Asian architecture case study s11

The Contribution of Passive Cooling Methods in Achieving Optimum Thermal Comfort in S11 House

Asian Architecture Project : Case Study Paper

The Contribution of Passive Design of S11 House in Maintaining Thermal

Comfort of the Building

Name: Siew John LoongID: 0315871

Tutor: Mr. Koh Jing How

Asian Architecture ARC 2213/2234 Page 1


Table Content 1.Cover……………………………………………………

……………………1

2.Table

Content…………………………………………………

…………2-3

3.Abstract…………………………………………………

………………….4

4.Diagram………………………………………………

…………………….5

5.1.0

Introduction……………………………………………

…………..6-7

6.2.0 Natural

Cooling…………………………………………………

…8



2.1 Building

Orientation…………………………………………….

9

2.2 Cross

Ventilation……………………………………………

…10-12

2.3 Stack

Ventilation……………………………………………

…13-14

7. 3.0 Building

Structures…………………………………………..15

3.1 Overhang

roof………………………………………............15-16

8. 4.0 Thermal Effective of Building

Materials…………...17-18



4.1 Lightweight materials VS Heavyweight

materials.19-21

9. 5.0 Site

Context………………………………………………………

22-23

10. 6.0

Conclusion…………………………………………………

……24

11. 7.0

Reference……………………………………………………

….25-26



AbstractThe research paper is to study the contribution of passive cooling methods

in achieving optimum thermal comfort in S11 House. Thermal comfort is

one of the most important section in a building which determines whether

the building achieve the standard comfort for the user to live in. So,

passive cooling is designed accordingly in S11 House in few different ways

in order to achieve effective natural ventilation. When we talk about green

architecture, it actually means to reduce the negative environment impact

and increase environment friendly to the surrounding. Design approaches

such as building orientation, overhang roof, building spatial layout, site

context details and so on have to be considered carefully to create a



building that achieve thermal comfort. Besides, one of the most important

role to optimize thermal comfort is to allow the maximum air ventilation to

take place into the building. By having this method, the building will not

only receive the maximum passive cooling, but also it helps to reduce

operational cost and conserve energy as there is no need to apply

electrical appliances like air conditioner inside the building. Online

resources and electronic articles are used to assist in the topic selected.

Furthermore, when it comes to environment factors, S11 House is located

in a clear north-south orientation for the openings and windows which

allows natural ventilation to take place. With the help of tree canopies

around the building as shading device, the temperature is minimized

significantly. The position of swimming pool and koi pond in S11 House

helps in the evaporation process and that increases relative humidity of

the surrounding. Other than that, under the help of overhang roof, the

sliding windows can be opened all the time in order to allow air to flow

across the building. Meanwhile, wind turbines are designed on the

overhang roof help to eliminate the building heat as well. As a conclusion,

S11 House is considered as a well-planned building in providing optimum

thermal comfort based on different passive cooling strategies which work

effectively in the building.

Diagram



1.0 Introduction



Figure 1: Exterior view of S11 House

S11 House is Malaysia’s first Green Building Index Platinum rated house

that won the Tropical Building Category of the Asean Ebergy Awards in

2013. It is located in Petaling Jaya, Selangor and it is designed by Ar. Dr.

Tan Loke Mun. It is a green tropical house which is conceptualized along

the lines of a tree. A lot of sustainable design strategies and passive

designs are used in order to maintain thermal comfort of the building such

as the stack ventilation, cross ventilation, overhang roof, building

orientation and building material.

The research paper is conducted about S11 House to focus on the

relationship between passive designs and thermal comfort with the

research topic of ‘contribution of passive design of S11 House in

maintaining thermal comfort of the building’ with the following research

questions:



1. How does spatial layout planning help in natural ventilation to obtain

thermal comfort?

2. How do passive cooling work together effectively to achieve thermal

comfort?

3. What is the significant feature of the building in order to create

passive design to achieve thermal comfort?

4. How do building materials enhance the natural ventilation to

achieve thermal comfort?

5. How do passive cooling work together effectively to achieve thermal

comfort?

6. How does the site context serve as part of the natural ventilation to

obtain thermal comfort?



2.0 Natural CoolingNatural cooling is an very important element to be considered in a

building. It can help to reduce the use of mechanical ventilation like air

conditioning and this helps to conserve the nature, as well as saving tons

of electricity consumption and energy used like fossil fuel. Meanwhile, it

can reduce the emission of gas (greenhouse effect) from the elctrical

generating plant. In S11 House, the natural ventilation uses the wind

force to pull air through the building. In traditional Malay House, few

methods are being used to create an effective passive cooling such as the

elevation of house, fully openable windows, holed carvings around the

walls , open interior space with minimal partitions and high ventilated roof

tiles. Natural cooling can only be achieved with the fully used of site

contect and landscaping features, building form, building envelope design,

building internal planning and room design.



