Asian Architecture [ARC 2213/2234] PROJECT 1: CASE STUDY
APPLICATION OF LOW EMBODIED ENERGY MATERIALS AS A DESIGN SOLUTION TO ACHIEVE SUSTAINABILITY AND POETIC QUALITIES IN THE DECK HOUSE, JANDA BAIK.
NAME:
TEH GIE ENG
STUDENT ID:
0316179
LECTURER:
MR KOH JING HAO
SUBMISSION DATE:
9TH JUNE 2015
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CONTENTS Abstract 1. Introduction 1.1. Overview of The Deck House, Pahang. 1.2. Research questions 2. Sustainability achieved via usage of low embodied energy materials. 2.1. Low embodied energy materials 2.2. Types of low embodied energy materials in The Deck House. 2.3. Achieving sustainability in The Deck House by applying low embodied energy materials 3. Poetic qualities of space 3.1. Low embodied energy materials as an approach to achieve poetic qualities. 3.2. Achieving poetic qualities of space in The Deck House using low embodied energy materials 4. Conclusion 5. References
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ABSTRACT The purpose of this research is to investigate how the application of low embodied energy materials can be used to achieve sustainability as well as to explore the relationship between sustainable design and the poetic qualities of spaces. Sustainability has become a basic pre-requisite in any design processes of architecture these days, as the need to minimise the negative environmental impact of building construction has become more real than ever. However, architecture itself stretches beyond the materiality and sustainability conditions and into our senses and mental sphere of life, through carefully designed poetic spaces that engage its users with its contextual surroundings. Hence, it is important to integrate sustainability with poetic qualities to truly enhance the spatial experience within the building. With the Deck House as the case study for this research, this paper reviews the successful attempt of the architect to incorporate sustainability into the building while creating quality poetic spaces within the house. By using low embodied energy materials, the architect was able to significantly lower the overall energy required to produce, manufacture and transporting these materials and thus was able to lower the detrimental impact on the environment. The sustainable characteristics of each material shall be further discussed in the paper. This research also showcases how the architect masterfully achieves sustainability without compromising on the poetic qualities of spaces that makes a house, a home. The materials used for the building posses inherent attributes that when used, they enhances the spatial experience in the different spaces of the house. Manipulating the ambiences in the house by playing with the texture, colour tone and 3
profile of these materials, the architect was able to foster the connection of the user to the natural surroundings of the site. 
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1.0 INTRODUCTION 1.1 OVERVIEW OF THE DECK HOUSE, PAHANG The Deck House, designed by Ar. Choong Ghim Wah, sits amidst the lush green forest of Janda Baik, at the foot of Genting Highlands, Pahang. At 2 -1/2 storey tall, this retreat home houses 3 bedrooms, 3 baths and is approximately 370m2.
! Fig. 1 Exterior view of the Deck House.
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1.2 RESEARCH QUESTION The research of the Deck House is based on two areas of study; the usage of low embodied energy materials for sustainability and also for the poetic qualities of the space. By responding to the following questions, a thorough analysis have been done throughout the research. The questions are:
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What are the low embodied energy materials used at the Deck House?
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What are the sustainability features of the low embodied energy materials used in the Deck House?
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How are these sustainability features utilised in the design approach?
4.
What are the poetic qualities of the low embodied energy materials used in the Deck House?
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How do these poetics qualities enhances the design approach?
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2.0 SUSTAINABILITY ACHIEVED VIA USAGE OF LOW EMBODIED ENERGY MATERIALS. 2.1 LOW EMBODIED ENERGY MATERIALS Embodied energy of a material is defined as the total energy used in the entire lifecycle of the material; the energy used for extraction, processing, manufacture and transportation of the material to site, according to the authority on sustainable building, Level. Embodied energy takes into account the energy consumption that produces C02, which contributes to greenhouse gas emission, and thus becomes an indicator to the environmental impact of the building materials and system as well as to assess the energy efficient buildings. As the building takes up 40% of energy a year in building’s life cycle, the reduction of embodied energy consumed by the building can significantly lower the overall environmental impact of the building, and at the same time increase the efficiency of the building. There are several factors to be included when choosing materials for a building. To maximise the lifespan of a building, the durability of a material should be taken into account. In addition to that, local materials should be favoured as this reduces the energy expended in transportation. Materials that are from renewable sources can also ensure the sustainability of the building. Recyclable and reusable materials allows for minimal wastage of building materials. Furthermore, standardised units of materials allow for lower manufacturing energy as it is more efficient to produce modular units compared to a variety of sizes. 7
Thus, by using low embodied energy materials, this can reduce the total impact on the environment and increases the efficiency of the building while being sustainable.
