ASIAN ARCHITECTURE [ARC 2213/2234] PROJECT 1: CASE STUDY
A COMPARATIVE STUDY OF SUSTAINABLE DESIGN STRTEGIES BETWEEN THE VERNACULARS ARCHITECTURE AND MODERN ARCHITECTURE IN BELUM RAINFOREST RESORT.
NAME: BRANDON ANG EE SHEN STUDENT ID: 0302955 LECTURER: MS.IDA SUBMISSION DATE: 13 April 2014
A COMPARATIVE STUDY OF SUSTAINABLE DESIGN STRTEGIES BETWEEN THE VERNACULARS ARCHITECTURE AND MODERN ARCHITECTURE IN BELUM RAINFOREST RESORT.
TABLE OF CONTENTS
PAGE
Abstract
2
1.0 Introduction
2
2.0 Meaning of Vernacular Architecture
3
3.0 Meaning of Modern Architecture
6
4.0 What the different and similarity between vernacular and modern architecture building In Belum rainforest resort?
8
5.0 The design strategies
10
6.0 Conclusion
17
7.0 References
18
ABSTRACT Nowadays, this is important that we save the world before it destroy by our own greediness and the rapid improvement in our technology world now. The purpose of doing this comparative study between vernacular architecture and modern architecture in sustainable design strategies at Belum RainForest Resort is to identify how it achieve it sustainability in the building. The effectiveness of the material used in the green building, how the building structure can affect the energy consumption in the building that to achieve sustainable design and can save the environment and energy waste. Besides that, also how to response and preserve the environment without destroying it when design sustainable green building. To provide the validation of this research, views from various resource from internet, and read some books, research, video and journal regarding of the vernacular and modern architecture of material using and building structure as reference to study the sustainable green building. The effectiveness of the material that used in Belum Rainforest Resort and the construction of the building and how it response to the site and environment. At Belum RainForest Resort has a lot of building materials, for example, brick, bamboo, timber, and rammed earth, glass, concrete and steel. The material have low operational energy and some is recycle material. Belum Rainforest Resort has adopted the vernacular architecture into its design to achieve the sustainability and to protect the traditional or culture of the place for example like the Malay House. In the other hand, the luxury suite adopt modern architecture and used of modern material also well blend in with the site and doesn’t destroy the environment. (Findings) As a conclusion, Belum RainForest Resort is a sustainable green building that can blend in with nature and the site and have a low maintenance discovered through this two different type of architecture.
1.0 INTRODUCTION
There is no universally agreed definition what Sustainability really mean. The original definition of sustainable development is usually considered as "Development that meets the needs of the present without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their own needs." Bruntland Report for the World Commission on Environment and Development (1992). Since then, there have many extensions of the basic definitions. Sustainability? What is sustainability? We heard the word sustainability and sustainable almost every day but do we really know what it is all about? Is it about money, people and culture, our environment, cities, forest, country or it is something for us to worry about? Sustainability can defined as ability or capacity of something that can maintained by itself. It’s taking what we need to live now, without harm the future generation needs.
The Belum Rainforest is one of the Malaysia’s Premier Ecotourism holiday destination. The Belum Rainforest Resort is located within the Belum-Temengor Rainforest Complex on the serene Pulau Banding. Belum RainForest Resort is one of the prettiest island among of the hundred islands that located in Tasik Belum, Perak. Belum Lake also the largest man-made lake in Perak. The diversity of flora and fauna make the surrounding lake look beautiful. (BER) evolve green eco concept, this island was born out with the passion and the respect of the nature surround it. The building was construct completely by hand-built and it’s construct without using any modern technology and machinery. The concept of Belum Rainforest Resort blends built elements within the natural surroundings of Pulau Banding, This approach is to make sure the resort will be sustainable and reduce the impact around the greenery of Belum Temengor Rainforest Complex. The resort adopted the 3R concept (Reduce, Reuse, and Recycle). For the example old brick are recycled to be part of the landscape and for the building feature wall. Furthermore, tree branches are use as building exterior furnishing and furniture and old bottle also can used as decorative lighting in the restaurant.
This paper will define on the comparative sustainable design strategies between the vernacular architecture and modern architecture in Belum Rain Forest by responding the following question below.
