Asian Architecture [ARC 2213/2234]
PROJECT 1: CASE STUDY
Paper Title
The Implementation Of Sun Shading Strategies to achieve thermal comfort
In 8D House, Bukit Damansara.
NAME: FOO WEI MIN
STUDENT ID: 0321577
LECTURER: MS NURUL ALIA AHAMAD
SUBMISSION DATE: 28/6/2016
Table of Content
Abstract 1
1.0 Introduction 2
2.0 Research Framework/ methodology 3
3.0 Thermal Comfort in Malaysian context 3
4.0 Overview and issue of 8D House 4
5.0 Sun Shading Strategies 5
5.1 Canopy Roof 6
5.2 Sun Screen 8
5.3 Internal shading Device and Glazing 9
5.4 Built Form and Structure 10
5.5 Surrounding Landscape 10
6.0 Consideration of External Factor 11
7.0 Conclusion 13
8.0 References 14
Abstract
The purpose of this paper aims to make a throughout study on the implementation of sun
shading strategies in 8D House. It aims to give an understanding on the significance of these
strategies to achieve thermal comfort in tropical context. To promote a sustainable
environment, it is important to resist heat gain and avoid exaggerated need of energy for
active cooling. As vernacular architecture is the simplest form to address human needs, it is
anticipated to see the innovatively adopted passive design in 8D house. Analysis methodology
such as interview with the architect, Dr.Tan L.M., online research, as well as literature reviews
on thermal comfort are used to complete this paper. In 8D House, reflective roof with large
eaves are highly insulated by rock wool providing maximum shading of direct solar radiation,
complemented by metal louvered sun screen that enfold the entire mass of the living spaces.
In response to context, vegetation and the built form on 10m slope along road frontage
sheltered the living spaces, resisting heat gain. To improve the performance of methods used,
the factors influencing the effectiveness are studied and discussed to serve a guidance for
future design. In this rapidly changing world landscape, it is vital to hit a balance between
modern standardization and detail creating particular ambience. This study allows more
design features with high efficiency and high aesthetic value to be explored and discovered.
It has come to a conclusion that shading is validated as one of the effective architectural
design features that responds to the heat gain issue in tropical climate like Malaysia. The
strategies employed would significantly reduce energy consumption and most importantly,
improve thermal and visual comfort, and create value for its user.
Introduction
These day, high energy consumption in combating the unfavourable weather in relation to
the thermal comfort has raised a big issue in architecture. Drastic increase of air conditioning
usage has led to negative environmental impact and poor living condition. The condition of
thermal comfort extremely affect the satisfaction of user and it further determine the
habitability of the building. In most of the Asian countries, in order to step towards visually
and thermally comfort environment, exclusion of direct solar radiation to resist heat gain is
indispensable. 8D house is a residence with retreat facilities surrounded by neighbourhood
of 2-3 storey vernacular bungalows located in a suburban area. The reason I have chosen this
house is that, it is a contemporary architecture that is relatable to the common residence and
show traces of vernacular design in Malaysia. Vernacular architecture is the simplest form in
response to local culture and society’s need, normally blends well with the surrounding
context and fully utilise the surrounding landscape to fulfil the basic user requirements. Large
roof overhangs, highly insulated roofing material, framed structure, as well as tropical
verandah has shown direct relationship of 8D House with the vernacular design in Malaysia.
It is also believed that these features aim to achieve similar results in dealing with local climate.
This paper focus on the sun shading strategies implemented in 8D House and explains the
significance of these strategies under tropical climate, to achieve thermal comfort, reduce
energy consumption, and improve living condition.
Research Question
1) How does the idea of sun shading from vernacular architecture innovatively adopted
in 8D house?
2) How does each sun shading strategies act as solution to address heat gain issue in 8D
house?
3) How does the material of sun shading devices contribute in achieving thermal comfort?
4) How does the critical external factors affecting the effectiveness of method employed?
5) Does the strategies employed help in achieving thermal comfort and what are the
impact on living condition?
Research Framework
The primary data of 8D House are collected via interviews with Dr.Tan L.M. and online
resources material. For a more reasonable validation on effectiveness of sun shading
strategies, literarture review on the S11 house, another masterpiece of Dr.Tan L.M, thermal
comfort and related shading device has been carried out. Further analysis are carried out on
the drawings provided.
Thermal Comfort in Malaysian Context
Malaysia is located in the equatorial region and experience hot and humid tropical rainforest
climate. Throughout the year, the average temperature fluctuate between 20°C to 30°C.
