to be stored and act as a heat sink. With the swimming pool or heat sink

present, it would allow breezes to flow through the building, allowing cross ventilation to take

place and cooling the internal spaces.



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Figure 16: Layered Roof Stacked Ventilation

Due to the unpredictable nature of wind, sometimes when cross ventilation do not occur,

the layered roof are also readily designed to allow stack ventilation to ventilate the place. Cool

breeze would enter from the bottom and hot air will rise and escape from the layering of the

roofs. The layering of the roofs in this central space allows for air movements to continuously

take place. Due to the open design of the space, air exchange takes place throughout the day.

The warm air are constantly escaping through the top and the cool breeze will keep flowing in.

At the same time, the layered roof are angled in a gabled form. This would help in

preventing rain water from entering during downpour. The rain water would flow down along the

angle of the gabled roof.



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Figure 17: Overhanging Eaves As Shading Device

3.7 Long Overhangs Eaves

The Walian House has long overhanging eaves that act as a shading device. Based

from Figure 17, the overhanging eaves will block the sun from directly exposing the interior. By

eliminating direct sun exposure into the interior space, the internal heat gain would also be

greatly reduced. Hence, creating a comfortable and shaded interior spaces. The layered roof of

the Walian House is designed to totally shade the interior spaces, based from the cross section

in Figure 14 and Figure 16, we get to see that even during day time, the interior spaces would

be shielded from direct sun exposure. Buildings in the tropical climate should seek to follow this

example by designing a passive response to achieve sustainability. By doing so, we get to

design buildings that respond better with our type of climate.



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4.0 How Can Passive Design Strategies Help In Maintaining A Harmonious Balance

Between Man-made Structure And Nature?

Humans and nature coexist in the same place. One of the basic necessity of a human is

shelter. Thus, houses and buildings are inevitably needed to keep humans sheltered and going.

With that in mind, we need to strife to strike a harmonious balance between man-made structure

and nature.

By practicing passive design strategies, we design building responsively and

accountable to nature by minimizing as much damage to the environment as possible by

tweaking our building to better suit the context. Passive design strategies will greatly reduce the

need for using external devices such as HVAC to achieve thermal comfort and embrace nature.

By not using external devices, energy sources would not need to be used. Hence, the burning of

fossil fuels could be reduced. For instance, by orientating and positioning the building to facing

away from the evening sun, it would benefit the internal spaces and reduce the total heat gain

internally. Therefore, the energy needed to cool the internal spaces to achieve thermal comfort

would also be lesser. Due to this reason, energy can be conserved.

Moreover, with the implementation of an open courtyard planning and the orientation of

the building, wind can be controlled and directed inwards. On the other hand, with the

implementation of a swimming pool that act as a heat sink, it would allow wing to be attracted

inwards, resulting in a cross ventilation happening. Besides that, garden and vegetations can

also greatly reduce the surrounding temperature of site. For instance, the shrubs and trees are

arranged to help in directing the wind inwards the building. Therefore, reducing the total heat

gain internally and the energy needed to cool the internal spaces to achieve thermal comfort.

Due to this reason, energy can greatly be conserved.

Furthermore, by reusing salvaged chengal timber as the building material, it would be an

act of practicing green and towards a sustainable approach. Timber materials are known for its

high specific heat capacity. Hence, the perk of using timber would be it requires more solar

energy to increase it by 1 ̊c. Resulting in a cooler internal spaces when compared to the usage

of other building materials. By reusing, it is efficient and there is no wastage in the material. Due

to this reason, energy can also be preserved.



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Additionally, the design of the layered roof which encourages both cross ventilation and

stack ventilation diminishes the need for external devices to achieve thermal comfort in the

space. The long overhanging eaves of the layered roof are also designed to shelter the internal

spaces from the direct exposure of the sun. Hence, providing shade and a comfortable well

ventilated space. All in all, the design greatly benefited from the surrounding site context and it

is also custom designed to suit the location. Man-made structure can only truly coexist and

maintaining a harmonious balance with nature by respecting the site and responding to the site

with responsibility.



