SCHOOL OF ARCHITECTURE, BUILDING & DESIGN

Centre for Modern Architecture Studies in Southeast Asia (MASSA)

Bachelor of Science (Honours) (Architecture)

BUILDING TECHNOLOGY 1 [BLD61403/ARC3514 / ARC3512]

ASSIGNMENT 2:

NAME: LIM JOE ONN

STUDENT ID: 0318679

TUTOR: MR KHAIROOL AIZAT

CONSTRUCTION

SOLUTIONS

INTRODUCTION

FAÇADE PRECEDENT STUDY 1 – COCOON HOUSE, VIETNAM

FAÇADE PRECEDENT STUDY 2 – LE NOUVEL, KL

FLOOR PRECEDENT STUDY – EPIC HOMES

ROOF PRECEDENT STUDY – VILLA SANUR, BALI

FAÇADE PROPOSAL 1 – VENTILATION BLOCKS

FAÇADE PROPOSAL 2 – INDIRECT SYSTEM WITH PLANTER BOXES

SECTIONAL PERSPECTIVE LOCATIONS

SECTIONAL PERSPECTIVE 1 – ROOF GARDEN

SECTIONAL PERSPECTIVE 2 – READING AREA

CONTENT

INTRODUCTION

In the module of Architectural Studio 5, I designed a community library in the heart of the humid tropical metropolis of Kuala Lumpur. The site is a narrow strip of land right next to an old shopping street.

The proposed library has an estimated area of 1200 square metres and is 5 stories tall excluding its roof garden.

Its design aims to tackle two major issues of the site, namely the demand for an education centre and lack of greenery. Thus, the design focuses on softscape and vernacular elements.

As for this module, we are to propose a roof system and two alternative façade designs.

PROJECT NAME:

VERTICAL PARK LIBRARY

SITE: JALAN TUANKU ABDUL

RAHMAN, KUALA LUMPUR

COCOON HOUSE, VIETNAM

Architects: Ta Tien Vinh and Truong Tuan Chung

ADVANTAGES & DISADVANTAGES

REASON FOR SELECTION

Advantages:

Simple to prefabricate and build, promising rapid construction

Great flexibility to customization and design

High thermal mass, providing cooling effect to building interior

Allows maximum ventilation

Ease of maintenance

Disadvantages:

Smaller and higher number of components

Repetitive work during construction

Application of vent blocks adapts the building to its tropical context by maximizing cross ventilation throughout its façade. It too gives a sense of privacy as well as ample shading from sun and rain.

Ventilation blocks are a trend in tropical regions due to its aesthetics and functionality. It has a long history as a traditional building module in areas with hot climate as they provide climatic comfort and protection.

FAÇADE PRECEDENT STUDY 1

This house is renovated from an older building that is narrow and clustered. The old balconies at both ends of

the house were skinned with precast concrete ventilation blocks. Two varieties of vent blocks alternate

randomly with the patterned one at higher frequency. The space inside the skin was left for rain, wind and

sunlight to pass through. Its design is inspired from a cocoon, where the expressive façade allows access to

nature but with security and privacy considerations.

MATERIALS USED

Precast concrete ventilation blocks, Cement mortar

METHOD OF

CONSTRUCTION

Concrete blocks are precast and sent to site. The blocks are then laid onto one another with cement mortar as adhesive component.

Precast concrete vent blocks

Similar method of applying mortar to blocks

LE NOUVEL, KUALA LUMPUR

Architect: Jean Nouvel

ADVANTAGES & DISADVANTAGES

REASON FOR SELECTION

Advantages:

Reduces noise level within building

Provides insulation, thus decreasing air-conditioning requirement

Improved air quality

Visually pleasing and soothing Disadvantages:

Requires costly nutrient, pruning and irrigation equipment

High maintenance and construction cost

The design of Vertical Park Library holds the principle of resurrecting nature to the site, which needs more shade and greenery. A green wall forms a barrier between the library’s interior and its chaotic surrounding, hence improving its sound and air quality. Covering a façade with flora gives a positive psychological impact to pedestrians of the dystopian, heavily-urbanized site which lacks tranquil softscape.