(World Weather and Climate Information, 2016.) The long duration of high solar intensity
results in the crucial climatic impact to most building in Malaysia. (Al-Tamimi & Syed Fadzil,
2011, Sadafi, Salleh, Chin, & Jaafar, 2011) Thermal comfort is the condition of mind that
expresses satisfaction with the thermal environment. It can be assessed using subjective
evaluation of ASHRAE Standard 55 and have great influence on the user satisfaction,
productivity, and health condition. (ANSI/ASHRAE Standard 55, 2013.) Generally, thermal
comfort are related to 6 main factors which are air temperature, radiant temperature, air
velocity, humidity, clothing insulation, and metabolic heat. In order to enhance thermal
comfort in hot and humid tropics, effective methods are to eliminate or minimise the solar
gain and maximise heat lost. Well-designed sun shading strategy will greatly contribute in
lower energy consumption in reducing peak heat gain and allow natural illumination for
lighting. As thermal comfort is one of the aims to every architect to combat the unbearable
weather, it is important to look into potential sun shading device in tropical climate.
An Overview of 8D House
Figure 4.1 8D House. (Source: Ho, H.L, 2015.)
Located on a hillside in suburb area of Bukit Damansara, the site comprised a long and narrow
lot sloping about 10 meters. According to Dr. Tan LM, the brief requires a residence equipped
with green sustainable features as well as resort facilities to house a family of 2 generation.
The architect took the opportunity provided by the long road frontage for a 70m long tropical
verandah made of modern material, steel and off-form concrete with sawn timber finish and
reclaimed the land to construct a lower ground which is well sheltered from evening sun. To
combat with the hot and humid climate, it is well designed to minimise the direct solar
radiation, complemented by the raw brick wall, metal louvered sun screen and large
overhanging insulated canopy roof that provide sufficient shading to the entire mass.
Sun Shading Strategy
Effective sun shading strategy can block up to 90% of the solar heat. (Caitlin, M., 2016.) There
are various component for sun shading, for instance, proper landscaping, exterior shading
device, interior solar control devices, as well as Low E glazing material. In general, it is
important to keep the exposed surface area as minimum as possible. These components helps
to achieve the measures to resist heat gain in building by maximising the shading area. Proper
selection of material with good insulation and low u-value (thermal transmittance) will results
in higher effectiveness. A series of sun shading strategy have been implemented in 8D house
to enhance user comfort.
The Canopy Roof
In the past, vernacular Malay houses has deep eaves and highly insulated roof made of natural
material such as attap which is cooling due to its good thermal insulation properties. In 8D
house, the canopy roof is constructed in a modern way, having an unusual long overhang
about 7.5m from the exterior wall to cover the entire building from high sun. Proper use of
material plays an important role to further increase the effectiveness. Attap is no longer a
right solution for contemporary architecture thereby the roof constructed by lightweight
metal deck in light grey with a total coated thickness (TCT) of 0.52mm. Also, it is highly
insulated by 200mm rock wool of density 50kg/m3 and have an air gap of 300mm that act as
a barrier to heat flow.
Figure 5.1.3 Section of the canopy roof in 8D House.
Figure 5.1.1 Overhangs of 8D House.
(Source: Ho, H.L, 2015.)
Figure 5.1.2 Overhangs of Malay House in
Sarawak. (Source: All About Malaysia, n.d.)
Figure 5.1.4 Solar reflectance Index of roof surface. (Source: Green Passive Solar Magazine, 2015.)
Figure 5.1.5 North-East Elevation. (Source: DRTLM Architect, 2015.)
Sun screen
Vernacular Malay Houses uses louvered windows to control the daily solar gain. These days,
horizontal louvers are commonly use as sun screen devices. However, it does not perform
well in blocking low sun. In complementary to the weakness of the large overhang canopy
roof which do not block low sun, vertical metal louvers are used as sun screen device in 8D
house. In hot and humid climate, shading and ventilation have to work collaboratively to
achieve best result. Fixed vertical louvers offset the glare and reduce direct solar gain, at the
same time it allows ventilation as well as views and vista through the gaps. According to
Dr.Tan L.M., the vertical louvers are aesthetically pleasure especially when it comes together
with a black background and these are used to form an identity to his architecture design.
Figure 5.2.1 Vertical louvers in Rumah Melayu.
(Source: Engvar. B, 2014)
Figure 5.2.2 Vertical Louvers of 8D House.
