AAProjct 1

Asian Architecture [ARC 60403] PROJECT 1: CASE STUDY

The Adaptation of Traditional Malay House in Modern Ting Residence as an Architectural Representation of Contemporary Sustainable Housing Design in Country Heights, Damansara, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia.

NAME:

Tan Cui Zhi

STUDENT ID:

0320826

LECTURERS:

Mr. Koh Jing Hao Ms. Nurul Alia Binti Ahamad Ms. Shahrianne Mohd Shah (Tutor) Ms. Nor Hayati Binti Ramli

SUBMISSION DATE:

9 June 2015

The Adaptation of Traditional Malay House in Modern Ting Residence as an Architectural Representation of Contemporary Sustainable Housing Design in Country Heights, Damansara, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia. _____________________________________________________________________________________________

The Adaptation of Traditional Malay House in Modern Ting Residence as an Architectural Representation of Contemporary Sustainable Housing Design in Country Heights, Damansara, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia.

Table of Contents:

Page

Abstract ……………………………………………………………………………………………….... 01 Acknowledgements ……………………………………………………………………………………. 02 1.0 Introduction ………………………………………………………………………………. 03 2.0 The Environmental Context of Ting Residence ...…………………………………….. 05 3.0 Natural Ventilation in the Traditional Malay House ……….………………………….. 07 3.1 Internal Layout Plan ……………………………………………………………. 09 3.2 Raised Floor …………………………………………………………………….. 10 3.3 Openings ………………………………………………………………………… 11 3.4 Site Conditioning ………………………………………………………………… 12 4.0 The Adaptation in modern Ting Residence …………………………………………… 13 4.1 Internal Layout Plan …………………………………………………………..… 14 4.2 Raised Floor ……………………………………………………………………… 16 4.3 Openings …………………………………………………………………………. 17 4.4 Site Conditioning …………………………………………………………………. 18 5.0 Similarities or Differences ……..……………………………………………………..… 18 6.0 Conclusion ……………………………………………………………………………….. 19 Reference ……………………………………………….…………………………………………….... 20 Appendix …………………….………………………………………………………………………….. 21

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The Adaptation of Traditional Malay House in Modern Ting Residence as an Architectural Representation of Contemporary Sustainable Housing Design in Country Heights, Damansara, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia. _____________________________________________________________________________________________

Abstract The purpose of doing this comparative study using the traditional Malay house (rumah kampong) and the contemporary case study house is to identify the intelligence of Malaysian in adaptation with its local climate conditions and advanced technology with the backdrop of a rich natural environment, historical heritage, ethnic traditions, and multi-cultural diversity of its Malay, Chinese, Indian and other Malaysian citizens. The design features of the traditional Malay house has the key for sustainable housing in encouraging the circulation of the air in and around the dwelling and hence achieving a comfort and well natural ventilated house which suit the warm and humid Malaysian climate. In assisting the validation of this research study, many references based on various authorized sources regarding the climatic and environmental design, and the traditional Malay house, as well as an in-depth interview with Wooi Lok Kuang (Principal Architect) at Wooi Residence were carried out. This knowledge acquiring process was conducted to enhance the literature review and to present the issue based on the substantive findings and understanding gained through the significant design of the traditional Malay house and it’s adaptation on the selected contemporary case study building in the sustainable design context.

The traditional Malay house is fundamentally a timber post-and-lintel structure with wooden walls and thatch roof elevated above the ground supported by stilts. It has an open internal layout lavished with large windows, and ample fenestrations. And from its terrain and surrounding, the Malay builders observed various trees grow, having its particular structural properties and physical characteristic, attributed in finding and shaping the suitable house-building. Further my paper will discuss about the adaptation of these design features of traditional Malay house in the selected contemporary case study building taken as an architectural representation of Malaysian modern house in the current era of advanced technology that is Ting Residence by Ar. Wooi Lok Kuang (Principal Architect at Wooi Architect). While inheriting the features of Malay vernacular architecture, modern Ting Residence overcomes its ground topographically challenge by the integration of building plan to its nature surroundings, slope and trees and successful elicited gasps of admiration of environmental comfort and poetic space. This research results indicate that Ting Residence has evolve from the Malay vernacular architecture into one of the Malaysian sustainable cultural heritage in the modern architecture context. Therefore the traditional Malay house should be kept as a legacy reference of sustainable architecture to the generation after generation on sustainable building.

