What is a value of a design if it was purely built for aesthetics and no critical function quality. Just like how we can fantasize about our perfect partner, someone with beauty AND brains, as architects we can actually study and build-your-own perfect partner building through the help of this module.
Building Science 1 introduces a more critical thinking part of building design, regarding on how as architects stimulate and control human sensations while in and around the building. Passive building designs are the core of maintaining and enhancing human body temperature through many factors. And what better way to learn all these than actually go out and have a case study on Malaysia's first Green Building Index Platinum rated house that won the Tropical Building Category of the Asean Energy Awards: The S11 House located at Petaling Jaya.
As there are many passive design qualities, we decided to concentrate on 2 main factors: The Vegetation Shading and Cross Ventilation. Climbers plant are found at east and west sides of the building, providing shading against the sun's radiating heat. Recordings are made through observations and documented outdoor and indoor temperatures for comparisons.
There is also an obvious cross-ventilation strategy used on the first floor of the building where the openings are orientated according to local climate conditions. Wind Rose Diagrams and Vasari software are used to explain and justify our findings.
Below are our S11 House case study boards that went through many amendments and tutorial advises.
 |
| Board 1 (Vegetation Shading) |
 |
| Board 2 (Cross-Ventilation)
Understanding the science behind building design is clearly expected in this architecture course, but it was not as easy as I had in mind. We are highly dependable on simulations and software skills to provide a better understanding of the building, but for now as students, it is the best for us to acquire basic foundation knowledge of the building science.
|