1. The meaning of Vernacular Architecture?
2. Meaning of Modern Architecture?
3. What the different and similarity between vernacular and modern architecture in
Belum rainforest resort??
4. The Design Strategies?
2.0 Meaning of Vernacular Architecture
In this modern architecture world, architects design form seemingly forgotten the simplest thing are the human needs. Due the energy and materials rises, the architects accept the cultural building tradition and regionalism and materials using had proven that to be energy efficient and also sustainable and low maintenance. Vernacular architecture creating housing is due to the adaption of the locale and the existing environment. Vernacular architecture originated come from mankind are forced to build the form by use the resource around him and not focus on building aesthetics but focus on the needs of a person shelter and comfort which is due to the place climate, a shield from the elements. Vernacular architecture is focus on the energy efficient and the materials that can use at the site. These also can effective help the architects to design well and use the local materials and resources. It also can save energy cost. Furthermore, Most of the buildings have high maintenance due to the lack of architect awareness of climate response. Besides that, vernacular architecture also provide connection between human and environment. These structure present as a climate responsive dealing to dwelling and are natural and can make a person connect with the nature when they live in the house and appreciate the beautifulness of the nature. To confirm the meaning of the Vernacular architecture, this definition are from the other resource, Vernacular architecture is the unconscious work of craftsmen based on knowledge architecture, which involves a premeditated design process with a conscious appeal to the intellect. Yet, the term is a convenient shorthand to describe an approach that adopts the spirit of vernacular, if not its actual forms. It is not intended to indicate a new style. It describe their intention of local buildings, their scale in particular, whether they have chosen to concentrate on the use of the materials, the landscape, the local culture or even no more than the idea of continuity with the past. Vicky Richardson (2001).
Figure 1.1 African Vernacular House (source from africanarchitecturaladventure 2011)
Figure 1.2 Philippines Vernacular House (Source from openthedorr 2013)
Figure 1.3 Indian Vernacular Temple (source from panoramio 2007)
Figure 1.4 Malay traditional vernacular design house (source from sejarah dan teori seni bina 2 2010)
3.0 Meaning of Modern Architecture
In the modern architecture, we use concrete, steel, brick and glass to build the buildings. Modern architecture is an indispensable and illustrated guide to inspiring and comprehensive buildings and across the world since 1900 till today. Architecture affects us all no matter where we are, from our home to the work place that we used to work every day or we go to school every day; from industrial complexes to places of recreation; and from past till our imagined futures, the building and structures that exist surround us play an important role in many aspects that affects our lives. Jonathan glancey (2007) The characteristics of the modern architecture are rejected the ornament, mean that modern building eliminate the decorative and old ornament to make a clean aesthetic where materials play the role to make the building look simple and nice. Furthermore, modern buildings also make use of modern materials and systems for example like concrete
used as the finished material or as a building wall, concrete floors are normally exposed and exposed and steel columns are used at outside of the building and long span steel that used in the modern building are more durable and given more free space than timber. Modern architecture emphasize more to low, horizontal massing, broad roof, flat roof, and also emphasis on horizontal planes mean that most modern homes tend to wandering one-story plans and most of the house are flat roof and broad roof. Besides that, emphasis on openness and flowing the interior spaces for examples like all living space are not separate by wall, doors or walkways. For the modern building is all space flow as one together in continuous to emphasis more to relax and simple life style. For instance, Relationship between interior spaces and site and natural lighting also important to design modern building. It’s like use of large amount of glass to brings the dramatic view and natural landscaping in the building and create the natural light effect into the building is to make the relationship between human and outside space have seamless connectivity. Traditional materials also have a role in modern building by the new way. Materials like woos, stone and brick are used to reflecting a modern aesthetic. Brick and stonework are easy, unornamented and simple are used in planes. Greg Jones (2011)
Below are the example of the modern architecture buildings.
Figure 2.1 Barcelona Pavilion (source from Wikimedia common 2006)
Figure 2.2 Crown hall (source from archi daily 2010)
Figure 2.3 Seagram building (source from archi daily 2010) 4.0 What the different and similarity between vernacular and modern architecture building in
Belum rainforest resort?
