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Asian Architecture (ARC 2213 / ARC 2234) Project 1: Case Study Paper

Sustainable and efficient spaces arrangement To accommodate different users

In Phase 2 of Belum Rainforest Resort.

Name : Teo Kean Hui

Student ID : 0310165

Lecture : Pn. Norhayati Ramli

Submission date : 11 Nov 2014

Sustainable and efficient spaces arrangement to accommodate different users in

Phase 2 of Belum Rainforest Resort.

ARC 2213/2234 Asian Architecture 2

Table of content

Abstract …………………………………………………………………………. 3

Introduction …………………………………………………………………………. 4

1.0 Overview of sustainable spaces arrangement. …………………….. 5

2.0 Different users in Phase 2 of Belum Rainforest Resort. ……………. 7

3.0 Circulation to Phase 2 of Belum Rainforest Resort. ……….……………. 8

4.0 Spaces arrangement to accommodate different type of users. …… 10

5.0 Factors affecting the spaces arrangement ……………………………... 23

Conclusion …………………………………………………………………………. 23

Reference …………………………………………………………………………. 24




Abstract

As the condition of Earth is getting worst over the time cause by pollution and

rise of temperature around the world. Sustainability has become a very important

aspect in everything now a days such as sustainable construction and even some stuff

sold in supermarket are sustainable to attract nature loving customer’s attention.

Sustainable architecture has been practice by many architect around the world aim to

minimize the impact towards the environment through building methods, materials and

spatial arrangement. By acting this way, our future generation will have more

opportunities to unleash their potential. This research paper is to study about how an

effective spatial arrangement used by Belum Rain Forest Resort at Pulau Banding in

Perak as a sustainable strategies to accommodate different people from different field.

In spatial arrangement, designing suitable spaces to serve different users by identifying

their needs will make a space often used and it will eventually function permanently.

Thus, sustainability achieved. There are total of four phases in the Resort, existing

Phase 1 and 2 which finished in year 2013 then remaining are future plans. Phase 2

consist of both public and private spaces such as swimming pool, walkway, reading

area, villas and so on. The users commonly found are workers, visitors and guests. As

they are there for different purposes, they have different circulations. To be able to

complete this research paper, a site visit has been committed. Besides observing,

interview with workers there and some visitors there has been done. Moreover, visited

library and online to find out more about sustainability spatial layout and green

architecture. As a conclusion, spaces must be well planned on their placement and

suitability so that it can fully functional. Besides that, efficient spatial arrangement will

save up a lot spaces for better future.




Introduction

Belum Rainforest Resort is located at the northern part of Malaysia on Pulau

Banding, Perak. It is one of Malaysia best ecotourism holiday spot with the best

evening sunset view on Tasik Temenggor from the resort. The resort has the nature

and sustainable as the theme, it also became the best and most suitable spot for

nature lover.

Phase 2 of the resort consist of thirty six rooms for the deluxe suite and six for

the traditional kampong suite which will be in traditional Malay style in Perak but with

more adapt to commercial use, project architect by Juteras Sdn Bhd.

(Source: Site Analysis Belum Rainforest Resort, 2014)

Figure 1: Belum Rainforest Resort micro site plan showing Phase 1 and Phase 2.




This research paper is about study on the spaces arrangement to

accommodate different users as the topic. The objective of doing this research paper is

aim to identify all private, public and semi-public spaces in Phase 2 of Belum

Rainforest Resort then also the function and users experience when there are at any

one of the spaces there.

Research Question.

1. What are the sustainable and efficient spaces arrangement adopt in Phase 2 of

Belum Rainforest Resort to accommodate different users?

2. How a sustainable and efficient spaces arrangement can affect user’s

experience?

3. What are the factors that affect the spaces arrangement of Phase 2 Belum

Rainforest Resort?

