Asian Architecture Project 1: Case Study Paper ABSTRACT Proposal (10%) BY: MAHI ABDUL MUHSIN 0314421
Influence of Vernacular Architecture of Kampung Houses in Phase 2 Chalets of Belum Rainforest Resort in Achieving thermal comfort Research Questions focused: 1) What makes the traditional Malay house ( kutai house ) an ideal example of sustainable vernacular architecture? 2 ) how does the phase 2 Chalets of Belum Rainforest Resort portray a successful adaptation of the Kutai House in terms of sustainable vernacular architecture? 3) In response to contextual climate, to what extent does the Design Strategies of Belum rainforest Chalets manage to achieve the desired sustainability? 4)How does each of the features act as a solution and help in solving the problem of heat gain? 5) What are the major differences and similarities in sustainable design strategies between Belum Rainforest Resort’s chalets and the traditional Kutai house?
KUTAI HOUSE, PERAK
PHASE 2 CHALETS, BELUM RAINFOREST RESORT
FINDINGS FOR CASE STUDY WHAT IS VERNACULAR ARCHITECTURE? vernacular architecture is architecture that is highly responsive towards its surroundings. This is achieved through many aspects of design including a building’s form, passive design strategies, context and materiiality. Looking at an alternative definition, vernacular architecture is a style of architecture exemplifying the commonest building techniques based on the forms and materials of aparticular historical period, region, or group of people (Ching, 1995).Vernacular architecture is significantly influenced by the macro-climate of an area (Gut & Ackerknecht, 1993) Malaysia’s vernacular houses are post and beam structures raised on stilts with gabled roofs. The house type is ubiquitous as many other houses throughout South East Asia share similar features such as the saddle roof, gable horns and raised floor with timber posts. The Malay house is said to have originated in various islands of the Malay Archipelago (now known as Indonesia) and share recurrent features which are similar to dwellings found throughout Southeast Asia and as far as Micronesia and Madagascar Malay houses are usually constructed by local carpenters or craftsmen and sometimes the owners themselves. These houses are placed in village-like settlements known as the kampung which have few landmarks and may look haphazard to foreign observers upon first encounter. The houses found in paddy lowlands are scattered in clusters and are usually demarcated by coconut trees, fruit plantations and vegetation, which shade the house from direct solar radiation. The linear settlement patterns usually form along rivers, roads and sandbanks. The external environment is communal and as untouched as possible. There are no physical boundaries to define trespassing and only gravel paths lead the way from house to house and from house to public buildings. This preference for community intimacy over personal privacy led to stronger and closer ties in the village. The Malay nuclear family, consisting of husband, wife and dependent children, make up the social grouping of the house. However, in cases where people cannot afford to construct individual houses, or if land is scarce, the Malay house accommodates the elaborate extended family which includes parents, grandchildren and other relatives.
THE TRADITIONAL MALAY HOUSE AS AN IDEAL EXAMPLE OF VERNACULAR ARCHITECTURE
The traditional Malay house is organized in a hierarchical order, expressed in the arrangement of spaces, height and volume. The most space and highest level of the house is dedicated to the more important spaces while the less important spaces are smaller in size and lower in leve Common Characteristics Malay houses are usually constructed by local carpenters or craftsmen and sometimes the owners themselves. These houses are placed in village-like settlements known as the kampung which have few landmarks and may look haphazard to foreign observers upon first encounter. The houses found in paddy lowlands are scattered in clusters and are usually demarcated by coconut trees, fruit plantations and vegetation, which shade the house from direct solar radiation. The linear settlement patterns usually form along rivers, roads and sandbanks. The external environment is communal and as untouched as possible. There are no physical boundaries to define trespassing and only gravel paths lead the way from house to house and from house to public buildings. This preference for community intimacy over personal privacy led to stronger and closer ties in the village. The Malay nuclear family, consisting of husband, wife and dependent children, make up the social grouping of the house. However, in cases where people cannot afford to construct individual houses, or if land is scarce, the Malay house accommodates the elaborate extended family which includes parents, grandchildren and other relatives.57 The traditional Malay house is organized in a hierarchical order, expressed in the arrangement of spaces, height and volume. The most space and highest level of the house is dedicated to the more important spaces while the less important spaces are smaller in size and lower in leve
RUMAH KUTAI AS A COMPARATIVE STUDY ON MALAYSIAN VERNACULAR ARCHITECTURE
LIGHT COLOURED ROOFS TO MINIMISE HEAT ABSORPTION
FULL VERTICAL CASEMENT WINDOWS
ORIENTATION OF THE CHALETS
N 6 pm
12 pm
6 am WIND DIRECTION
OPEN, SHADED PORCHES/BALCONIES
TIMBER DECKING
STEEL STILTS TO RAISE THE BUILDING OFF THE GROUND
Weather board
Open porch
DECKS MADE WITH WOODEN PLANKS WITH GAPS BETWEEN THEM
OPENING IN THE CHALET CENTRE WHICH CLUSTER OUT THE CHALET ALLOWING CROSS VENTILATION
Cross ventilation
VEGETATION ENGULFING THE BUILDING
VEGETATION AS PART OF BUILDING DESIGN