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The Adaptation of Traditional Malay House in Modern Ting Residence as an Architectural Representation of Contemporary Sustainable Housing Design in Country Heights, Damansara, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia. _____________________________________________________________________________________________

Acknowledgements

I would like to extend my gratitude to all my lecturers, tutors, classmates, friends, and families for their effort, support and guidance that has render to me unconditionally during the processes of completing this literature review, as well as perfecting and equipping me with the skills, knowledge, and insight to be a decent and proper architect in the upcoming generation.

It is also a pleasure to acknowledge the contribution of Ar. Wooi Lok Kuang having us at His resident to conduct an interview (me and my fellow course mates might have asked some silly questions), nevertheless he was both patient and stimulating to test our ideas of sustainability, vernacular, indigenous in architecture. Of course to thank Sumit, Syazleen, and Megat for the transport and interview arrangement.

Over this year, Janice has been a calm and encouraging sister in my architecture journey for her administrative skill and spirit have been invaluable. Thank you. Olive has been staying by my side despite my errors. And I count this irreplaceable whom their companions too had received me gracefully.

Finally, it is perhaps most appropriate to acknowledge the last crucial discussion I have with Mr. Koh Jing Hao whom have delivered me out from the lost and confusion in my research study.

Thank You.

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The Adaptation of Traditional Malay House in Modern Ting Residence as an Architectural Representation of Contemporary Sustainable Housing Design in Country Heights, Damansara, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia. _____________________________________________________________________________________________

1.0 Introduction When one travel to the rural area of Malaysia countryside, one will come to the rural settlements which are called villages (or kampongs in Bahasa Malaysia). In those days, the traditional Malay house (rumah kampong) was just simple domestic yet functional residence of the Malays with a direct dependence on nature for its resources and embodying a deep knowledge of ecological balances. These houses are fundamentally a timber post-and-lintel structure with wooden walls and thatch roof elevated above the ground supported by stilts. It has an open plan lavished with large windows and fenestrations. To appreciate the climatic adaptations of the traditional Malay house, one must first understand the climatic and environmental conditions that the house is set in.

Thomas and Garnham (2007) responds to sustainable architecture starts at the site, what its geology and history have made it, and it is the habitat of plants insects, birds and animals. And from the external environment of the traditional Malay house its terrain and surrounding, the Malay builders observed how birds built their nests selecting their material from branches and twigs that were at hand and not from distant places. They also observed various trees grow, having its particular structural properties and physical characteristic, attributed in finding and shaping the suitable house-building. The surroundings and the climate were conceivably the most important influence on the form of the Malay house in a tropical climate which has a hot and humid weather the whole year round and the ground are damp and flood is often the natural phenomenon.

Rumah kampong has marked down Malaysian’s history long prior to the arrivals of colonial. By knowing its historical and cultural value, most of them were preserved and being adapted to use until today. Many studies were done on these traditional Malay houses based on their method of construction, building materials, spatial composition, and etc. Whereas this case study will based on the natural factor of ventilation adapted from the traditional Malay house. Some Malay vernacular architecture were being modified and reconstructed recently by adding in a contemporary savory to solve the disadvantages of traditional building system and suit the modern lifestyle of the people living in the city. At the present, we see Ting Residence placed in the Country Heights of Damansara, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia as a result combines traditional forms and innovative environmental engineering in response to the new demands and new technologies in the context of contemporary sustainable architecture. _____________________________________________________________________________________________ Asian Architecture [ARC 60403] / March 2015 Page 03

The Adaptation of Traditional Malay House in Modern Ting Residence as an Architectural Representation of Contemporary Sustainable Housing Design in Country Heights, Damansara, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia. _____________________________________________________________________________________________

Interestingly, architecture is inextricably bound up with place, just the same it is bound to the architect. Wooi studied under renowned Australian architects Bruce Richard and Richard Leplastrier, Richard taught him the natural warmth that timber give, and his philosophy helped shape Wooi’s thinking on the importance of being sympathetic to nature in designing thee built form to achieve a sense of balance in a living space. Leplastrier, whose love for wood began in his childhood when his father used to build boats, believes that nature matters in the way houses are designed. A root which gives Wooi tender, to attend upon, and to be attentive to, to kept in mind as he consider his intentions in shaping a building site and developing a sustainable architecture.