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2.2 TYPES OF LOW EMBODIED ENERGY MATERIALS IN THE DECK HOUSE There were several low embodied energy materials employed by the architect, Ar. Choong Ghim Wah, to achieve a sustainable design. As shown in Fig 2., one of the main materials used by the building is concrete. Concrete has a low embodied energy value at 1.11MJ/kg and thus a very sustainable material in lowering the impact on the environment.
CONCRETE GLASS
TIMBER ! Fig 2. Low embodied energy materials used in the Deck House.
Another low embodied energy material used prominently by the Deck House is timber. It is used for all the flooring for the indoors of the house as well as the outdoor of the house. At an embodied energy value of 8.5MJ/kg, it is one of the sustainable materials used in the house.
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Glass is also used extensively in the house. It is valued at 12.7 MJ/kg. While it is quite high, it is still one of the lowest embodied energy valued material used in the house when compared to the aluminium (155 MJ/kg) and steel (56.7 MJ/kg). 
 

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2.3 ACHIEVING SUSTAINABILITY IN THE DECK HOUSE BY APPLYING LOW EMBODIED ENERGY MATERIALS There are several factors affecting sustainability of building and they are transport, materials and resource depletion, waste and recycling, on top of embodied energy. An important research in Scandinavia shows that 10% of the total waste in the building industry is actually produced on site. Thus, it is important to ensure that precision in the sizes of building blocks and units so that extra machinery or materials will not be required. Concrete Cast-in-situ concrete is used as one of the main building materials in the Deck house. Since it is casted on site, the transportation fuel of raw material is reduced, and this decreases the CO2 emission in the construction of the building. Concrete is a material with high compressive strength and has a life span up to 120 years with minimal maintenance as it is not weakened by moisture or mould. Thus by using concrete as the frame of the building for the Deck House, this provides a more sustainable alternative to the usage of other materials with higher embodied energy such as steel framing. According to a research in the UK, the carbon dioxide intensity of concrete produced during production has been reduced by 9% since 2008 and 22% since 1990. This has significantly improved the sustainability of the material as well as the reduction of the negative impact on the environment. Concrete has excellent thermal mass, which allows for a slowing down in the passage of heat transfer. Thus this allows for the lower usage of air conditioning in the building and 11
overall lowers the operational energy of the building. According the an NRMCA study, the usage of concrete lowers energy consumption of a house by more than 17%. It also absorbs CO2 throughout its lifetime through a process called carbonation, helping reduce its carbon footprint. On site, once the concrete has set, the formwork are removed. Waste form onsite includes the timber framework, the unused concrete, the contaminated wash water. Most of these waste can be recycled. Unused concrete can be used as aggregate to reduce the number of landfills. Timber framework can be recycled into particleboards. Thus, concrete, with its high compressive strength and good thermal mass, is used for most of the structural support such as columns and beams. It is also used to form the foundation of the building as well as the main frames. It is also used as the floor slab for the cantilevered deck.
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Fig 3. Concrete is used to form the columns and beams as well as the floor slabs.
Timber Timber is also another material used extensively in the Deck House. It is locally available as the Deck House is building in tropical Malaysia, where there is a variety of wood species. It is lightweight and thus this reduces the transportation impact on the environment. Furthermore, most saw mills are usually near
their log supply, hence the transport
distances from the forest to the mills are usually not long. The timber planks used for flooring in the Deck House (see Fig 4.)are produced modularly in the workshop. By standard sizes, this not only allows for time saving but also improves the efficiency of the material production. This thus lowers the energy consumed and makes timber a sustainable material.
! Fig 4. shows the extensive timber flooring of the Deck House.
