topic & issue proposal

1. Asian Architecture (ARC 2234 / ARC60403) Project 1: Case Study Paper
Topic & Issue Proposal (10%) Due Date: 30 Sept 2014
Prepare a two-page type-written proposal, including a concept mapping, a summary of the topic and/or issue to be
explored, some of the questions you hope to address, along with a title, and an annotated bibliography of sources.
Student name and ID: Patricia Kong Weng Yee (0315837)
Tutor: Miss Shahrianne Shah
Vernacular as an Essence in Contemporary Design:
A Study on the Presence of a Malay Vernacular Design in the Modern Design of the Deck
House to achieve Thermal Comfort
Research Question(s):
1. What are the design consideration of a tropical house?
2. Why must one use the Malay vernacular design as an approach for contemporary design?
3. Responding to the natural factors, how does the features helped in the design in tropical climate?
4. Why does design considerations needed and how does it helped improve the living condition in The
Deck House?

2. Summary of the topic (300 words):
The Deck House located in Janda Baik, Pahang is known for its modern interpretation of a Malay
Vernacular House. Using mainly steel and glass for its construction, it is located at the hilltop of Genting
Highlands. The Deck House was designed based on the surrounding context, climate and culture in which these
factors will play a role in the layout, design and materials of the building. One of the main features that can be
observed from The Deck House is the open plan layout.
Designed to be placed on the slope of a hilltop, The Deck House uses an open plan layout. Similarly, to a
Malay Vernacular House where they have little partitions which allows cross ventilation to occur. This helps the
air to circulate within the interior spaces and remove the heat in the room faster and thus increasing thermal
comfort. Aside from that, the building is placed East – West direction as a regard to Feng Shui. By placing in that
direction, it helps minimizing the areas exposed to solar radiation and also it suits the wind pattern in Malaysia.
The building design were focused mostly on ventilation and sun – shading. Thus, the Deck House has wide and
tall building envelopes in which helps providing efficient ventilation flow and also protecting the user and the
spaces within the room from solar radiation. Like the Malay Vernacular House, the Deck House is also
cantilevered, without changing much of the contour, in order to gain high velocity air flow and also to protect
itself from ground plants that will restricts its air flow. The premises itself blends naturally in into the nature as it
uses timber as the decking.
In conclusion, this paper will discuss about the integration of Malay Vernacular Architecture into the
Modern Deck House in order to achieve thermal comfort.

3. Annotated Bibliography
Burklein, C. (n.d.). Retrieved April 25, 2016, from http://www.livegreenblog.com/materials/the-deck-house-traditional-
model-with-modern-materials-8649/
Hernández, S., Brebbia, C. A., & Wilde, W. P. (2010). Eco-architecture III: Harmonisation between architecture and
nature. Southampton: WIT.
The Deck House / Choo Gim Wah Architect. (2013). Retrieved April 25, 2016, from http://www.archdaily.com/424699/the-
deck-house-choo-gim-wah-architect