This document is a project proposal for a case study paper on the Safari Roof House in Petaling Jaya, Malaysia. The proposal provides background on the topic, which is the use of a double roof structure as a climate responsive design element in tropical architecture. It identifies several research questions, such as the roles of the roof in tropical climate, the functions of the double roof structure in the Safari Roof House, and the features that help reduce heat gain. An annotated bibliography provides sources on vernacular Malay architecture, details on the Safari Roof House, and climate responsive design strategies for warm-humid zones.

1. Asian Architecture (ARC 2234 / ARC60403) Project 1: Case Study Paper
Topic & Issue Proposal (10%) Due Date: 30 Sept 2015
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: LEE JO YEE 0314880
Tutor: Ms. Shahrianne Mohd Shah
Solution to Heat Gain Challenge Using Double Roof Structure
As an Approach to Climatic Responsive Design
In Safari Roof House, Petaling Jaya.
Research Questions:
1. In relation with the contextual climate, what are the roles of roof as a climatic responsive
design in tropical climate?
2. What is a double roof structure and its function in the Safari Roof House?
3. What are the significant features adopted in the double roof structure of Safari Roof House to
reduce heat gain?
4. How does each of the features aids in the efficiency of the double roof structure and help in
solving the problem faced?
5. What are the differences and similarities between single roof and double roof design in tropical
climate?
Heat
Gain
NATURAL
FACTORS
Materiality
Surface
Reflectivity
Orientation
Form
SOLUTIONS
Safari Roof
House
Climatic
responsive
design
Double
Roof
Structure

2. Summary of the topic:
Today, sustainability has dubbed as a fundamental of any modern or post-modern buildings. Buildings
that are sustainable adapt to the local climate and response with appropriate building science,
construction and technology in order to provide thermal comfort to the occupants. Such importance can
be seen from the history and development of the local vernacular architecture. In this case, the focus of
this paper will be the study of traditional Malay housing and further narrow down to a single physical
element ------the roof.
The Safari Roof House, designed by Kevin Mark Low located in Petaling Jaya, Selangor has implied a
modern designed double roof structure to tackle the issue of heat gain from the glaring sun. The roof
that is lifted off the body of the house to facilitate wind cooling is inspired by the tropical Landrover from
which it takes its name, resembles the use of ventilated double roof in the traditional Malay house. The
paper will start with an introduction to the significant of roof design as part of the strategies to bring
thermal comfort in relation with the contextual climate. As the background set in the hot and humid
weather, the topic will focus on the design of the safari roof to direct wind flow, the occurrence of stack
effect, the position of roof openings, heat convection and radiation. Different aspects such as low
thermal capacity materials, surface reflectivity, orientation of the roof and roof structure will be
discussed in the topic to increase the capability of the roof to reduce heat gain. Lastly, the paper will
conclude with a comparison of single roof and double roof in a tropical climate building.
Bibliography
1. Burhanuddin, W. (1984). The Malay House: Learning from its elements, rules and changes. In L. a.
(eds.), Design Policy: Design and Society (pp. 28-33).
http://www.hbp.usm.my/wburhan/malayhouse/mhousepaper.htm
This paper provides an introduction to the Malay Vernacular architecture and details on each
physical elements, spatial elements and functional elements.
2. Low, K. M. (2015, September 29). Safari Roof House. Retrieved from archnet.org:
http://archnet.org/sites/6469/publications/2223
http://archnet.org/system/publications/contents/2223/original/FLS2600.pdf?1384757902
This is a presentation panels of the Safari Roof House explained everything from concept
implimentation to execution. In the publication also shows series of photos taken from different
angle in the house to provide a better understand of the spatial arrangement.
3. Paul Gut, D. A. (1993). 3.3 Design for warm-humid zones. In D. A. Paul Gut, Climate Responsive
Building - Appropriate Building Construction in Tropical and Subtropical Regions. Switzerland:
SKAT. http://collections.infocollections.org/ukedu/en/d/Jsk02ce/3.4.html
This book writes about the suggested approaches and strategies in tackling climate issues in
various context. A focus is placed in chapter 3.3 where it talks about the design implication in hot
and humid climate.