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According to a recent research by Cooperative Research Centre for Greenhouse Accounting , by substituting timber in the construction of a typical family home, greenhouse gas emissions, equivalent to up to 25 tonnes of carbon dioxide could be saved. The shows clearly the sustainable potential of timber in lowering the impact on the environment. Furthermore, timber residues can be recycled as particleboards and fibreboards. Timber also allows for lower operational energy in the building as it posses decent thermal mass and is a good thermal insulator.
Glass Although glass consumed a significant amount of energy during its production process, the energy expended for transportation is reduced as it is a locally available material. Its properties which allows for light to penetrate into the living spaces in the house. This helps to lower artificial lighting needs and thus lowers the operational energy of the house when it is used extensively as windows as shown in Fig 5.
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! Fig. 5 The glass facade of the house allows natural lighting
Glass is also recyclable. According to the British Glass Manufacturers’ Confederation, its recycling performance is a closed loop, which means it can be recycled over and over again without the loss of its quality and integrity. Thus allows for reduction of CO2 produced as well as energy savings as every tonne of glass saved in closed loop recycling saves 322kWh of energy, 246kg of CO2, the energy to quarry 1.2 tonnes of virgin raw materials. Thus, this makes glass a highly sustainable material.
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3.0 POETIC QUALITIES OF SPACE 3.1 POETIC QUALITIES OF THE LOW EMBODIED ENERGY MATERIALS
Gaston Bachelard wrote “ … we are never real historians, but always near poets, and our emotions is perhaps nothing but an expression of a poetry that was lost…….Through poems, perhaps more than through recollections, we touch the ultimate poetic depth of the space of the house”. This strongly highlights the ubiquitous importance of spatial experience regardless of individual interpretations of poetic qualities. Thus, to create spaces with strong relation to the senses, the selection of material is significance. The architect of the Deck House skilfully utilizes the different innate poetic qualities of the low embodied energy materials to create and influence the ambience experienced by the users in the various spaces within the house. The bare concrete walls and columns form the structural frame and foundation for the house. The solidity of the walls exude a sense of safety and modernity , which creates a balance between contemporary and vernacularity, amidst the forest. The timber flooring chosen has as rich and warm tone. Maintaining its grain, the timber used offer a rustic touch to the spaces. As the house is built in the midst of the dense tropical forest, the usage of timber brings out the original and modest roots of the material which complements with the site. Glass is used as the facade as it promotes an air of elegance and openness. The material allows the architect to reduce the solidity of the massing of the building.
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! Fig 7. Glass facade allow for the house to look ‘floating’.
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3.2 ACHIEVING POETIC QUALITIES OF SPACE IN THE DECK HOUSE USING LOW EMBODIED ENERGY MATERIALS
Architecture itself stretches beyond the materiality and sustainability conditions and into our senses and mental sphere of life, through carefully designed poetic spaces that engage its users with its contextual surroundings. Hence, it is important to integrate sustainability with poetic qualities to truly enhance the spatial experience within the building.
In the Deck House, timber flooring is used on the cantilevered deck (see Fig. 8). The rustic and original texture of the timber planks that are arranged and extends into the forest fosters continuity into the surrounding greeneries. It originality increases the user’s awareness and appreciation towards the forest as it is a traditional material. This thus promotes the honest conversation between man and nature.
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Fig. 8 Timber flooring on the cantilevered deck.
Timber is also used in the living room (see Fig. 9). The rich tone of the timber lights up the the living space and brings life to the otherwise, sterile space of concrete, steel and glass. The light reflected from the floor enhances the vibrancy of the space. By using timber flooring in the living space, the architect was able to bring the spirit of the nature into the living space. A timber staircase used to connect the living room to the upper floor also promotes a visual connection from the outdoor towards to upper floor.
! Fig 9. Timber flooring in the living room.
Timber is also used the circulatory staircases around the Deck House (see Fig 10). This promotes continuity not only from the forest to the cantilevered deck but also throughout
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the house. This stimulates oneness with the forest as the presence of nature weaves in and out of the house.
! Fig 10: More timber walkway and staircase.