Figure 4.1 Luxury Suite (Source from Ang.B.E.S 2014)
Malaysia is a multi-culture country, it is situate at longitudes 100 degrees and 120 degrees east, and by latitudes of the equator and 7 degree North by the central part of the southeast Asia. This country is sunny and humid throughout the year with the temperature range from 25 C to 34 C.It also has an annual rainfall from 80” to 100”. Norazlenda bt kamal (2010) This building is contemporary design and call luxury suite in Belum rainforest resort. The characteristic of this building is it have flat roof and the building emphasis rectangular shape. The building also have open plan that emphasis nature surrounding and its use modern material like concrete, glass and steel. Besides that, this building not only focus on simple, well ventilated and comfort, it’s also focus the building overall aesthetic. Different than vernacular design that the building below call Malay House. The Malay house characteristics are the building is well blend with the nature and the building doesn’t destroy the environment surround it. The building is use Atap roof because due to the heavy monsoon rains and the atap roof is steep because the reason is to drain off the rain
water. The warm temperature at Malaysia effect the design of the Malay house, it has large openings are to provided high level of ventilation to the buildings. The building doesn’t focus on the overall aesthetic and just focus on the comfort of the user for sheilter. Malay house design in Belum rainforest is following the traditional Malay house design. The Malay house design doesn’t affects the ecosystem at Belum Rainforest and the building form doesn’t contrast with the environment surrounding.
Although have different between the both buildings, it’s also have similarity with both of the buildings. That is passive design. Passive design is response to the local climate and the condition of the site to achieve the user’s comfort in the building and to minimizing the energy use in the building. To achieve this method are by using renewable sources of energy like sun and wind to provide the cooling, ventilation and lighting in the house, and try to reducing the use of mechanical heating or cooling. Furthermore, passive design also can reduce the environment impact example like greenhouse gas emissions. In the other hand, using passive design also can reduce the inside house temperature and well ventilated in the house and let the user have a comfort and enjoyable to live inside the house.
At Belum Rainforest Resort, both of the buildings have comfort ventilation that provide direct human comfort, mainly during the day. Baruch Givoni (1994) There are several reason that comfort ventilation system is apply in Belum Rainforest Resort, it is because Malay house have big openings that make the air directly into the building to have a cooling effect, that minimizing the discomfort level of the user inside the building and same goes to luxury suite that have front and back big opening. One of the air directly into the building also the direction of the prevailing wind. The trees surrounding also help a lot in Belum rainforest resort building, it’s also act as shade for mostly the pathway and some of the building and to lower down the temperature inside the building and the threes also give a cooler air from outside the building into inside building. For another reason that passive design that apply in Belum Rainforest resort is indirect Evaporative Cooling, the lake at Belum Rainforest Resort evaporate water into gas and the gas introduce into the building by air. This method will lower the temperature inside the building.
Figure 4.2 Malay Traditional House (source from Ang.B.E.S 2014) 5.0 What Design Strategies that use in Vernacular Architecture and Modern Architecture?
There are three main design strategies that wanted to emphasis in this two architecture at Belum Rainforest Resort, there are material use in the building, construction and response to site and environment. One of the design strategies is material that use in vernacular and modern architecture building at Belum Rainforest Resort. Material use play an important role because different materials have different thermal mass and different heat gain, it’s will affect the building temperature and comfort level of the user. The pictures below shows are the materials that use in Belum Rainforest Resort.
Figure 5.1.1 Brick at Belum Rainforest resort (source from Ang.B.E.S 2014)
Brick is a durable material and brick also has high thermal mass. The brick has high porosity that make it able to absorb and store heat to balance the temperature inside the building. Property of the brick is able to prevent heat lost during night and maintaining the comfort during the day time. Brick also has a good sound isolation, this is because brick is greater in mass and harder than other material. Brick also effective in preventing fire to spread due to its Zero flammability and surface spread of flame,high heat capacity, which also inhibits the rise in temperature of the wall and lastly is low thermal conductivity that prevent the flame to spread due to the rise of the temperature of wall. Last but not list is the brick refractory properties which retains its strength that can goes to very high temperature that can reach till 1000 C. Domone, P& illston, J. (2010)
Figure 5.1.2 Bamboo ceiling at Belum Rainforest resort (source from Ang.B.E.S 2014)
Bamboo is one of the important material in Malaysia because the durability of bamboo and renewable source are suits for the construction. It is strong, light and solid. Besides that, bamboo also same as timber that resistant to water and considered fiber component because it is easy to be combusted.