1.0 Overview of sustainable spaces arrangement.

“Space planning services consider numerous design parameters, including the

client's project goals and priorities, the client's organizational structure and

relationships, space allocation criteria, building codes and access for the disabled,

furniture standards, circulation and work flow, design considerations, the constraints of

fixed building elements and building system interfaces, security and privacy issues, the

flexibility for accommodating future space need” (AIA, 2000).

“Role of spatial planning is to create the conditions for an enhanced quality of

life and meeting the challenges of sustainable development. Thus, the main objective

of spatial planning is to ensure that the utilization of land resources is planned and

implemented in an organized manner to meet the needs of present and future

generations” (National Environment and Planning Agency, 2013).

"The growth of what we may, in the present context, describe as ‘unsustainable’

architecture began, at the end of the 18th century, with the industrial revolution, as

more and more new technologies were incorporated into the fabric of buildings.




Buildings for all purposes, residential, industrial and institutional came increasingly to

adopt mechanical systems of heating, ventilation and illumination in the quest to adopt

the latest technologies in the service of their inhabitants" (Hawkes, 2014).

A sustainable spaces arrangement is more to how the space being arrange and

place so that the space will be fully function and being used by users that will avoid the

waste and abandon of space happen. Normally the factor that will determine the

usability of a space are the level of comfort, the ventilation, the location and views. The

spaces that achieve its function and often being used by users can consider as a

sustainable strategies.

(Source: Teo, 2014) Figure 1.1: The sustainable strategies in construction.

Spaces arrangement and building placement can affect the plants that needed

to be cut down and earth that need to be flatten during the construction period. To

achieve sustainability, the spaces and building placement should follow the landscape

and also the plants arrangement so that to minimize the plants that need to be cut

down during construction if possible remain there.




2.0 Different users in Phase 2 of Belum Rainforest Resort.

Belum Rainforest Resort is a resort with the nature and views around it as

attractions, this attract the nature lover around the world come to visit and also those

who would like to have a getaway from the busy city life. Besides them as the visitors

and guests there, the staff there are also considered as the users as well.

The outsiders that came to the resort are categorize into two which are visitors

and guests. A visitor is someone who visits a person or a place (Merriam Webster,

2014). Visitor there normally just went there for a visit and walk around enjoying the

views and environment to study or release their stress. Guests are those who pays for

the service of an establishment as a hotel or a restaurant (Merriam Webster, 2014).

Guests get to enjoy more privileges compare to visitors as they have paid for the

service, they get to access their very own private spaces for they days that they paid

also to enjoy the facilities and services that only provided for the guests. Besides that,

they also get to access other spaces for visitors.

Those who walk around Belum Rainforest Resort everyday are the staff there,

there are several types of stuff found in Phase 2 which are the serviceperson,

housekeeping cleaner, receptionist and banquet. Service person refer to a person who

repair and maintain equipment (Dictionary-References, 2014). They responsible to

maintain the whole resort for example, they fix and service air conditional with problem

in rooms, they patch broken concrete and many more to help the resort running.

Housekeeping cleaner do general cleaning task, vacuuming halls, in private homes or

commercial establishment (Sokanu, 2014). Receptionist refer to those who greets and

deals with the clients or visitors (Oxford dictionary, 2014), they normally passes

through Phase 2 to deliver luggage and guests on luggage cart golf car. Banquet

servers perform serving duties at dinner and events, they must be able to stand and

walk for extended period of time while accommodating guests effectively and politely

(Education Portal, 2013). They only will be accessing to Phase 2 when there is banquet

at rooftop.




3.0 Circulation to Phase 2 of Belum Rainforest Resort.

There are total of 3 ways to access to the Phase 2 of resort, the first one will be

through the restaurant which located next to the lobby. Through this pathway will have

to pass through the bottle ceiling walkway, restaurant, and pub then swimming pool. To

walk up to the opened walkway will just have to walk up the stairs next to the swimming

pool.

(Source: Teo, 2014) Figure 2.1: The pathway lead to the restaurant and the bar next to the lobby.