Situated right next to KLCC, Le Nouvel is a dual-tower luxury residence with a façade integrating lush tropical greenery into a heavily urbanized context. Its façade is a combination of vertical rectangular aluminum posts and horizontal cable rods that allow vines to grow onto it. Planter boxes are placed irregularly between the posts.

The typology of this façade falls under ‘indirect system with planter boxes’. Climber plants are kept away from the walls by cable supporters. The cable system suits faster growing plants with denser foliage. As time progresses, the growing plants will cover the façade entirely.

FAÇADE PRECEDENT STUDY 2

MATERIALS USED

Cable rod, Rectangular hollow steel post, Aluminum planter boxes, Creeper and flowering plants, Fertile soil

(soil, peat and sand in the ratio 7:3:2 by volume)

METHOD OF CONSTRUCTION

The system is made up of the following components: containers, insulated containers, maintenance remote automated irrigation and fertilization systems, and wall mounting system. Tensile cable rods extend from permanent vertical steel beams. Plants grow from planter boxes, covering the façade.

Water

drainage

from poly

pipes

Reinforced

concrete

column

Zinc plated

handrail

Aluminum

planter box

Zinc-coated

aluminum

Aluminum

grid rail

Cable rod

Plants

EPIC HOMES (THROUGHOUT MALAYSIA)

Architect: Ben Phua

ADVANTAGES & DISADVANTAGES

REASON FOR SELECTION

Advantages:

Allowing passive design ventilation as air flows freely through the gaps between timber planks

Simple and lightweight for construction

Rapid construction and lower costs due to prefabrication

Wooden floors do not retain much heat nor conduct heat

Disadvantages:

Susceptible to fire as they lose strength at high temperatures

Prone to corrosion at marine environments

The houses’ design is suitable for tropical climates similar to our current site. It drew inspiration from traditional Malay attap houses by standing on stilts, allowing cool air to enter below via gaps between timber planks and hot air to be removed from the top of the house. The theme for Vertical Park Library emphasizes on vernacular architecture and living lightly on the site. Timber does not retain heat, decreasing heat gain of the building. Simple steel structures are conventional and readily-available, thus cost and time efficient.

FLOOR PRECEDENT STUDY 1

Specially designed for ease of assemble and rapid construction, EPIC homes are modular houses built throughout

Malaysia for the needy in remote areas. Its steel post and beam structural design with wooden floor finishing is

lightweight and portable, making it efficient to build.

METHOD OF CONSTRUCTION

The floor structure is made up of

beams that extend from columns

with brackets at intervals. The

secondary structure, which are

timber beams, are locked in these

brackets. Wooden planks are then

nailed onto the timber beams

beneath.

MATERIALS USED

Hollow steel beams, Chengal timber beams, Chengal timber planks, Nails

Hardwood timber planks and beams

Steel beam with brackets

VILLA SANUR, BALI, INDONESIA

Architect: Paul Koodravsev

ADVANTAGES & DISADVANTAGES

REASON FOR SELECTION

Advantages:

Utilizes local, renewable materials

Inexpensive

Waterproof and weather resistant

Ideal for places with hot climates due to good insulation

Environment friendly as materials needed are grown and harvested with little machinery

Disadvantages:

Combustible if fire occurs

Labour intensive

Thatch is not a standard product, each roof will vary slightly

Thatched roofs have existed in our tropical country since its early history, thus best represents our indigenous heritage in architecture, which fits the library’s theme of reviving vernacular elements. Craftsmen and materials needed for its construction is easily available locally, making it sustainable and efficient.

ROOF PRECEDENT STUDY 1

Villa Sanur is a complex of small villas and verandahs with traditional thatched roofs scattered on a 24000 m2

site. Its approach is highly localized and vernacular, an interpretation of a traditional Balinese compound. Design

emphasis was placed upon the openness of living areas to the garden. Water was an integral part of the

landscape design and rare palm species are used. To fit its theme, its construction fully utilized locally-available

materials and craftsmanship. Thus, explaining the villa’s abundant use of thatched roofs.