Figure 2.0: The Passive Cooling of Malay House

2.1 Building Orientation

In order to allow passve cooling taking place effectively in S11

House, there are few elements and detailing to be included in order

successfully circulate the indoor and outdoor air.

N N

W E W E

S

S

Figure 3.0 The oreintation of Buiding S11 House



In S11 House, the building is arranged in a way to receive the

maximum air cooling. it is clear north-south orientated as shown in

Figure 4.

Figure 4.0: North-south Orientation of S11 House (Floor Plan)

2.2 Cross Ventilation

Plenty of light can be captured through the openings and cross

ventilation takes place. In order to allow hot air to flow out of the

building easily, the whole building structures are heightened by the

designer of S11 House. Therefore, the air in the structure will not

become too enclosed and stifling which might affect the optimum

thermal comfort of the building.

For cross ventilation, the building uses pressure diffference across

the space to create air movement. The building has vents opening at

2 sides which allow air moves through the building. It helps to lower



the temperature of the building and cool the areas. With this design,

cross ventilation can occur effectively, especially in a open floor plan

like in Figure 6.0. The flow of air (direction) can also be seen in

Figure 5.0.

Figure 5.0 : Flow of Air Figure

6.0 : Floor Plan



Besides, the building has same level of openings at 2 sides which

allow air to enter smoothly into and out of the building as shown in

Figure 7.0 and Figure 8.0.

Figure 7.0 and Figure 8.0 : Building Openings

The smaller inlet and larger outlet of the building provides higher air

speed and air flow to the building (Figure 9.0). The design also works

more efficiently than the Malay house which uses the similar way of

air ventilation as shown in Figure 10.0. At the same time, the

openings are situated in the same building level which helps to

enhance the air ventilation as well (Figure 11.0 and Figure 12.0)



Figure 9.0: Inlet and outlet

(Floor Plan) Figure 10.0: Cross Ventilation (Malay House)



Figure 11.0: Flow of air Figure 12.0

Same level openings

2.3 Stack Ventilation

Besides, in order to further ventilate the building spaces, S11 house

has fully made used of operable glass windows and sliding doors.

The operable glass windows act as shelters during rainfall and allow



light to enter into the building, as well as ventilating the interior

spaces when they are opened. Other than that, air vents are built

between building roofing and walls as to let the hot air to flow out of

the building as shown in Figure 13.0.

Figure 13.0: Cross Ventilation of S11 House

Cross ventilation is formed through the fully usage of these building

elements. By using cross ventilation, hot air rises up within the

building and it flows out of the building through the vents on the

roof. At the same time, the internal air is replaced by the cooler air

from the outside which enters the building through openings like the

windows. It helps to conserve the nature as the usage of air

conditioning is further reduced by the usage of wind turbines (Figure

15.0)that provide stack ventilation. S11 House’s cross ventilation is

similar to the Malay House as well which also provides effective

ventilation throughout the building (Figure 14.0).



Figure 14.0 :Vernacular Malay House

Figure 15.0: Wind Turbine



3.0 Building Structures

3.1 Overhang Roof

Figure 16.0: Functions of Overhang Roof

Overhang roof is one of the most important building component in a

building (Figure 16.0). It serves as the top part of a building which

helps to protect the building. It acts as a shelter to protect the

building from over-exposed to the sunlight, as well as preventing the

rainwater from getting inside the building. Windows can also be

shaded by overhang roof when the solar heat gain is undesirable. A

building may suffer from water entry problems at windows and

doors, as well as having premature siding rot if improper overhang

roof is used . The most important function of overhang roof is to



keep water off the wall. The building wall can only be protected by

having a proper and standard overhang roof.

Figure 17.0: How a roof overhang can prevent hot summer sun from

getting in.

Figure 18.0: S11 House Overhang Roof



4.0 Thermal Effect of Building Materials

Figure 19.0: The Thermal Mass of Building Material

The optimum thermal comfort can be affected by the building material as

well. Thermal mass is the basic characteristic of building material in order

to absorb heat or cool, store it and release it later. The rate of the heat

loss or gain is called as U-value. In tropical country like Malaysia, walls and

floors will directly absorb heat on their surfaces. The storing heat will be

kept and exposed to the cooler air during the evening or night by

conducting it inwards. The heat will then flow back to the surface and be

released again. The cycle will be repeated again and again from day to

day.