Figure 2.2: Pathway that connect the restaurant and the bar.

(Source: Teo, 2014) Figure 2.3: the Bridge that connect the bar to the swimming pool.

Figure 2.4: Swimming pool at Phase 2.

The second way to access to the Phase 2 is through walk up the ramp on the

left from the lobby and pass through the dining hall which located at Phase 1. Then

there will be a staircase behind the dining hall and view of the Phase 2.




(Source: Teo, 2014) Figure 2.5: Staircase from dining area in Phase 1 of resort.

Figure 2.6: Bridge connect to rooftop.

(Source: Teo, 2014) Figure 2.7: Roof top above deluxe suites in Phase 2.

Last but not least, the most common path that directly connect the lobby

to Phase 2 and most common used is to walk up the ramp and take the way on the

right. This directly connect to the opened walkway along the Phase 2 of resort. This

path also often used by receptionist to deliver guest’s luggage using luggage cart golf

car.

(Source: Teo, 2014) Figure 2.8: The pathway lead to the lobby.

Figure 2.9: Entrance to Phase 2 on the right.




4.0 Type of spaces and arrangement to accommodate

different type of users.

In Belum Rainforest Resort Phase 2 they have all public spaces, semi-public

spaces and private spaces. They are all being placed in such a way to achieve certain

function to fulfil the users’ needs as different users will have their different circulation in

the resort.

The opened air walkway is one of the most attractive and important space that

can be access by anyone who visited Belum Rainforest Resort. It is a public space and

it lay along the whole Phase 2 with the view to the deluxe suite on the left and

traditional kampong suite to the right if walk up from the lobby. Besides that, this path

way also lead to the jetty where people can have their activities such as lower Belum

visit, bamboo rafting and so on. The end of the opened air walkway will be the replica

Orang Asli place. The activity along the walkway are normally slow walk, cycling, small

amount of motorcycle and luggage cart golf car passing by. Users are able to enjoy the

scene from around the walkway and enjoy the frest air there as there are plants along

the walkway. There will be people walking along the walkway at all time except for

midnight and less during the hot afternoon.

(Source: Teo, 2014)

Figure 3.1: The opened air walkway in Phase 2 of resort.




(Source: Teo, 2014)

Figure 3.2: The jetty that connected to the walkway where people will have their bamboo rafting and activities here.

(Source: Teo, 2014)

Figure 3.3: The replica Orang Asli village at the end of the opened air pathway.

The rooftop is the most visited space in Phase 2 where almost everyone who

went there will go up the rooftop, it is located on top of the deluxe suite where any

users can get there as it is the public space with the best view towards the Tasik

Temenggor especially during the evening sunset. Due to its wide and empty space,

users are able to have a 360 degree view of the Belum from the rooftop while enjoying

the air and scenery up there. Sometimes the resort will have banquet on the rooftop




where users are able to have their meal while viewing the lake and enjoying the fresh

air.

(Source: Teo, 2014)

Figure 3.4: The roof top at Phase 2 that located above deluxe suit hotel.

(Source: Teo, 2014)

Figure 3.5: Part of rooftop with plants roof shading.

Ramps around the rooftop are commonly used by the banquet server to

transport big amount of food on the trolley to the rooftop if there is banquet on rooftop,

to be able to transport on trolley they will need to go on a flat surface. Besides, this also

bring convenient to disabled people to move around the rooftop.




(Source: Loo, 2014)

Figure 3.6: The ramps around the rooftop of the Phase 2 of resort.

The semi-public spaces in Phase 2 of resort are actually used to serve the

guests who stay there but at the same time, visitors are also allow to access to those

places. Playground and reading area are located at the middle of the deluxe suite and

rooftop. Their placement are the middle of the building where can easily access by

guests and visitors from any direction. The playground are covered by plants above it

that create the shadow effect as the trees in the park. What they normally do in the

playground will be adult sitting on the bench watching kids playing while enjoy the

views of Belum.