MATERIALS USED

Nipa palm leaves, Bamboo, Manila rope, Timber beams and columns

METHOD OF

CONSTRUCTION

Bamboo rafters are tied to the

ridge and purlin members of the

roof. The ladder lashing

technique is used to attach the

dried palm leaves to the

bamboo rafters. A series of

knots were tied from one end to

another, zigzagging through the

rafters that keep the leaves

intact.

Dried Nipa palm leaves

Bamboo 5 years of age treated with boric acid

FAÇADE PROPOSAL 1

FRONT ELEVATION

scale 1:100

Façade entirely covered with prefabricated precast concrete

ventilation blocks, each attached to one another via cement

mortar. Metal plates extend from steel I-beams at each floor,

adding extra support to the repetitive blocks by countering

lateral forces.

Precast concrete ventilation blocks

Planter box

Horizontal metal plate

Steel I-column

FAÇADE PROPOSAL 1

REAR ELEVATION

scale 1:100

FAÇADE PROPOSAL 2

FRONT ELEVATION

scale 1:100

Façade composes of repeated vertical rectangular hollow steel

posts and horizontal cable rods that guide the growth of

creeper and flowering plants from planter boxes. Complex

irrigation and fertilization systems maintain the façade.

Planter box

Creeper plants

Cable rod

Rectangular hollow steel post

Steel I-column

FAÇADE PROPOSAL 2

REAR ELEVATION

scale 1:100

SECTIONAL PERSPECTIVE LOCATIONS

READING AREA

ROOF GARDEN

SECTIONAL PERSPECTIVE 1 ROOF GARDEN

scale 1:30

Nipa palm thatch

Manila rope

Dried bamboo purlin

Poly irrigation pipe

Horizontal

cable rod

Chengal wood

flooring

Rectangular

hollow steel rod

Waterproof sealant

Timber secondary beam

Each bamboo purlin is

drilled with holes and

clamped between two

hinges on a steel

rafter. Nuts and bolts

secure the purlins to

the permanent hinges.

Stainless steel

L-connector

brackets

Stainless steel

L-connector

brackets

Stainless steel hinge

Steel rafter

Aluminum

planter box

Steel I-beam

Vertical hollow steel rods

extend from horizontal

beams. Cable rods run

horizontally for creeper

plants to grow on.

Brackets secure planter

boxes.

Atrium

SECTIONAL PERSPECTIVE 2 READING AREA

scale 1:30

Steel I-columns

Stainless steel

L-connector

brackets

Rivet

Gusset plate

Precast concrete

ventilation

blocks

Aluminum

L-plate

Timber

beam

Timber beams are slotted

between brackets

Aluminum L-plates

run horizontally to

counter lateral forces

on the vent block wall

Chengal wood

flooring

Steel post and

beam system

with wooden

floor finishing

Gusset plate

I-columns

extend to

pad footings

below

Steel I-beam

Waterproof

sealant

http://inspirationist.net/cocoon-house-features-a-facade-of-ventilation-brick-blocks/

http://thisisbuildingmaterials.blogspot.my/2012/03/pros-and-cons-of-brick-and-block.html

https://www.slideshare.net/gertrudeleeys/building-technology-1-51752137?from_action=save

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https://www.verticalgardenpatrickblanc.com/realisations/kuala-lumpur/le-nouvel-kuala-lumpur

http://www.lnklcc.com/lenouvel.php

https://www.slideshare.net/mehdirakhshandehroo/an-introduction-to-green-walls-green-facades

http://www.architectsbali.com/projects-portfolio_villa-sanur.html

https://earthstonestation.com/2015/05/03/hawaiian-hale/

http://en.howtopedia.org/wiki/Biomass_Roofing_Materials-_Principles

REFERENCE & IMAGE SOURCES