Figure 5.1.3 Stone wall at Belum Rainforest resort (source from Ang.B.E.S 2014)
Stone is a heavy heavy construction materials. Stone is the solid aggregate of many minerals that happen naturally. It is has a rough surface and hard but it is durable for the construction material. It is also one of the material above that resist water and chemical substances.
Figure 5.1.4 Concrete building at Belum Rainforest resort (source from Ang.B.E.S 2014)
For the information the concrete, concrete is one of the famous modern material that use all around the world. Concrete is the mixture of Portland cement, aggregates and water. Concrete characteristic also almost same with the brick, it has higher thermal mass which can slow the movement of heat moving in and out of the building. Besides that, concrete has low tensile strength and it is very durable and not weakened by the mould, pest and the most importantly is moisture. Not to forget that concrete also resistant to water without serious deterioration.
Figure 5.1.5 Glass at Belum Rainforest resort (source from Ang.B.E.S 2014)
Glass is an amorphous solid material that composed of about 75% silicon dioxide (SiO2), sodium oxide (Na2O) from sodium carbonate (na2CO3), lime (CaO), and several minor additives. Glass is transparent that make a beautiful see through toward the building or toward the view to outside of the building. Same as the rock, glass can resist water and chemical substances that make glass a durable material in most of the situation.
Figure 5.1.6 Steel at Belum Rainforest resort (source from Ang.B.E.S 2014)
Steel is one of the important modern material nowadays due to has better malleability and ductility that make this material very durable and stiff to last longer and resistant to fracture. Steel actually make out from an alloy of iron with carbon that has higher electrical conductivity compared to other materials.
Figure 5.1.7 Timber at Belum Rainforest resort (source from Ang.B.E.S 2014)
Last but not least, Timber is strong, flexible and can be easily found. Timber is a traditional material that have been use long time ago. Timber also one of the renewable construction material. But timber not like other material, it has low thermal mass. However, timber has high thermal insulation. The durability is based on the wood species towards the chemical and fungal attack, the weather and the load its support. Lastly, timber is a high combustible construction material. There are different between modern material and vernacular material, modern material are more likely has a higher costly than the local material like brick and timber or bamboo because of the import fee and the produce factory fee. Local material is easy to found and doesn’t need high technology machine to build it. The feeling between inside a timber house and inside the concrete house is different, timber house is like you more closer with the nature and you will feel calmness and when you in the concrete house and you will feel that you in a solid box and doesn’t have much freedom. The second design strategies is construction, how the building structure can affect the energy consumption in the building that to achieve sustainable design and can save the environment and energy waste. The vernacular and modern architecture building in Belum Rainforest Resort use local and recycle material. This is because to save the transportation energy and didn’t waste the gas, Low operational energy needed in the building and low maintenance. Vernacular architecture also emphasis on using the local material. Belum rainforest resort also built above the seal level, it built follow the contour of the site and mostly at the high ground this is because easily to gain wind and well ventilation. Besides that the building doesn’t destroy the ecosystem of the place and well blend in with the site.
The third one is response to the environment and site, placing the building also play an important role to the site, construct the building without causing any disaster example like land slide or flooding. Picture below shows that modern material building also well blend in with the nature and be part of the Belum Rainforest resort. The building is built along the contour of the
island is to have the beautiful lake view. The malay house using vernacular architecture traditional malay house in Malaysia as reference, Besides that, is also show the culture expression for example like using timber and brick as the materials and also for climate response, the Malay house have big window and opening to allow well ventilation. Different than modern building like luxury suite, the building can more than one story and its simple and aesthetic, doesn’t need to use the local materials and it have flat roof and have a high maintenance cost.
Figure 5.3.1 and 5.3.2 Malay house (left) and luxury suite (right) at Belum Rainforest resort (source from Ang.B.E.S 2014)
6.0 Conclusion
As a conclusion, Belum RainForest Resort have vernacular architecture and modern architecture design building in the resort. Although this two architecture have different way of design, material use on building, and different way of construct but there is one similarity that this two architecture have, that is passive design. The passive design that successful achieve by this two type of architecture building and bring comfort for the user and preserve the environment well. From this case study, I learn what vernacular and modern architecture are that located at Belum RainForest Resort and the difference between this two type of architecture building.
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