(Source: Teo, 2014) Figure 3.7 & 3.8: The playground below the roof top with nice views and shading.

Reading area is located right below the playground which also easy to access

as it is at the centre of Phase 2. The reading area is like a mini library with book racks

contain books that related to Belum, suitability and nature. Besides reading, some

people are here to rest after walking and cycling around as the reading area is at the

ground level with chairs and bench. Because the space is surrounded by the building

on both side, this help to create a sound barrier that provide a quiet environment there.




(Source: Loo, 2014)

Figure 3.9: The reading area in ground level.

Another semi-public space found in Phase 2 of resort will be the swimming pool

that located at the corner of Phase 2 next to traditional kampong suite. Users will have

to walk down staircase to go to the swimming pool. This swimming pool is an infinity

pool surrounded by nature, it is a facility provided for the guests there. Visitors normally

went there for a walk for sitting at that place watching guests swimming as they are not

allowed to swim there.

(Source: Teo, 2014)

Figure 3.10: The swimming pool in Phase 2.




The private spaces found in Belum are the resorts, only the guests who paid the

room are able to access and own the space based on how much they paid. The deluxe

suite the semi-detached like resort using concrete and ramp earth walls, they are all on

left side along the opened walkway from the lobby with the best view towards Tasik

Temenggor. Spaces in the deluxe suite will be the bedrooms, bathrooms and a small

living room. The users are able to do whatever they want in the space as they are

already paid for the service but not to cause any harm to the resort and surroundings.

(Source: Teo. 2014)

Figure 3.11: The front façade of deluxe suite next to the opened walkway.




(Source: Asiaweb direct, 2014)

Figure 3.12: The view towards the Tasik Temenggor and the traditional kampong suite

below it.

(Source: Asiaweb direct, 2014)

Figure 3.13: The unique bathroom in deluxe suite with the feeling into the nature.

Besides the rooftop and the rooms at the deluxe suit area, there are also many

staircase lying all over it connecting the rooftop to every floors and then to the ground

along the deluxe suite. As it is one of the main circulation in deluxe area, they are the

public spaces with the steel as material that sound will be heard when someone is

walking on it. Besides walking up and down the stairs, users are able to view the nature

around it as it is not covered.




(Source: Teo, 2014)

Figure 3.14: The staircase found around deluxe suite area in Phase 2.

While for the traditional kampong, it has more privacy compared to the deluxe

once as it is in the woods with a long and narrow terrace walkway to enter it. People

there don’t usually enter the place as it is isolated from the public spaces using the long

and narrow terrace walkway and covered by bushes.

(Source: Teo, 2014)

Figure 3.15: The traditional kampong suite view from rooftop.




(Source: Loo, 2014)

Figure 3.16: The traditional kampong suite isolated from public by the bushes and

woods.

For the staff that work at Belum Rainforest Resort, they have some special

walkway for them as their circulation doesn’t require much views and volume. The

ramps and flat walkway are at the backdoor of the resorts which are flat that enable

housekeeping cleaners to carry out their duty with the cleaning tools and items should

be put and replace in rooms on a trolley. This help to save time and energy to travel

from room to room to do the cleaning work.

(Source: Teo, 2014) Figure 3.17: The ramp pathway that connect Phase 1 to Phase 2.




(Source: Teo, 2014)

Figure 3.18: Flat platform at every level of the deluxe suite area.

(Source: Teo, 2014)

Figure 3.19: Walkway and staircase for staff.




(Source: Teo, 2014) Figure 3.20: Location and type of spaces in Phase 2 of Belum Rainforest Resort

5.0 Factors affecting the spaces arrangement

In Phase 2 of Belum Rainforest Resort, the architect design and place the

building such a way which follow the landscape and the vegetation around so that they

can minimize the tree to be cut down during the construction.

Besides that, views also one of the factor that spaces arrange in such a way.

