the effects of orientation, ventilation and thermal effects of materials on the thermal performance...

The Effects of Orientation, Ventilation and Thermal Effects of Materials on the Thermal

Performance of S11 House

ARC 2213/2234 Asian Architecture 1

Asian Architecture [ARC 2213/2234]

PROJECT 1: CASE STUDY

The Effects of Orientation, Ventilation and Thermal

Effects of Materials on the Thermal Performance of S11

House

NAME: YAP ZHONG LIN

STUDENT ID: 0310557

LECTURER: MS. SHAHRIANNE

SUBMISSION DATE: 9th of June, 2015




The Effects of Orientation, Ventilation and Thermal Effects

of Materials on the Thermal Performance of S11 House

Table of Contents Page

Abstract ................................................................................................................................ 3

1.0 Introduction ......................................................................................................4 - 4

2.0 Climate in Malaysia .............................................................................................. 5

3.0 Natural Ventilation ...........................................................................................7 - 8

3.1 How Is S11 House Natural Ventilated

4.0 Thermal Effect of Materials ........................................................................ 10 - 12

4.1 Lightweight VS Heavy Weight Materials

5.0 Usage of Landscape .......................................................................................... 15

6.0 Conclusion .................................................................................................. 15 - 16

7.0 References ......................................................................................................... 18




Abstract

Tropical architecture is designed to achieve thermal comfort through the use of design

elements, such as sunshades, cavity walls, light shelves, overhangs, roof and wall

insulation and even shading from trees. The design principles of tropical architecture

include: regional evaluation; climatic elements; site selection; sol-air orientation; solar

control on the environment and building; forms, wind effects and air flow patterns;

thermal effects of materials; and heliothermic planning. In addition, maximum cross

ventilation, natural lighting, louvers and natural materials are key elements for

optimizing natural ventilation to cool tropical buildings. In the approach to thermal

comfort issues arise relating to the consumption of resources, which leads us to the

issue of sustainability that came from other fields to architecture: “It was not in

architecture that the term sustainability was Introduced for the first time. Already by the

end of the 1980's, the term "sustainability" was used extensively in the economics field

in reference to development for criticizing Earlier models of economic growth for

nations or regions that had favoured fast returns and accelerated growth, while

disregarding that in the long-run they were depleting 2 irreplaceable resources - the

very resources upon Their growth is largely dependent upon.” (Baweja, 2008). In S11

House, the design intention is to enable maximum usage of natural ventilation. Day-

lighting also plays a key role in the design intention, making use of Malaysia's climate

which is long daytime hours and relatively bright climate. The S11 House has a clear

north-south orientation for all its openings and windows. The east and west walls were

deliberate void of any significant glazed openings and were constructed out of better

insulated aerated lightweight concrete blocks. S11 House displays immaculate usage

of various systems in order to achieve sustainability in architecture by implementing

various natural ventilation and day-lighting systems thus the precise use of materials to

minimize heat absorption throughout the house.




1.0 Introduction

S11 House is a family bungalow where it is located in an established older

suburb of Petaling Jaya, Malaysia. Moreover, S11 House is also awarded as

Malaysia’s first GBI Platinum (DA) rated residential home. The Architect, Dr Tan Loke

Mun of ArchiCentre Sdn Bhd owned and designed S11 House, and the house is an

award winning home comprises a wide range of green elements in its design and

construction.

In the early 1960's, the existing old house on the site was built. Thus, the house

had become dilapidated and run-down over the years. Moreover, there were five

significant existing trees on the site which are three very old and sculptural frangipanis,

a coconut palm tree and a large star-fruit. Yet, all these old existing trees were retained

and the new house which is S11 House was set in the midst of them. Architect Tan

Loke Mun designed it in a new green tropical house for the site and conceptualized it

along the line of the existing trees when he and his wife, Chew May-Ann decide to buy

the old house.

