Asian Architecture Presentation

Asian Architecture Project 1: Case Study Paper Case Study: Telegraph Pole House, Langkawi, Malaysia.

Wong Voon Yin 0315151

Research Title Application Of Passive Design Strategies (Ventilation) To Reduce Heat Gain at Telegraph Pole House, Langkawi, Malaysia.

Research Questions Question 1 What is the climatic control design in Malay Vernacular architecture?

Question 2 What are the elements of site context in Telegraph Pole House that affect the design of the building?

Question 3 How does the feature of climatic control applies in the Telegraph Pole House to response to the site?

Question 4 What type of opening used in Telegraph Pole House and how it aid the ventilation of spaces to reduce heat gain?

What is the climatic control design in Malay Vernacular architecture?

Adapting To The Climate Designed with a deep understanding and respect for nature.

Materials obtained from natural environment.

Design-with-nature approach found in the traditional Malay house is best reflected in the climatic design of the house.

To appreciate the climatic adaptations of the traditional Malay house, one must first understand the climatic and environmental conditions that the house is set in.

Malaysian climate and environment Air temperature Warm - humid equatorial (high temperatures and humidity) averages between 22째C and 32째C Humidity High throughout the year (averaging about 75% or more) Winds Low-variable speed (from the northeast and southwest) Strong winds can occur with the rains.

Rainfall High throughout the year (averaging 250 to 300 cm annually) Rains become more intense with the monsoons.

Thermal Comfort Requirements The main causes of climatic stress in Malaysia are high temperatures, solar radiation, humidity and glare.

Environmental factors: •Air temperature The temperature of the air surrounding the body

•Radiant temperature The heat that radiates from a warm object

•Air velocity The speed of air moving across

•Humidity The resulting amount of water in the air will provide humidity.

Personal factors: •Clothing Insulation Dependent on the insulating effect of clothing on the wearer.

•Metabolic heat Heat user produce based on the activities, size and weight, age, fitness level and gender.

http://www.hse.gov.uk/t emperature/thermal/fact ors.htm

Human metabolic process must be dissipated from the body to the environment in order to maintain a balance and constant body temperature of around 37C.

Design for climatic control Ventilated roof helps to cool the house

Large roof overhang effective sunshading

Light weight construction using low thermal capacity materials keeps house cool

Attap roofing of low thermal capacity gives good insulation Ventilation through roof joint Open interior spaces with minimal partitions allows good ventilation in the house

Fully openable windows allows ventilation at body level

Stilted house catches wind

To achieve Thermal Comfort through Malay Vernacular Architecture should provide climatic control design approach for the following: (a) allow adequate ventilation for cooling and reduction of humidity; (b) use building materials with low thermal capacity so that little heat is transmitted into the house; (c) control direct solar radiation; (d) control glare from the open skies and surroundings; (e) protect against rain; and (f) ensure adequate natural vegetation in the surroundings to provide for a cooler micro climate

What are the elements of site context in Telegraph Pole House?

Massing and Orientation Site Plan Buildings should be oriented to maximize benefits from cooling breezes . Orienting the building so that its shorter axis aligns with prevailing winds will provide the most wind ventilation.

Southwest Wind

Northeast Wind

Located on hill top benefits the ventilation, increase the effectiveness of natural ventilation, because wind speeds are faster at greater heights.

Section

Vegetations

Vegetation growth is prolific and is sometimes difficult to control under the favourable conditions of moist air, moderate heat and high rainfall.

Vegetation in the surroundings to provide for a cooler micro-climate.

The compound of the house is heavily shaded with trees and covered with vegetations.

This sets the house in a cooler environment, by trees and vegetation not absorbing and storing heat from solar radiation and reradiating it into the environment.

Site context surrounded by coconut trees, not just provide shades, it also does not block the passage of wind at house level.

How does the feature of climatic control applies in the Telegraph Pole House to response to the site?

Roof Structure Overhang Roof Provides good shading and also protection against the driving rain.

Allows windows to left open most of the time for ventilation purpose.

Section Gable End Roof Used to trap and direct air to ventilate roof space. It is to ensure adequate ventilation in the interior of house, wind of the exterior encourages air flow into the house.

Section

Building Layout and Walls

Section

Elongated structure with minimal partition in the interior allows easy passage of air and most vital for ventilation.

Building raised by a stilts has post structure able to catch wind in the higher ground.

Openings Windows and doors are the main elements for ventilation at body level. Ventilation approaches from openings as well as other design element in order to achieve thermal comfort.

First Floor Plan

Ground Floor Plan

Section

The design characteristics of the openings are as follow: a) Having many full length openable windows and doors at body level to allow cross ventilation. b) The position of windows of the Telegraph Pole House can be found at all panels of the house, especially at public spaces at the ground and first floor.

What type of opening used in Telegraph Pole House and how it aid the ventilation of spaces to reduce heat gain?

Openings Folding Doors The variety of different ways that a folding door can be opened can enhance ventilation compared to a patio doors. It is able to open up a room to the outside and also flexible in terms that they could have customizable levels ventilation.

Openings Sliding Doors Slides horizontally, allow more air flow into the kitchen between indoor and out door. It also able to improves the indoor air quality.

Ground Floor Plan

Openings Casement Windows Provides 90% opening , it can be easily operate but the size is limited.

Located at Bedroom and Bathroom.

Designed to suit the human body level

First Floor Plan

Openings Louvered Windows Provides 90% Opening Horizontal slats that are angled to admit light and air, but to keep out rain, direct sunshine, and noise.

Located at bathroom/toilet area

First Floor Plan

Conclusion Climatic control design plays a big part to reduce heat gain and achieve human comfort.

To provide comfortable living , natural ventilation should come in first along with the design of roof structure, placement of walls, openings, orientation and also the location.

References (2011, December 30). Malay Houses[Blog post]. Retrieved https://vernaculararchitecture.wordpress.com/2011/12/30/hello-world/ Alakhram, A. (2014). Architecture History Of Malaysia Houses [PowerPoint slides]. Retrieved from http://www.slideshare.net/alialakhram/architecture-history-of-malaysia-houses Hse.gov.uk,. (2015). HSE - Thermal comfort: The six basic factors. Retrieved 18 October 2015, from http://www.hse.gov.uk/temperature/thermal/factors.htm Hyde, R. (2013). Climate responsive design: a study of buildings in moderate and hot humid climates. Taylor & Francis.

Lim, J.Y., 1987. The Malay House: Rediscovering Malaysia’s Indigenous Shelter System. Institut Masyarakat, Kuala Lumpur.

Mastorakis, N. (2009). Energy, environment, ecoystems, development and landscape architecture. WSEAS Press. namanlochan. (2011). Vernacular architecture:EQUATORIAL CLIMATE Malaysia[PowerPoint slides]. Retrieved from http://www.slideshare.net/namanlochan/equitorial-climate Ramli, N. (2012). Re-adaptation of Malay House Thermal Comfort Design Elements into Modern Building Elements – Case Study of Selangor Traditional Malay House & Low Energy Building in Malaysia. IJEE. http://dx.doi.org/10.5829/idosi.ijee.2012.03.05.04