The architect arrange the building in clustered in curved linear manner that users are

able to view the Tasik Temenggor. As compared to the Phase 1 of the resort, they

don’t have better view than the Phase 2 once as they are a little far from the lake,

besides they also don’t have the ventilation as good as the Phase 2.

Moreover, the placement of spaces also can affect the circulation and

accessibility. A space that placed in a noticeable place tend to attract more visitors

compare to others because through that way visitors who came here for the first time

will know the existing of those spaces.




Conclusion

As a conclusion, the Phase 2 of Belum Rainforest Resort are constructed follow

the landscape which reduce and minimize the trees that need to be cut down to

achieve sustainability. Besides, all the spaces are well planned and placed follow the

users need and easy of circulation. Hence, by selecting an effective spatial

arrangement can contribute to the circulation and activities happening around Belum

Rainforest Resort to achieve sustainability. By well space planning and arrangement,

no abandoned space will appear on site which helps to improve the aesthetic value and

help in conserving natural environment for a better tomorrow.




Reference

KOHL’S DEPARTMENT STORES. (n.d.). plementation Model: Energy Finance

Strategy. Retrieved 23 September 2014 from

http://www4.eere.energy.gov/challenge/sites/default/files/uploaded

-files/DOE_BBC-Kohls_Playbook_2-17-14.pdf

- Research on the sustainability triangle which show that a building’s

design are actually able to affect the sustainability of environment.

The American Institute of Architects: AIA. (2002). Space Planning.

Retrieved 23 September 2014 from

http://www.aia.org/aiaucmp/groups/aia/documents/pdf/aiab089276.pdf

- Research on the user’s needs, knowledge and skills require to design

spaces.

ArchGo! Japan，Hokkaido ，Children’s Center for Psychiatric Rejabitation / Sou

Fujimotor. (n.d.). Retrieved 24 September 2014 from

http://archgo.com/index.php/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=

316:chi ldrens-center-for -psychiatric-rehabilitation-sou -fujimoto

&catid=56:hospital&Itemid=100

- Case study on how this building that made up of many blocks with same

shape orientate and placement to create more spaces to accommodate

more different people.

Hawkes, D. (2014). A History of Sustainable Architecture.

Retrieved 28 September 2014 from

http://www.architecture.com/RIBA/Aboutus/SustainabilityHub/Sustainability.asp

- To study about that is actually a design strategies means and also some

case study about sustainable buildings and examples in it.

Jian, W. L. (2012, February 3). Belum Rainforest Resort’s 2nd Phase to be ready in

2013. Retrieved 30 September 2014 from

http://www.theedgemalaysia.com/property/200389-belum-rainforest

resorts -2nd-phase-to-be-ready-in-2013.html

- This is an article about the plan on what going to be at the Belum

Rainforest Resort’s 2nd Phase.

http://www4.eere.energy.gov/challenge/sites/default/files/uploaded-files/DOE_BBC-Kohls_Playbook_2-17-14.pdf

http://www4.eere.energy.gov/challenge/sites/default/files/uploaded-files/DOE_BBC-Kohls_Playbook_2-17-14.pdf

http://www.aia.org/aiaucmp/groups/aia/documents/pdf/aiab089276.pdf

http://archgo.com/index.php/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=316:chi%20ldrens-center-for-psychiatric-rehabilitation-sou-fujimoto&catid=56:hospital&Itemid=100



http://www.architecture.com/RIBA/Aboutus/SustainabilityHub/Sustainability.aspx

http://www.theedgemalaysia.com/property/200389-belum-rainforestresorts-2nd-phase-to-be-ready-in-2013.html

http://www.theedgemalaysia.com/property/200389-belum-rainforestresorts-2nd-phase-to-be-ready-in-2013.html




Lawson, B. (2001). The Language of Space. Jordan Hill: Architectural Press.

- This is a book about the people reaction towards a space.

Parr, A., Zaretsky, M. (2011). New Directions in Sustainable Design. New York:

Routledge.

- The book shows how space can affect the sustainability of a building.

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