(Source: Ho, H.L, 2015.)
Internal shading device and Glazing
Traditional layout plan in vernacular Malay House has given us an idea how ventilation would
help in increasing heat lost. 8D House is constructed based on semi open concept, having the
folding glass door making it optional for user to open up the house for ventilation and reduce
humidity level. However, this results in a large solar exposed area. Interior shading is weak in
resisting heat gain because solar energy has been admitted to the spaces. Thereby, 9.38mm
thick low-E safety laminated glass is used. Internal shading device work together allow
luminance and glare control which subsequently contribute to user comfort and visual acuity.
In 8D house, white curtain is used. Reason because it has high solar reflectance value and
allow more luminance into the interior, effectively reduce the energy consumption in cooling
and lighting.
Figure 5.3.1 Low E Glazing and curtain as interior shading device.
(Source: Ho, H.L, 2015.)
Built Form and structure
8D House is designed accordingly to its site context. The entrance of the house is south east
oriented. The architect took the advantage of long road frontage to build a tropical verandah
(serambi), which is one of the basic space that act as treat space for guests in vernacular
houses. The verandah in 8D house stretches about 70m, acting as main axis joining the
programme together from arrival to living and recreation, also effectively give shade to the
entrance. (Dr.Tan L.M., 2015) In addition to that, the architect also reclaim the land on the
slope and construct a lower ground which is well sheltered by the built form itself.
Surrounding Landscape
8D house is built in response to the surrounding vegetation and take advantage of it to cast
shadow on the north-east façade. Proper landscaping offset the solar radiation and cast a
dense shadow. Grass is used to replace paving in the lower ground exterior to reduce ground
Figure 5.4.1 South-East Elevation.
(Source: DRTLM Architect, 2015.)
Figure 5.4.2 Shadow casted in the evening.
(Source: Ho, H.L, 2015.)
temperature and amount of heat reflected. Evergreen lush tree with dense foliage resist
intense heat gain by acting as vertical shading and work best in east west facades.
Consideration of External Factor
In hot and humid tropics, there are more external factors for consideration. Good ventilation
is required to reduce the surrounding humidity make increase heat lost. A compromise
solution considering the direction of prevailing wind, road frontage as well as the direct solar
radiation has made the building rotate about 22.4o.
~45o
Figure 5.5.1 Surrounding landscape of 8D House.
(Source: Ho, H.L, 2015.)
Figure 6.1
Best Orientation For Sun Shading.
Figure 6.2
Best Orientation Prevailing Wind.
To obtain the best result for both sun shading and ventilation, the building is rotated about
22.4o, resulted in reduction of shading effectiveness, but show a higher achievement in
thermal comfort as ventilation is introduced. Although efforts have been made to resist heat
gain, there are still some imperfections that affect the overall cooling load require to achieve
thermal comfort. In order to allow unobstructed view towards KLCC Twin Towers, the vertical
metal louvers are shorten, causing larger exposure to sunlight. In another hand, the whole
building is painted black due to the desire of the architect to make the vertical louvers more
prominent. Black is elegant, but it absorbs too much heat. By having a lighter skin, it helps to
resist heat gain thus reduce the overall energy consumption, explained in Figure 6.4. It
highlights the importance of proper material and color selection in thermal comfort
achievement. Lastly, more trees can be planted on such a big site and act complementary or
low overhangs as landscape shading is better In dealing with low morning evening sun.
~ 22.4o
Figure 6.3 Compromised Solution to achieve best result for both.
Conclusion
A series of sun shading strategies have been implemented and these are the synthesis of the
opportunity provided by the site context, the innovative idea from vernacular architecture as
well as the idea in translating regional metaphors into green architecture. These passive
designed shading strategies are validated as they show a great contribution in resisting heat
gain within a building. Findings suggested that large overhangs are very effective and have
been used for decades in vernacular architecture. While the other methods act
complementary with this main idea. The semi open concept and compromised orientation of
building allow ventilation to works collaboratively with the shading methods discussed and
contribute in thermally and visually comfort environment. Since there is a reduction of cooling
load required, it offers a better living condition where the air conditioning system is not
indispensably required in order to make a building habitable. Environmental issue in relation
to energy consumption in a building is greatly influenced by the thermal comfort. Thus more
effort needs to be done in order to raise the consciousness of sustainability and green
architecture.
Figure 6.4 Comparison of reflective properties of different coloured surface.
(Source: Green Passive Solar Magazine, 2015.)
Reference
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