S11 House is a three-storey bungalow residential home, which comprise of 5+1

bedrooms and six bathrooms. Significantly, the house has a north-south orientation for

all its openings and windows. There is a the double-volume family room is located on

the first floor. Thus, the 7m height with full sliding glass walls facilitate maximum cross

ventilation whilst also opening up the entire internal living space unto the outdoor deck.

This paper will investigate natural ventilation and day-lighting systems in S11

House, specifically on how and why they were implemented in the structure by

responding to the following research questions:




1. What are the design principles of Tropical Architecture in Malaysia?

2. What was the main design intention of S11 House in prospects of tropical

design to achieve sustainability?

3. How has specific design elements been used to cater for various

rooms/spaces/functions in order to maximize the natural ventilation?

4. How is the spatial planning of the house designed in such a way as to provide

natural ventilation throughout the house?

5. How has the design methodology induced the usage of landscape as a building

element and how has this been implemented to react to the various weather

conditions such as wind, light, and rain?




2.0 Climate in Malaysia

Nowadays, the concerns over global warming and need for reduction of high

emission of greenhouse gases, demand the utilization of strategies for indoor

environment (Givoni, 1994). Furthermore, due to the macro feature of Malaysia are

humid atmosphere, extends periods of even overheating and low diurnal temperature

range, light winds and still air may cause the users feel uncomfortable. This is

regarding the high amount of water vapour in this climate absorbs more of solar

radiation. Overheated building interior are common due to solar penetration through the

buildings envelope and windows (Rajapaksha et al, 2003). One of the common

typologies in Malaysia are Terrace houses residential buildings which also facing these

problems. So far, there are many bioclimatic design strategies have been proposed in

different studies. Most of them are also used in practice (Budaiwi, 2006). For example

maximize filtered air movement, speed up winds; minimize humidity and avoid mould

growth thus provide maximum shade, especially in late morning and all afternoon.

There are many aspects to consider and to make use of the natural

environment such as sun orientation; solar radiation (incidence of the sun); wind

orientation; difference of pressure; stack effect; local materials and vegetation. In this

case study, we are focusing on the effects of orientation and ventilation on the thermal

performance of S11 House.




3.0 Natural Ventilation System

By reducing the need for mechanical ventilation and air conditioning, natural

ventilation is clearly a valuable tool for sustainable development as it relies only on

natural air movement, and can save significant amounts of fossil fuel based energy.

Moreover, reducing electrical energy used for cooling contributes to the reduction of

greenhouse gas emissions from the electrical generating plant providing the energy.

From the earliest times building designers have made use of naturally induced air

movement to address two basic needs in buildings: the removal of foul air and moisture,

and personal thermal comfort. In traditional Malay house, the elevation of the house

and also its many windows, holed carvings and slatted panels around the walls plus the

high thatch or clay tile roofs all contribute to the cooling ambience for natural ventilation

as shown in Figure 1. By achieving natural ventilation, there are principal factors

affecting natural air movement around and within buildings such as the site and local

landscaping features; the building form and building envelope design and the internal

planning and room design.

Figure 1: Ventilation in Traditional Malay House




3.1 How S11 House is Natural Ventilated?

To ensure that the entire building of S11 House is sufficiently ventilated, the

designer has included various elements and detailing in order to objectively circulate

the indoor and outdoor air.

In the interior of S11 House, it is clear north-south orientated as shown in

Figure 2. So it captured plenty of light through all it windows and openings thus leaving

a cross-ventilation effect. The designer of S11 House had heightening of the structures

in order to accommodate for a better hot air

flow out of the structure. This prevents the

air in the structure from becoming too

enclosed thus becoming too stifling.

Through the implementation of this design

element, the roof is raised up to 7 meters

above the user and may be fully covered to

create shelter against sun and rain while

the walls are partially open in order to

ventilate the structure. The double volume

family room is located on the first floor and

the 7-meter-high full sliding glass walls.