While concrete is used mainly for its structural support, its innate poetic qualities of solidity and coolness blends well with with the fragility of the glass facade as well as the warmness of the timber flooring. Used for partitions, the concrete walls solidity conveys privacy and austerity in the house. As shown in Fig 11, the spartan white concrete walls of the kitchen and dining hall breathes composure in the space as users will feel safe inside the house even though it is very open to the outdoors.
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! Fig 11. Solid walls of the kitchen and dining hall.
The long lifespan of the material, together with its inherent strength, expresses timelessness as well as tranquility. This helps users to realign their mood when are taking refuge in the Deck House.
The continuous glass facade of the house allows for natural lighting to penetrate the house. As Frank Lloyd Write writes “More and more, so it seems to me, light is the beautifier of the building.� Thus light is an important element to define and reveal the possibilities of the space within the building, as well as to carry in the allure of the surrounding site.
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The glass facade also acts as a tool to blur the line between the indoor and the outdoor for the users. By employing a continuous glass facade (see fig. 12), the architect is able to manipulate the sense of being at the heart of the forest within the house as well as providing the users with a 360ยบ panoramic view of the surrounding lush green forest.
! Fig 12. Glass facade of the Deck House.
The glass facade also helped to elevate the sense of volume in the space. Seen in Fig 13, the double volume space was enhanced by the glass as users are able to visually connect the height of the house to the height of the surrounding trees.
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! Fig 13: The double volume above the living room.
As a conclusion, the architect has masterfully manipulated the usage of the various low embodied energy materials within the building to seamlessly merge with nature and to foster connection between man and nature. Using the various textures, colour tone and profile of these materials, the architect is able to enhance these spaces’ visual perceptions and provide sensual experiences to the users.
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4.0 CONCLUSION The Deck House in Janda Baik is a good example for case study as it successfully achieve sustainable design with the employment of low embodied energy materials as for its design approach. By skilfully utilising the sustainable elements as well as exploring the poetic qualities of the materials, the architect was able to design poetic spaces that fosters the users’ connection with the surrounding forest. The employment of low embodied energy materials in the building has helped in increasing the building’s energy efficiency, which in turn increases the sustainability of the building and thus reduces its negative impact on the environment. The operational cost of the building is also lowered significantly by the clever selection of materials. The use of passive design reduces energy consumption which results in lower emission of greenhouse gases. Utilizing the texture, profile, and colour tones of these material, together with the sustainable features, the architect was able to create poetic spaces within the building that acknowledges the innate beauty and honesty of the materials for the users to appreciate. These spaces were also able to connect the users to the surrounding nature not just visually, but also emotionally as well, and thus merging the building into nature. Through this research paper, I’ve realized the possibility of achieving sustainability in a building without compromising on the poetic qualities of spaces. Through thoughtful planning and selection of materials that responds to the surroundings, a better and more sustainable design can be attained for the benefit of nature and the community.
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5.0 REFERENCES Level (2014, April 4). What is embodied energy in building? Retrieved June 5, 2015, from http://www.level.org.nz/ material-use/embodied-energy/ Cabeza, L. F., C. Barreneche, L. Miró, J. M. Morera, E. Bartolí, and A. Inés Fernández. 2013. Low Carbon and Low Embodied Energy Materials in Buildings: A Review. Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews. 23: 536–542. Berge, B. (2001). The Ecology of Building Materials. UK:Architectural Press Krishan, A. (2001). Climate responsive architecture: A design handbook for energy efficient buildings. New Delhi: Tata McGraw-Hill Pub. Co. c2001 (p.14, 15) Sustainable Concrete The leading material in Sustainable Construction. (n.d.). Retrieved June 8, 2015, from http://www.sustainableconcrete.org.uk/co2_emissions.aspx (n.d.). Retrieved June 8, 2015, from http://www.nrmca.org/sustainability/CONCRETE CO2 FACT SHEET FEB 2012.pdf The smart use of glass in sustainable buildings. (n.d.). Retrieved June 8, 2015, from http:// www.glassforeurope.com/images/cont/165_90167_file.pdf Bachelard,G., & Jolas, M. (1994). The poetics of space (1st ed., p.6, pg 26-27). Boston: Beacon Press. Bennett, D. (2010). Sustainable concrete architecture. London : RIBA Pub., c2010. (p.70)
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