This paper will investigate on the viability of traditional Malay house (rumah kampung) in Malaysia in terms of its design features and the selected contemporary case study house which is the modern Ting residence located at Country Heights, Damansara, Kuala Lumpur in the relation of natural ventilation by responding to the following questions:

Question 1: What is the climate and surrounding like in Country Heights, Damansara, Kuala Lumpur?

Question 2: What are the design features of traditional Malay house (rumah kampong) that significantly attributed to the natural ventilation in and around the dwelling?

Question 3: What are the climatic adaptations of the traditional Malay house in modern Ting Residence?

Question 4: What are the similarities or differences between the modern Ting residence and the traditional Malay house (rumah kampong)?

Question 5: (Conclusion) How does the modern Ting residence improve the living conditions in Country Heights Damansara, Kuala Lumpur? _____________________________________________________________________________________________ Asian Architecture [ARC 60403] / March 2015 Page 04

The Adaptation of Traditional Malay House in Modern Ting Residence as an Architectural Representation of Contemporary Sustainable Housing Design in Country Heights, Damansara, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia. _____________________________________________________________________________________________

2.0 The Environmental Context of Ting Residence Question 1: What is the climate and surrounding like in Country Heights, Damansara, Kuala Lumpur?

N

Image courtesy: Googlemap, 2015

Figure 01: A Google satellite image of Country Heights Damansara in the backdrop of a rich greenery setting.

A major aim here is to nurture a sensible understanding in building design that is grounded in a greater sensitivity to the broader environment. Malaysia is situated in the equatorial area and according to Malaysian Meteorological Department (2015), the climatic characteristic of Malaysia are warm temperature ranging between 25 – 33 degree Celsius, high humidity, copious rainfall, light and variable winds (strong winds can occur with the rains). The owner, Ting Choong Sing bought a piece of land on a hill in a gated and guarded community called Country Heights Damansara in the exurbia of the capital, Kuala Lumpur, where vegetation growth is prolific under such favourable conditions of moist air, moderate heat and high rainfall.

Generally, the wind prevailing path is at the northeast, east, and southwest directions in a uniform periodic change. The wind patterns flow based on the four seasons, namely, southwest monsoon (May-Sept), northeast monsoon (Nov-March) and two inter-monsoon (April & Oct). (Malaysian Meteorological Department 2015). It is known that climate is determine and Image courtesy: WTC, 2015

Figure 02: Country Heights Damansara embedded in the topography.

influence by distance from the Equator, direction of wind, distribution of land mass, the proximity of water and mountains.

(Thomas & Garnham, 2007) _____________________________________________________________________________________________ Asian Architecture [ARC 60403] / March 2015 Page 05

The Adaptation of Traditional Malay House in Modern Ting Residence as an Architectural Representation of Contemporary Sustainable Housing Design in Country Heights, Damansara, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia. _____________________________________________________________________________________________

Image courtesy: Country Heights Damansara Management Office, 2015

Figure 03: Ting Resident topographically situated on a unique terrain living experience on this tropical low-density hilly environment.

A general lesson for sustainable architecture according to Thomas and Garnham (2007) is that a building can play a part in shaping the site, not simply be a shape on the site. Country Heights Damansara, apparent a little forest in the capital city Kuala Lumpur is responding to housing design on the edge to shape over its natural beauty terrain.

Image courtesy: Wooi Architect, 2015

Figure 04: Ting Residence placed on one of the steepest lots, enclave with its beautiful undulating greens.

Ting Resident has remarkably drawn up the potential of the ground topography by working with the terrain’s constraints and possibilities in fulfilling the client’s brief that is to maximize the vantage point of the elevation of the hillslope site, which has an 11 meter difference in height between the road to the first buildable level (Malaysian Timber Council, 2015). The garage is intentionally located at street level, and access to the various progression levels of the house is either via a glass lift or a flight of cavern-like stairs (Malaysian Timber Council, 2015). Ting Residence has made the whole new paradigm of contemporary sustainable housing design in Malaysia.

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The Adaptation of Traditional Malay House in Modern Ting Residence as an Architectural Representation of Contemporary Sustainable Housing Design in Country Heights, Damansara, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia. _____________________________________________________________________________________________

3.0 Natural Ventilation in the Traditional Malay House Question 2: What are the design features of traditional Malay house (rumah kampong) that significantly attributed to the natural ventilation in and around the dwelling?