Figure 3: Ground Floor Plan highlighting

double volume living room.

Source: ArchiCentre

Figure 2: Building orientation to minimize solar heat gain




S11 House makes use of fully operable glass windows in order to help in

ventilating its spaces. Figure 6 shows the sliding doors in S11 House which also

achived ventilation. These windows serve as both shelter during rainfall, allow daylight

to enter the building, while at the same time may be opened in order to ventilate the

structure. Other than windows, the designers of S11 House also built in air vents

between the building roofing and its walls as shown in Figure 5, constructed to let out

hot air from within the structure. These elements combine in order to form a system

called stack ventilation, where hot air rises

within the building and is then both let out

through the vents and at the same time be

replaced by cooler outside air entering through

the windows. The need for air-conditioning is

further minimised by a series of wind turbines

that provide stack ventilation.

Figure 4: Raised up roof Figure 5: Open walls Figure 6: Operable Windows

Figure 7: Stack Ventilation

Figure 8: Front Elevation showing operable windows Source: ArchiCentre

Operable

Windows




4.0 Thermal Effect of Materials

The definition of thermal mass is the basic characteristic of materials with

thermal mass. It is their ability to absorb heat or cool, store it, and release it later.

U‐value is defined as the rate of heat lost or gained through a fabric. On warm

countries, walls and floors with thermal mass will steadily absorb heat at their surface.

Thus, storing the heat until exposed to the cooler air of the evening and night by

conducting it inwards. Then, heat will begin to travel back to the surface and be

released at this point. Response to the change in day and night-time conditions, heat

also travels in a wave-like motion alternately being absorbed and released. By

responding naturally to changing conditions, it helps stabilise the internal temperature

and provides a largely self-regulating environment yet reducing the risk of overheating

and the need for mechanical cooling.

In this chapter, we will discuss about the selection of materials used in different

elevation. Thus, the thermal effect of materials such as absorbing and releasing heat

which will affect the thermal comfort of the users of S11 House are also studied.




4.1 Lightweight Materials VS Heavyweight Materials

1. The east-west wall material should be low in heat capacity and high in thermal

insulation. Low heat capacity wall panel allows a little amount of heat absorption,

while high thermal insulation allows a little amount of heat transferred through

the material.

2. The east-west wall material should have good direct reflection or screening

solar radiation to reduce direct heat gain.

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

glazed openings and were constructed out of better insulated aerated lightweight

concrete blocks. Significantly, openings such as windows and doors have a large

impact on the thermal performance of the building envelope. The use of productivity

and comfort of the people who occupy the building may also strongly influence by

openings. Study reported by Jinghua Yu (2006) showed that heat gain through the

exterior window accounts for 25 - 28% of the total heat gain, adding to the infiltration. It

Lightweight Heavyweight

Low thermal mass High thermal mass

React more quickly & follow external

temperatures

React slowly dampening internal

temperature response

Figure 9: Lightweight VS Heavyweight Materials




is up to 40 % (Yang and Yu, 2002) in hot summer and cold winter zone. Furthermore,

glazed windows have becoming an important component in contemporary architectural

style. Glazed windows also offer a visual communication with outdoors thus reducing a

structural load and enhance aesthetic yet allowing natural light. The glazed opening in

S11 House were coated in heat reflecting paint. In addition, it is also shaded by a wire

netting screen wall of fruit and vegetable climbers as shown in Figure 10. By using this

strategies, it helps reduce much of the heat gain through the east and west walls.

Preferably, the use of lightweight construction materials with low thermal mass

is more suitable in tropical climate, particularly on walls that are exposed to the sun.