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5.0 Conclusion

As a conclusion, to achieve environmental value in architecture is to practice sustainable

architecture. The Walian House is designed meticulously to respond to the natural site,

incorporating and fine-tuning creatively from the surrounding elements to accomplish the

desired result while practicing passive designing to achieve a sustainable status. With that, we

can conclude that the Walian House has impressively achieved environmental value in

architecture.

Many buildings in the world has in fact already achieved this status. Still, the goal of

humankind to coexist with nature should not stop here. Humankind should continue to creatively

innovate methods on how to continuously reduce the impact on nature and seeking new ways

for a sustainable future.



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6.0 References

Chienergy. (n.d). The Feng Shui 8 directions. Retrieved from

http://www.chienergy.co.uk/8directions.htm

Gauzin-Müller, D. (2002). Sustainable architecture and urbanism: concepts, technologies,

examples. Springer Science & Business Media.

Ismail, H. W. (2005). Houses in Malaysia: Fusion of the East and the West. Penerbit UTM.

Jimmylimdesign. (n.d). Philosophy. Retrieved from http://www.jimmylimdesign.com/philosophy

Kamarul, S. K., Lilawati, A.W., Asmalia, C.A. (2004). Climatic design of the traditional Malay

house to meet the requirements of modern living. Retrieved from http://anzasca.net/wp-

content/uploads/2014/08/ANZAScA2004_Kamal.pdf

Lim, J. C. TROPICAL ARCHITECTURAL STUDIES TOWARDS A SUSTAINABLE FUTURE.

Mimar 26. (1987). Mimar Architecture In Development.

NCstateuniversity. (n.d). Vegetation: its role in weather and climate. Retrieved from

http://climate.ncsu.edu/edu/k12/.vegetation

Safarzadeh, H., & Bahadori, M. N. (2005). Airflow in buildings with courtyards. Iranian Journal of

Science & Technology, Transaction B, Engineering, 29(B2).

Seo, R.J, Saari,B.O. (2010). A Typology of Modern Housing in Malaysia. Retrieved from

http://www.archresearch.org/_data_store_1/JK_board/4/2013-

1/10.atypologyofmodernhousinginmalaysia_44.pdf

Tettoni, L. I. (1997). Tropical Asian Style. PeriplusEdition.

Weatheronline. (n.d). Wind direction. Retrieved from

http://www.weatheronline.co.uk/weather/maps/city?WMO=48647&CONT=asie&LAND=MM&AR

T=WDR&LEVEL=162&MOD=tab

Williamson, T. J., Radford, A., & Bennetts, H. (2003). Understanding sustainable architecture.

Taylor & Francis.

Wong, W.S. (1995). Timber structures in Malaysian architecture and buildings. Retrieved from

http://eprints.utas.edu.au/21980/1/whole_WongWai-Sung1997_thesis.pdf

Worldweatheronline. (n.d). Retrieved from http://www.worldweatheronline.com/kuala-lumpur-

weather-averages/kuala-lumpur/my.aspx

http://www.chienergy.co.uk/8directions.htm

http://www.jimmylimdesign.com/philosophy

http://anzasca.net/wp-content/uploads/2014/08/ANZAScA2004_Kamal.pdf

http://anzasca.net/wp-content/uploads/2014/08/ANZAScA2004_Kamal.pdf

http://climate.ncsu.edu/edu/k12/.vegetation

http://www.archresearch.org/_data_store_1/JK_board/4/2013-1/10.atypologyofmodernhousinginmalaysia_44.pdf

http://www.archresearch.org/_data_store_1/JK_board/4/2013-1/10.atypologyofmodernhousinginmalaysia_44.pdf

http://www.weatheronline.co.uk/weather/maps/city?WMO=48647&CONT=asie&LAND=MM&ART=WDR&LEVEL=162&MOD=tab

http://www.weatheronline.co.uk/weather/maps/city?WMO=48647&CONT=asie&LAND=MM&ART=WDR&LEVEL=162&MOD=tab

http://eprints.utas.edu.au/21980/1/whole_WongWai-Sung1997_thesis.pdf

http://www.worldweatheronline.com/kuala-lumpur-weather-averages/kuala-lumpur/my.aspx

http://www.worldweatheronline.com/kuala-lumpur-weather-averages/kuala-lumpur/my.aspx



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Walian house case study

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