3. RESEARCH QUESTIONS:
1. Why open layout plan is consider as an effective nature driven approach
in tropical climate?
2. What are the strategies implemented by Deck House to reduce the
negative impact on the site context?
3. How does the design elements act as solutions to help in solving heat gain
problem in Deck House?
4. This paper show the integration between contemporary Deck House Janda Baik with
Malay vernacular architecture to achieve thermal comfort in tropical climate. The main objective of
this paper is to investigate the open layout plan used to reduce heat gain in Deck House. Deck House
is a light-looking structure build on the hill using mainly steel and glass. It is designed based on the
surrounding context and climate which will influence the design, layout and materials of the building.
One of the main features that can be seen in Deck House is the open layout plan. Build in the middle
of rainforest, Deck house uses open layout plan, which have minimal partitions wall to allow good
ventilation to occur. The traditional open layout plan let the air to circulate throughout the interior
spaces and remove the heat in the room faster. Based on the semi-outdoor concept, the open space
living, dining and kitchen areas are connected to the deck which can enjoy the view of nature. In
assisting the validation of research, literature reviews based on various sources regarding open
layout plan design was conducted to enhance the process. To further remove the heat gain, there are
few solutions that used in the Deck House. The first solutions is the openings(ventilation) in buildings.
Deck House uses louvers at ceiling height, operable windows and sliding door to maximize natural
ventilation. The large overhang roof aid in sun shading and rainfall. For the material, Deck House
used light weight materials such as steel, glass, and timber. The building design are focus on
ventilation and shading. Deck House elevated on the site, without changing much on the contour and
blend in with nature. The orientation of Deck House are design according to the sun path and wind
pattern in the site. (Vernacular Architecture, 'Malay Houses'. N.p., 2011)
ABSTRACT:
5. Research question 1:
Why open layout plan is
consider as an effective
nature driven approach in
tropical climate?
6. Research question 1:
Why open layout plan is consider as an effective nature driven approach in tropical climate?
Research Methods: Literature Review Methods:
-Document Analysis
- Floor plans
-Observation
- Digital camera
- Thermal measurement (thermometer)
Data Analysis:
Comparison:
Traditional Malay House Deck House
- Elongated open plan of the traditional houses allow easy
passage of air and good cross ventilation
- Absence of portions or solid wall
-Divided into areas, rather than rooms, for various social
and household activities.
-Uses traditional vernacular layout plan as a design guide
in arranging spaces
- Less partition walls found in the house
- Open space living, dining and kitchen connect to open
deck area.
7. Importance and advantages of open layout plan:
1. more open wide space
2. better ventilation
3. natural light
4. healthy and nature indoor environment
The concept of ventilation in the
Malay traditional house is a
combination of three approaches
which are ventilation from top,
bottom and cross ventilation at
body level.
The less partition walls in Deck
House allow ventilation at body
level to occur efficiently. The body
level is the most vital area for
ventilation for comfort. Traditional
house and Deck House allow
ventilation at the body level by
having full length full operable
windows and doors at body level.
8. Traditional Malay house
Deck House
From the photos we can see that Deck House are
applying the traditional Malay house building
layout into design. The living area are connecting
to dining and kitchen area, with no partition wall in
between.
9. Synthesis:
Conclusion:
Deck house integrates successful with traditional Malay house open layout plan. The use of
open layout plan in Deck House help to achieve good ventilation throughout the day. The less
partition walls create no obstacles to cross ventilation and views to outside. Also, the interior
spaces are flooded with light like most of the traditional Malay house.
Deck house uses traditional Malay house plan as a guide to design the building layout. The
Deck house is open layout plan with less partitions wall, high ceiling and close to nature. The
open plan allow the cross ventilation to occur in the building throughout the day. To further
improve the thermal comfort in the building, selection of materials and buildings design should
be considered. This will be explain in the following slides.
10. Research question 2:
What are the strategies
implemented by Deck House to
reduce the negative impact on
the site context?
11. Research question 2:
What are the strategies implemented by Deck House to reduce the negative impact on the site
context?
Research Methods:
-Document Analysis
- Section drawings
-Observation
- Digital camera
Data Analysis:
Comparison:
Traditional Malay House Deck House
Elevated to:
-Prevents floods and animals
- provide privacy
-Catches winds of higher velocity
Trees to:
-Provide shading
- Privacy
- Do not block wind passage
Elevated to:
-Not changing much on site contour
- Nature hydrology
- Catch wind at high velocity
Trees to:
-Shading
- Maintain the most of the trees
- Wind velocity
12. Advantages of elevated buildings :
1. Less impact to site
2. Ventilation
Just like vernacular house, deck house elevated on the site, without
changing much on the contour. The elevated design has less impact to
the original site context and also the hydrology. The elevated Deck
House allow well ventilation to occur in higher velocity. The double
volume of space allow the air to circulate well in their interior, and bring
much amount of daylight into building.
As we can see, interior of Deck House are bright
without on the lighting.
13. Advantages and use of vegetation:
In traditional Malay house, the coconut trees and other
tall trees are use to provide good shade and also it does
not block the passage of winds at the house level.
In deck house, the forest trees are avoid being cut. As
trees can provide privacy and do not block winds flow,
Deck house can be build open to nature. Trees are
uses for shading, to reduce the temperature
surrounding.
14. Synthesis:
Conclusion:
Just like traditional Malay houses, Deck House are build considering the site context. With
the elevated structure, the contour was not affected much and so does the hydrology on site.