Image courtesy: Imagekind, 2015

Figure 05: A detailed ink drawing of a traditional Malay house in Malaysia titled: “Rumah Kampung Malaysia”

by Nadiah Najib (2008).

The traditional Malay house emerged to illustrate a mushroom sprouted to a particular environment and climate, growing into the site to shelter human existence possible even in the most inauspicious conditions. The Malay house is made from chopped trees, cut into timber planks and built up in courses to make a post-and-lintel structure with wooden walls, windows and a thatched roof. A logical and economical form of construction direct dependence to nature for its resource and also an open interior layout to maximize the flow of the winds for natural ventilation. Entry is through a porch raised up from ground by stairs, which helps to catch wind (the entrance is often on the windward side). Air movement is essential for natural ventilation.

Thus it is crucial to house the condition for the air circulates in and around the dwelling. Thus vernacular building record generations of careful adjustment to site and climate, to the materials available and particular weather conditions.

“The vernacular grew from small adjustments to strictly observed craft traditions that produced built forms passed on from generation to generation. They demonstrate the traditional role of buildings as passive modifiers of the environment, or ‘as thermal control devices’ making comfortable living conditions in all kinds of climates.” (Thomas & Garnham, 2007). _____________________________________________________________________________________________ Asian Architecture [ARC 60403] / March 2015 Page 07

The Adaptation of Traditional Malay House in Modern Ting Residence as an Architectural Representation of Contemporary Sustainable Housing Design in Country Heights, Damansara, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia. _____________________________________________________________________________________________

Image courtesy: Lim, 1987

Figure 06: Climatic design strategy of the traditional Malay house.

Historically, shelter started with a simple approach to ventilation and continued like that for some time. The idea that buildings needed ventilation i.e. that they needed to ‘breathe’ is not new. The traditional Malay house designed with floors raised above ground, large window and door openings, fairly open interior layout floor and its site conditioning to ventilation. These are the significant design features of the traditional Malay house that will be presented on this literature review in the scope of natural ventilation.

Dwelling of this type, in this case the traditional Malay house, often described by anthropologists as central to particular cultures because they continued in use for very long periods of time due to their successful adaptation to the climatic conditions. They made use of the limited range of material available for building in their region and they developed strategies to make comfortable living conditions in temperatures otherwise intolerable for humans (Thomas & Garnham 2007).

A recurring theme of what follows will be the valuable lessons to be gathered from the ways traditional societies and their material cultures responded to the environments they inhabited.

Make use of its environment capacity and help provide a stable temperature, in this case cooling.

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The Adaptation of Traditional Malay House in Modern Ting Residence as an Architectural Representation of Contemporary Sustainable Housing Design in Country Heights, Damansara, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia. _____________________________________________________________________________________________

3.1 Internal Layout Plan

Legend: Buffer Zone

Š Š

Image courtesy: Lim, 1987

Figure 07: A general interior layout of the traditional Malay house in functions and spaces with illustration of the buffer zones.

The interior layout plan of the traditional Malay house was designed in relation to the Malay culture and social aspect among the Malay’s community. Common activities in the traditional Malay house is reflected on the functional space planning and designing. Fundamentally, the spaces of traditional Malay house can be distribute into two portions. Whereby the front portion has rumah ibu (the core house) in-between as the center core and the back portion has the dapur (kitchen) as its focal point (Lim, 1987).

Entry is through a porch raised up from ground by stairs is called the anjung. Then there are few serambi(s) (hanging verandah) enclose the external of the house. These places are open to the exterior to condition the air movement into and around the dwelling. Lim (1987) reminded that though natural ventilation (air exchange) is often accompanied by air movement, the reverse Page 09 might occur without ventilation, which she illustrated a fan in a badly ventilated room. She further

elaborated the importance of adequate ventilation to dissipate body heat; shall both the temperature and humidity in a room rises up and occupants will be under climatic stress (Lim, 1987). _____________________________________________________________________________________________ Asian Architecture [ARC 60403] / March 2015 Page 09

The Adaptation of Traditional Malay House in Modern Ting Residence as an Architectural Representation of Contemporary Sustainable Housing Design in Country Heights, Damansara, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia. _____________________________________________________________________________________________

Legend:

© ©

Buffer Zone

Image courtesy: jz mine, 2014

Figure 08: Illustration of the buffer zones in the traditional Malay house.