Figure 20.0: The process of heat absorbing and releasing

In order to provide a largely self-regulating environment and stabilize the

internal temperature, the building material must be able to respond to the

changing condition naturally. The thermal effect of building material in S11

House which help to absorb and release heat will directly affect the

thermal comfort of the buildjng significantly.



Figure 21.0: How Thermal Mass Work

4.1 Lightweight Materials vs Heavyweight

Materials

Lightweight Material Heavyweight Material

Low thermal mass High thermal mass

React faster and follow external

temperature

React slowly with internal

temperature response

Figure 22.0 : Lightweight material vs Heavyweight material

The building material used in east-west wall must be low in heat

capacity and high in thermal insulation. This is because low heat

capacity will only allow a small amount if heat absoprtion, while high

thermal insulation allows small amount of heat to be transffered

through the materials. Also, they must have good direct reflection or

screening solar radiation so that direct heat gain can be reduced.

In S11 House, the eat and west walls were deliberate void of any

significant glazed openings. They were also constructed with better

insulated aerated lightweight concrete block. Windows and doors

have large impact on the thermal comfort of the building. Besides,

glazed windows which serve as an important component of

contemporary architectural style helps to reduce structural load and



allow natural light to penetrate into the building. They are coated

with heat reflecting paint and shaded by a wire netting screen of

vines and creepers as shown in Figure 23.0 and Figure 24.0. They

can reduce the heat gain through the building.

Figure 23.0: Left Elevation

Figure 24.0: Right Elevation

Furthermore, the old clay bricks were cleaned and re-used for

featured walls as shown in Figure 25.0. They are good heat insulator.

They have better thermal insulation and they are fire resistant

material. By re-using old clay bricks as part of the building materials,

it helps to save construction cost of the building.


Wire netting screen

Wire netting screen


Figure 25.0: Old Clay Bricks

In S11 House, the roof are constructed of lightweight recyclable

profiled steel metal sheets coated in a light off-white color to

minimize heat absorption as shown in Figure 26.0 and Figure 27.0.



Figure 26.0: Roof Plan Figure

27.0:Profiled Steel Metal Sheets

Meanwhile the old crushed concrete retained from the old house is

used for gravel fill as shown in Figure 28.0 and Figure 29.0.. They

are low in construction cost and are able to save natural resources.

The materials are fire resistant and can be used as stonework for

bathroom and ground floor living areas.

Figure 28.0 Ground Floor Plan Figure 29.0: Old

Crushed Concrete

5.0 Site Context



Vegetation plays an important role in regulating surrounding temperature.

Lower part of the building can be shaded by vegetation and reflective heat

can be absorbed. S11 House conserves exisiting trees originated from the

site without cutting them down. The trees can be used as a primary

natural shading devices from the sun as they can absorb radiation.

There are 5 significant exisiting trees around S11 House as shown in

Figure 30.0. Besides, the plantations are tropical natives which are

suitable to Malaysia climate. The tree shading can be an effective shading

device as Malaysia is a hot and humid country. They help to cool the area

around.

Figure 30.0: Ground Floor Plan Figure 31.0 Plants on

site

Besides vegetation, there are Koi Pond and swimming pool which are

situated at the both end side of S11 House (Figure 32.0 and Figure 33.0).

They act as cooling device which cool the building passively (passive

cooling).



Figure 32.0: Ground Floor Plan Figure 33.0 Swimming Pool

6.0 ConclusionAsian Architecture ARC 2213/2234 Page 28

Koi Pond

Swimming pool


As a conclusion, S11 House can be concluded as a successful green

building based on the aspect of passive cooling such as passive

ventilations (cross ventilations and stack ventilations), builidng orientation,

building material and building structure (overhang roof).

The cross ventilation and stack ventilation can work well together to

achieve effective passive cooling. They can achieve optimum thermal

comfort as well wothout affecting one another. Besides, S11 House has a

good building orientation (north-south orientation) which allows air

ventilation to take place in the building effectively. Other than that, S11

House has a standard effective overhang roof which act as a shelter

against sunlight and rainwater. Aprt from that, building materials such as

old clay bricks, recyclable profiled steel metal sheets and old crushed

concrete (reused material) help to save construction cost and conserve

energy as there will be no extra fee. Finally, the there are lots of

plantations which surround the S11 House. They act as shading device for

the building and lower down the temperature. Meanwhile, the Koi Pond

and swimming pool which are situated at the both end of S11 House help

in passive cooling as well (evaporating).

By having these standards of passive coolings, optimum thermal comfort

can be achieved successfully in S11 House. The occupants can have a

comfortable environement to live in and the environement impact can be

reduced to its minimum.



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