The tress on site are mostly maintained. User in Deck House can have enough privacy,
shading and also the beautiful views into the nature. My suggestion is to have a social space
at the deck, to let the users spend time outdoor enjoy the nature.
By applied traditional Malay house elevated feature into design, the site was not affected
much. The stilts help the building to look more attractive, beside from its function. Elevated
above the ground let the building to catch wind into interior more efficiently. The trees in the
surrounding not only provide shading to the building, but it also provide sense of privacy to
the house.
15. Research question 3:
How does the design elements
act as solutions to help in
solving heat gain problem in
Deck House?
16. Research question 3:
How does the design elements act as solutions to help in solving heat gain problem in Deck House?
Research Methods:
Literature Review Methods:
-Document Analysis
- Floor plans
- Materials used
-Section drawings
-
-Observation
- Digital camera
- Thermal measurement (thermometer)
17. Data Analysis:
Comparison:
Traditional Malay House Deck House
Materials
-Light weight timber frame structure
-Timber or woven bamboo walls and screenings.
-Design:
- Elevated floors
- sloping long roof with large overhangs
- minimize area of east-west orientation
Openings:
- louvered windows
- Door and windows
Materials:
-Steel frame structure
- Vast use of glass
- concrete and timber
Design:
-Elevated Floors
- Large overhang roof
- minimize area of east west orientation
- building build consider of wind pattern.
Openings:
-Louvered windows
- Doors and window
Research question 3:
How does the design elements act as solutions to help in solving heat gain problem in
Deck House?
18. Openings:
1. Louvers 2. Doors and windows
Louvers are integrate into building design. The
aluminum louvers not only protect interior space
from excessive heat, it also allowing excellent air
and air exchange during day and night time. The use
of full length full operable windows can be open
during daytime for cross ventilation. It also design for
people to close to nature.
The large overhang roof provide good protection
against driving rain, provide good shading and allow
window to be left open most of the time for
ventilation.
19. Orientation:
Traditional Malay house are often orientated to face Mecca for religious reasons. The east-
west orientation minimize areas exposed to sun radiation. In contemporary Deck House, the
longer facade is north-south facade with more openings to allow air flow directly into the
building; while the shorter facade is east-west facade with less openings.
20. Materials:
Traditional Malay house Deck House
STEEL GLASS
CONCRETE
TIMBE
R
The construction of Malay vernacular house are using lightweight timber-framed structure with low thermal
capacity materials to keep the house cool. In contemporary Deck House, it uses modern materials such as steel-
frame structure, glass and concrete. The concrete are mainly used to build stilts in Deck house, to withstand the
load of the building. The steel-frame structure itself are light weight, and also suitable for the climate on site. The
uses of glass allow no obstacle to view the nature.
21. Synthesis:
Conclusion:
To further reduce hear gain into the building except from open plan, Deck House take considerations
of its building design, openings and materials use in the house. The strategies used had helped Deck
House to achieve cooling effect. My suggestion to the Deck House is add more full operable windows
into the building instead of fixed window for some area in the house.
Deck House uses lots of openings as traditional Malay house. The openings in Deck House are
covered by large overhang roof in Deck House, which can allow the operable windows to open
throughout day time for ventilations, without worry about the exposure of direct sunlight into
interior. Deck House maximize north-south facade with more openings. The materials used in
Deck House are lightweight and suitable to climate on site even though it uses modern
materials. These strategies had helped Deck House to reduce heat gain into building.
22. Elements Malay Vernacular Deck House
Building materials Local materials, wood,
bamboo
Steel, glass, concrete,
timber
Climate concern Yes Yes
Contextual response Yes Yes
Lighting good Very good
views Certain area Large area (glass)
Ventilation Roof space, body level,
stilts
Louvers near ceiling,
body level, stilts
Conclusion:
Deck House has designed climatically, by following the basic requirements of traditional Malay
house design. The Deck House boasts an uncluttered and unassuming interior, flooded by light,
like most of the traditional Malay houses. The open space living, dining and kitchen areas are
connected to the deck which can enjoy the view of nature. The using of vernacular architecture
elements to build deck house had allow the building itself to achieve thermal comfort without
using technological systems. The Deck House applied a lot of ventilations and shading in its
design. the building well designed to blend in with the surrounding and rooted in local tradition.
People can truly feel the harmony with nature even it is in modern design.
23. References:
Admin, Habitat. 'Deck House In Janda Baik'. Habitat-my.com. N.p., 2015. Web. 25 Sept. 2015.
Retrieved from: http://www.habitat-my.com/house-renovation-design/315-deck-house-in-janda-baik
Chan, M. 'The Deck House - Malaysia Premier Property And Real Estate Portal'. Malaysia Premier Property and
Real Estate Portal. N.p., 2012. Web. 24 Sept. 2015.From:
http://www.starproperty.my/index.php/articles/living/the-deck-house/
S.K., Kamarul. Climatic design of the traditional Malay house to meet the requirements of modern living. N.p., 2015.
Web. 21 Sept. 2015. From: http://anzasca.net/wp-content/uploads/2014/08/ANZAScA2004_Kamal.pdf
.Sahabuddin, F. 'Chapter 2: Malaysian Vernacular Architecture And Its Relationship To Climate'. Academia.edu. N.p., 2015.
Web. 29 Sept. 2015. From:
http://www.academia.edu/2377416/Chapter_2_Malaysian_Vernacular_Architecture_and_Its_Relationship_to_
Climate
Vernacular Architecture,. 'Malay Houses'. N.p., 2011. Web. 23 Sept. 2015
Retrieved from: https://vernaculararchitecture.wordpress.com/2011/12/30/helloworld/#comments