From the law of physics, it is known that air flows from areas of high pressure to areas of low pressure. By this principle, the result is the wind will accelerate as it flows close through the traditional Malay house, and speed up as it enters to the confined openings. According to Brown and Dekay, 2001, this is called the Venturi effect, as the wind flows through the gap of the building.

“When wind meets an object like a building or a hill, it creates a high-pressure zone of increased velocity on the windward side of the object (the side the wind is blowing toward) and a low-pressure zone of lower velocity on the leeward side of the object. The velocity is increased as the wind sweeps around the sides and over the top of the object.” (Brown and Dekay, 2001).

3.2 Timber Raised Floor One of the most significant feature of the traditional Malay house is that it makes no contact with the ground by having a raised floor built on stilts. This design approach in many ways benefits the occupants from a thermal, functional and security perspective. The raised floor, which is built higher altitude than the ground, allows the house (particularly at body level) to capture winds of a higher velocity (Lim, 1987). Timber planks are used to construct the raised floor which give rise to air allowance between its gaps.

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The Adaptation of Traditional Malay House in Modern Ting Residence as an Architectural Representation of Contemporary Sustainable Housing Design in Country Heights, Damansara, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia. _____________________________________________________________________________________________

Image courtesy: Wikiedia, 2015

Figure 09: Air flows below the floor of the traditional Malay house.

By stilts support, the house are raised to avoid the conduction of the heat from the ground as it absorb the direct solar heat. It also allows the house to “grow� to the light and air as a plant growth.

3.3 Wooden Walls and Openings The traditional Malay house encourages natural ventilation by having many full-length windows and doors. These openings placed opposite each another across the open floor plan give rise to cross ventilation

Image courtesy: Wikiedia, 2015

Figure 10: A Malay traditional house in Kedah, adorned with full-length carved window openings for ventilation.

The building has windows cut down to the floor level to allow breeze circulation and artistic skills are lavished on the decoration of the stair and window railings, fascia boards under the eaves, ventilation grills above or beside the doorways.

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The Adaptation of Traditional Malay House in Modern Ting Residence as an Architectural Representation of Contemporary Sustainable Housing Design in Country Heights, Damansara, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia. _____________________________________________________________________________________________

3.4 Site Conditioning for Ventilation

Figure 11: A diagrammatic illustration of trees as living awnings surrounding the traditional Malay house.

Image courtesy: Lim, 1987

Figure 12: The external environment of the traditional Malay house.

Thomas and Garnham (2007) revealed the interior needs of the humans inhabit (in this case is natural ventilation) to be consider in relation to the external environmental conditions – sun, temperature, wind – as well as views. This was also mentioned by Architect Wooi (2015) as he called it as “the rhythm of the day”, and there is a need to bring awareness and educate the ‘aircond cultured people’ whom have detach from the li.

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The Adaptation of Traditional Malay House in Modern Ting Residence as an Architectural Representation of Contemporary Sustainable Housing Design in Country Heights, Damansara, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia. _____________________________________________________________________________________________

4.0 The Adaptation in Modern Ting Residence Question 3: What are the climatic adaptations of the traditional Malay house in modern Ting Residence?

Image courtesy: Wooi, 2015

Figure 13: The architectural composition in Ting Residence revolves around the outdoors.

“Buildings are also like plants in being rooted in the ground and rising to the light and air. Sustainable architecture for the twenty first century will benefit by drawing analogies with biological systems rather than mechanical ones, which featured large in the twentieth.� (Thomas & Garnham, 2007).

A modern house in Country Heights Damansara, Kuala Lumpur, designed by architect Wooi Lok Kuang. Although it looks modern, this house functions just like the traditional Malay house, suitable for the hot and humid tropical climate in the nation’s capital. The architect embraced the design challenges of the site and setting on the steep terrain. He embedded the house in an excellent position in terms of nature response approach. So the curvilinear building spans two and a half levels raised above the ground of the street level and benefits from the natural ventilation of descending breezes that cool the interior. It also has minimum interference with the slope due to its overhang decks and the stability from the micro piling rig as foundation and stumps (Wooi, 2015). _____________________________________________________________________________________________ Asian Architecture [ARC 60403] / March 2015 Page 13

The Adaptation of Traditional Malay House in Modern Ting Residence as an Architectural Representation of Contemporary Sustainable Housing Design in Country Heights, Damansara, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia. _____________________________________________________________________________________________

4.1 Internal Layout Plan

Legend:

© ©

Buffer Zone

Image courtesy: Wooi, 2015

©©

©©

Figure 14: Ground floor plan (left) and first floor plan (right) at Ting Residence indicating buffer zone of the Malay house (verandah).