This is because lightweight construction materials such as timber, respond quickly to

cooling breezes allowing the building to cool faster. The large tree-like canopy roof in

S11 House is constructed out of lightweight recyclable profiled steel metal sheets

Wire Netting Screen

Figure 10: Left Elevation highlighting Wire Netting Screen

Source: ArchiCentre

Figure 11: Brick walls arranged to

allow natural ventilation

Figure 12: Concrete plaster ceilings and walls




coated in a light off-white colour to minimize heat absorption. Additionally, bare natural

finishes — raw off-form concrete walls and ceilings, cement plastered walls without

paint, and natural fair-faced common red clay brickwork are used in majority of the

house. Stonework for bathrooms, driveway and ground floor living areas all come from

project rejects.

At the two extreme north-south ends, an external water storage tank is used as

heat storage in S11 House. The designers located the swimming pool and koi pond to

provide evaporative cooling for the house. Thus, it is protected from solar gain can also

be used to absorb heat. Studies showed that heat from the interior space must be able

to move into the water where it can be dissipated or removed by cooling breezes. As

water has very high conductivity thus the use of water as a thermal mass for passive

heating is very effective. It is an excellent medium for thermal storage yet it must be

contained in drums or other containers and be placed within the design so that is

heated by the solar gain.

Figure 13: Koi pond Figure 14: Swimming pool




5.0 Usage of Landscape

As has been mentioned, studies prove that vegetation also has modifying

effects of microclimatic conditions surrounding the buildings. Thus, lower buildings are

shaded by trees and absorbs reflective heat from sunlight. Some knowledge of the

character and abundance of vegetation is also necessary because it is generally

regarded as a function of climate, it can influence the local or microclimate [Konya

1980]. There were five significant existing trees on the site of S11 House as shown in

Figure 15. The trees were remained and the new house was set in the midst of them.

Black water is treated in an onsite sewerage treatment plant and the recycled water is

used for garden irrigation. Furthermore, all new trees and plants are tropical natives

which are generally

maintenance free and suitable

for the Malaysian climate. In

such hot and humid climate, the

trees shading are very effective.

Trees shading can create cool

and dark micro-climate. On the

other hand, vegetation is the

most desirable as a radiation

absorbent surface and for its

evaporative and shade

properties. Yet, air circulation

should not be destruct by the

arrangement of trees on site.

Figure 15: Floor Plan highlighting trees on site

Source: ArchiCentre




7.0 Conclusion

Based on the research done and information gathered, it can be concluded that

the architect of S11 House has successfully incorporated both natural ventilation and

selection of materials by using passive design elements throughout the entire house.

This is not an easy task as many aspects had to be taken into consideration such as

the climate, construction details, costs, aesthetics, and user comfort.

Thus, this case study allowed us to understand that building ventilation is

necessary in providing acceptable indoor air quality (IAQ) where it is a process of

supplying fresh air and removing or diluting indoor pollution concentration. People are

trying to rely more on natural ventilation to achieve better indoor air quality and thermal

comfort with an rising awareness of energy saving lately. However, due to not much of

air movement via wind driven in high density urban area like Petaling Jaya, stack effect

is seems to be more reliable than cross ventilation. The designer of S11 House used

wind turbines combined with steel framed glazed pyramid built onto the roof to achieve

stack ventilation. Stack ventilating phenomenon is generated by the differences of

inside and outside air pressure to create air flow through its upper most and lowest

building openings. Thus, stack effect ventilation is highly depending on the size of the

openings which will influence the air pressure inside the building. It is not easy to

achieve stack ventilation. There are many aspects to consider such as by controlling

the neutral plane level in the house by the sizes of the openings is essential in driving

the air in and out. In order to contribute to the amount of air driven through the process,

the height between the upper most and lowest openings should be considered. In

tropical countries, it is important to maintain the indoor temperature lower than the

outdoor temperature to keep the pressure difference for wind flow besides providing

indoor thermal comfort to the occupants.




More over, the second chapter discussed about the selection of materials in a

building. Building material design in tropical area plays important rule in thermal

environment. An inappropriate using of building material will reduce the quality of

environment and raise another negative implication such as higher energy

consumption. From the building material of S11 House such as lightweight concrete,

stones, bricks, recyclable profiled steel metal sheets and others in conjunction with the

thermal environment studies, we conclude that:

Heavyweight building material is inappropriate for east and west wall of

buildings due to its high heat capacity that could change the outdoor

thermal environment.

Lightweight building material such as glass and metal sheet are also

inappropriate for east-west wall of building due to its heat transmission

through the building.

East-west wall of buildings need special design concept that differ with

north-south wall material due to the nature of sun path in the tropics.

In conclusion, there are still a lot of factors that may contribute in enhancing the

natural ventilation. Thus. ventilation itself may not be sufficient to provide thermal

comfort for the user in the interior space as it may also involve the relative humidity of

the air and the temperature itself. Likewise, cooling process for human is not only relied

on the air temperature yet also involve the sensible heat cooling which very much

related to the activities held in the room. Moreover, different approach in providing a

good thermal condition of the building may depends on different setting and location of

the building. From the case study, it is clear that tropical design elements can be plays

an important role in bungalow house. As tropical architecture is readily incorporated in

bungalow houses in order to provide thermal comfort for the user by minimize the use




of air conditioning. Therefore, tropical designs have two primary benefits which are the

need for air conditioning is minimised and the housing expresses a local character.

Architects must take responsibility to the quality of thermal environment through

their design. Specifically, the wide scheme of design put the building material design

into its concepts and consideration. Above all, this case study proved that more care

should be taken in the primary stage of design to avoid any opening in east or west

direction, unless there is need for that. In this case, intensive consideration should be

taken for the following variables such as using thermal insulation for the exterior walls

with less U value; select a proper shading devices and select a type of glass that have

small U value, to minimize solar penetration.




8.0 References

Evans. M. (1980). Housing, Climate and Comfort. The Architectural Press, London

Edward Ng. et al., (2005). Towards Better Wind, Daylight and Natural Ventilation for

Building And Urban Spaces in Ultra Dense Cities – An Experience From Hong Kong.

Conference Proceeding of The 2005 World Sustainable Building Conference, 27-29

September 2005, Tokyo, Japan.

Fuad H. Mallick, (1996), Thermal Comfort and Building Design in The Tropical Climates,

Energy and Buildings 23 pp 161-167.

Koeningsberger. O. H. Ingersoll. T. G., Mayhew, A. and Szokolay. S. V; (1973) Manual

of Tropical Housing and Building: Part 1. Climatic Design. Longman, London, 1973.

S11 House by ArchiCentre | HomeDSGN. (2013, January 22). Retrieved June 1, 2015,

from http://www.homedsgn.com/2013/01/22/s11-house-by-archicentre/

Syed Fadzil, S.F. and Sia Sheau J. (2004). Sunlight control and daylight distribution

analysis: the KOMTAR case study. Building and Environment, 39 (6), 713-717.

Thermal mass and Designing for Heating and Cooling. (n.d.). Retrieved June 2, 2015,

from http://www.level.org.nz/passive-design/thermal-mass/thermal-mass-design/

Tropical architecture. (2011, December 6). Retrieved June 2, 2015, from

http://business.inquirer.net/19613/tropical-architecture

UNITWIN / UNESCO Chairs Programme. (2013, August 26). Retrieved May 26, 2015,

from http://www.unesco.org/en/unitwin/access-by-region/asia-and-thepacific/

australia/unesco-chair-in-tropical-architecture-14

http://www.homedsgn.com/2013/01/22/s11-house-by-archicentre/

http://www.level.org.nz/passive-design/thermal-mass/thermal-mass-design/

http://business.inquirer.net/19613/tropical-architecture

http://www.unesco.org/en/unitwin/access-by-region/asia-and-thepacific/%20australia/unesco-chair-in-tropical-architecture-14

http://www.unesco.org/en/unitwin/access-by-region/asia-and-thepacific/%20australia/unesco-chair-in-tropical-architecture-14

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