The implement of open plan in Ting Residence has enhance the air movement just as it appears in the traditional Malay house. The bedrooms are required to enclose for privacy, whereas the dining, living, and sitting halls were designed as open spaces with roof coverage. However, air exchange in both open and enclose spaces were boost due a slim curvilinear floor plan that was derived from the terrain contour which allows cross ventilation (Wooi, 2015).

The curved armature comprises a gym on the top floor at the round-angled wing, while the core center houses the living, dining and bedrooms. The interior space has the indulgent of double-volumed head rooms.

These design features both encourages cross ventilation as well as natural air movement for air temperature heat transfer.

Image courtesy: Wooi, 2015

Figure 15: The luxurious airy living and dining hall.

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The Adaptation of Traditional Malay House in Modern Ting Residence as an Architectural Representation of Contemporary Sustainable Housing Design in Country Heights, Damansara, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia. _____________________________________________________________________________________________

Image courtesy: Wooi, 2015

Image courtesy: Wooi, 2015

Figure 16: The panoramic view from the deck and gym room.

Figure 17: The decking is made from highly durable Chengal.

Image courtesy: Wooi, 2015

Figure 18: A series of landscaped timber decks cascading from the living room level to the pool level, atop the garage.

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The Adaptation of Traditional Malay House in Modern Ting Residence as an Architectural Representation of Contemporary Sustainable Housing Design in Country Heights, Damansara, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia. _____________________________________________________________________________________________

4.2 Raised Floor Image courtesy: Wooi, 2015

Image courtesy: Wooi, 2015

Figure 19: The stilt-like design spaces gradually elevate upwards following its terrain site.

One certainly can see many influences in Ting Residence: the work of adaptation. And one also cannot help but be reminded of the traditional Malay house, where the raised floor on stilts and its timber floorings. This wooden deck is supported by a steel structure and large windows turn it into an extension of the house into nature, which acts as the backdrop for all the interiors. Glass and steel combined with timber deck and terrace off the master bedroom, create a simple, contemporary building yet rooted in the local tradition. Malay houses have high ceilings, well-lit interiors and natural ventilation in the moderate tropical climate of the zone; these are the detailing inspired part of the design for the Ting Residence.

Image courtesy: Wooi, 2015

Figure 20: The air gaps on the timber flooring of Ting Residence.

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The Adaptation of Traditional Malay House in Modern Ting Residence as an Architectural Representation of Contemporary Sustainable Housing Design in Country Heights, Damansara, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia. _____________________________________________________________________________________________

4.3 Louvers and Openings Although Ting Residence extremely modern in its use of concrete, steel and timber, the expression of the building is very much traditional and down to earth. It responses to the place and site as a legacy of the traditional Malay house and locate man closer to nature with the natural factor of ventilation with ample full-length windows, openings, and fenestrations.

Image courtesy: Wooi, 2015

Image courtesy: Wooi, 2015

Figure 21: The well ventilated space for both bath and space reduces the moist and the growth of mould.

The Image courtesy: Wooi, 2015

Image courtesy: Wooi, 2015

maximization

of

natural

ventilation

exhibited

in

the

traditional Malay house is

emulated

in

the

modern design of Ting Residence, as seen on its vertical chengal strips and numerous window openings. common

Another but

unique

feature of a Malay house is the grille on the side windows to allow better Figure 22: The full-heght and full-length window openings along the wall.

air circulation.

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The Adaptation of Traditional Malay House in Modern Ting Residence as an Architectural Representation of Contemporary Sustainable Housing Design in Country Heights, Damansara, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia. _____________________________________________________________________________________________

4.4 Site Conditioning Image courtesy: Wooi, 2015

Image courtesy: Wooi, 2015

Figure 23: plants generally add quality of life, not only making a site more pleasant but also refreshes the air.

Trees are important element for the creation of a comfortable thermal micro-climate, acting as a filter against noise and dust and provide oxygen and fresh air. Ting Residence has a very unique placement on the terrain, which have its local factors that affect the microclimate of the building and the site around it. It is very much similar to the external environment of the traditional Malay house, whereby the tall trees were planted to assist air movement around the dwelling and nurturing a comfortable and cooling living space.

5.0 Similarities or Differences Question 4: What are the similarities or differences between the modern Ting residence and the traditional Malay house (rumah kampong)?

After reviewing the features on both the traditional Malay house and the contemporary case study house, we can see that both houses are conceptualized as an energy efficient and environmental friendly home blended its design to nature. They were designed based on the local climate and has fulfilled the basic requirements for natural ventilation and achieving thermal comfort. The traditional timber house incorporated design principals relevant in contemporary architecture such as natural ventilation, qualities present in the basic house features. The site conditioning were to use existing vegetation and planting trees and bushes forming as a breeze assists cooling under the hot and humid climate. Nevertheless, it has added values of beauty and encouraging biodiversity.

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6.0 Conclusion Question 5: How does the modern Ting residence improve the living conditions in Country Heights Damansara, Kuala Lumpur?

Ozone depletion and global warming is alarming the world which at the constant of burning fossil fuels for mechanical ventilation. The alternative method would be natural ventilation. This research study has proved the intelligence of Malaysian in adaptation with its local climate conditions and advanced technology with the backdrop of a rich natural topography, landscape, historical heritage, and ethnic traditions. The contemporary case study building employed the proper design of natural ventilation based on detailed understanding of airflow within the dwelling, governed by pressure differences due to wind and buoyancy forces and hence resulted a responsible cultural contribution to sustainability, which entails combining a scientific understanding of environmental principles with a sense of how vernacular buildings make comfortable living conditions in Country Heights Damansara, Kuala Lumpur.

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References 1. Unwin, Simon. (2009) Analysing Architecture. Third Edition. Oxfordshire: Routledge. Taylor’s University Library, call number: 721UNW. 2. Thomas, Randall. and Garnham, Trevor. (2007) The Environments of Architecture: Environmental Design in Context. Oxfordshire: Taylor & Francis. Taylor’s University Library, call number: 720.47THO. 3. Ching, Francis D. K. (2007) Architecture: Form, Space, and Order. New York: John Wiley & Sons Inc. Taylor’s University Library, call number: 720.1CHI. 4. Brown, G. Z. and Dekay, Mark. (2001) Sun, Wind & Light: Architectural Design Strategies. Second Edition. New York: John Wiley & Sons Inc. Taylor’s University Library, call number: 720.472BRO. 5. Hawkes, Dean. (2008) The Environmental Imagination: Technics and Poetics of the Architectural Environment. London: Routledge. Taylor’s University Library, call number: 721.04609HAW. 6. Muller, Brook. (2014) Ecology and the Architectural Imagination. New York: Routledge. Taylor’s University Library, call number: 720.47MUL. 7. Passe, Ulrike. (2007) Sustainable Building Typologies: Free Flow Open Space as a Climate Technology. The International Journal of Environmental, Cultural, Economic & Social Sustainability. Volume 3. Melbourne: Common Ground Publishing Pty. Ltd. Retrieved from http://lib.dr.iastate.edu/cgi/viewcontent.cgi?article=1004&context=arch_pubs 8. Wooi, Lok Kuang. (April, 22nd, 2015) personal communication at Wooi Residence, Shah Alam.

9. Lee, Chor Wah. and Zainal, Suria. (2012) Re Think: A New Paradigm for Malaysian Timber.

Malaysia: MPH Group Publishing.

10. Hashim, W. and Nasir, A. H. (2011). The Traditional Malay House. Malaysia: Institut Terjemahan Negara Malaysia Berhad. Taylor’s University Malaysia Library, call number 728.3709595WAN 11. Zumthor, P. (2006). Atmospheres: Architectural environments and surrounding objects. Basel, Switzerland: Birkhauser. Taylor’s University Malaysia Library, call number 720.47ZUM 12. Zumthor, P. (2006). Thinking Architecture. Basel, Switzerland: Birkhauser. Taylor’s University Malaysia Library, call number 720ZUM 13. Lim, J.Y., (1987). The Malay House: Rediscovering Malaysia’s Indigenous Shelter System. Institut Masyarakat, Kuala Lumpur.

14. Malaysia Timber Council. (2015). Ting Residence Country Heights Damansara Kuala Lumpur.

Retrieved on June 2015 from, http://mtc.com.my/

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Appendix 1. Topic and Issue Proposal Submission 2. Abstract Submission 3. Topic and Issue Proposal (Revised)

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