This document provides an analysis of the architectural design of a semi-detached house in Surian Tropika Phase 2 by architect Steven Ng. It discusses several key aspects of the design including its response to the tropical climate of Malaysia through passive design strategies like orientation, cross ventilation, thermal massing and greenery. It also examines the architect's theory of minimalism, simplicity in form and emphasis on functionality informed by his education and experience. Diagrams are used to illustrate concepts like sun path, wind direction, spatial organization and passive cooling techniques. The design aims to be sustainable and low maintenance through a clear expression of form and function according to the architect's philosophy of "back to the fundamentals" and minimizing impact on the natural

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SCHOOL OF ARCHITECTURE, BUILDING & DESIGN
Centre for Modern Architecture Studies in Southeast Asia
Bachelor of Science (Honours) (Architecture)
THEORIES OF ARCHITECTURE & URBANISM [ARC61303] [ARC2224]
PROJECT: THEORIZING ARCHITECTURE
prettyNAME CELINE TAN JEAN INN
goodSTUDENT ID 0303669
Lecture: Lam Shen Fei
August Intake 2014

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CONTENT
1 INTRODUCTION
THE ARCHITECTS – AR STEVEN NG CHEE HUI 3
2 EXTERNAL CONTRIBUTING FACTORS
I CLIMATE 4 - 6
I.I Orientation and Daylighting
I.II Thermal Mass and Ventilation
II ARCHITECTURAL THEORY 8 - 9
II.I Inspired by Function
II.II Simplicity in Form and Design
3 CONCULSION 10
4 REFERENCES

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1 INTRODUCTION
SURIAN TROPIKA PHASE 2 // SEMI-DETACHED HOUSE
Figure 1 Outlook of Surian Tropika Semi Detached House
This project challenges is to show an understanding of the architect’s Architectural Theory
through an interview, observation and analysis of his buildings based on his design philosophy.
Moreover, this project allow us to understand that architecture as a language that has the ability to
convey meaning. Therefore, diagramming analysis are used in this project to illustration the
conceptual and practical order of the architecture.
For this project, I will be studying Ar. Steven Ng’s building and theory input in his design. Ar.
Steven Ng is an honest and down to earth person who has 14 years of working experience working
in this field and now running his own firm, CHY Architects Sdn Bhd with cooperate of 2 architects.
Ar. Steven was born in a simple Buddhist family which his father work as fisherman back in Kuching
while his mom is a full time housewife who taking care of the children. His father is a traditional man
where have a high hope on him, who as the elder male in family to being a successful person in his
own career. Due to limitation income of his parents, Ar. Steven had took part in various public art
competition and apply scholarship to finish his study in University Science Malaysia (USM).
Throughout the year, family, cannot deny that their supportive has giving him a motivation and he
successfully complete his course in USM in 1999. After studying, Ar. Steven prefer to gain some
experience in architecture firm first before sitting for the Part III exam. He had decided to work in TR
Hamzah & Yeang’s firm in 2000 to improve and gain understanding and knowledge about the
sustainable building design and the system flow inside a company. From 2003 until 2011, he had
been working in 4 different architecture firm to experience and understand different position role
played in a company. Active in involving in numerous projects throughout in the public and private
sector. The experience has allowed him to fully understand the pragmatic and aesthetic
considerations. Ar. Steven has led range of projects from residential, commercial and industrial.
City l Mahkota Cheras, Kajang
Built Up l 5198 sq. ft.
Tenure l Freehold
Year of completion l 2013

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2 I.I CLIMATE, ORIENTATION AND DAYLIGHTING
As the influence by architecture education and practice in Ken Yeang’s eco philosophy
emphasize of sustainable and greenery, Ar. Steven’s design strategy and style has reflected the
similar practice in every projects; towards a green environment as sustainable building design which
has low maintenance needed in long-time planning.
Figure 2.I Wind Rose Diagram Figure 2.II Sun Path Diagram
Figure above show the sun path diagram of Selangor which show the sun on site as the path
of sun across the sky at different time during the day is mapped throughout the year. As in tropical
country, the country experience hot and humid weather throughout the year. Based on a data
recorded that Malaysia received 2500mm of rainwater in a year meanwhile when coming to the end
of year, October until December is the monsoon season of high percentage of rainfall in a day.
Malaysia received big amount of light penetration average 6hours per day. Therefore, it can easily
be seen that local housing design has same characteristic of overhang as shading, house facing
toward west, slanted roof design or mostly in triangular form to reduce rainwater gain after a raining
day.
Figure 2.III Roof in triangular and pitched form to reduce amount of rainwater collect on roof.

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In tropical country, the first consideration is the movement of the sun. Ar. Steven has input
the tropical country building design in this project. The building form is in rectangular shape which
the longer faç ade is facing to the North and South meanwhile the shorter faç ade facing to East and
West. The reason to orientated the building plan is to minimize the faç ade area received direct
sunlight at the same time to identify passive cooling strategy in building design in order to minimize
heat gain for energy saving and thermal comfort level of occupants is sustain. The building itself has
painted in white and greenery color to avoid heat absorption through the building enclosure.
Figure 2.iv Sun path affect the orientation of building
2. I.IITHERMAL MASS AND VENTILATION
Orientation, thermal mass and ventilation is the key features in tropical climate like Malaysia.
During day time, the surrounding would have a strong breeze but under hot sunny condition. Hot air
is naturally stored inside the building but circulate out when the weather turn cooler, such as after
rainy day or at night. Thermal mass is then reduced from time to time in order to achieve human
thermal comfort level inside the building.
In the other hand, trees are planted at the side of the courtyard to overcome the overheating.
There is also numbers of window at each faç ade to increase the cross ventilation and also
maximizing the light penetrate in to the building but still the shading device is used to prevent too
much of light enter. A part from that, Selangor received the main wind direction is SSE and NE.
Based on the floor plan, most of the opening is placed along North faç ade meanwhile the building
able to received minor wind ventilation into the building.
Figure 2.I.II.I Thermal Mass is maximum during the day and hot air is out during night time or rainy day.

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The horizontal length sliding window allow for cross ventilation occurred from SSE and NE.
The residential has included double volumetric on third floor to allow warm air trap inside the building
rise and flow out through the air vent and gap of opening , stack ventilation. At the same time, the
wind circulation of hot air out, cool air in will naturally occurred in the building through the opening in
the lower area such as floor to ceiling high window, veranda, balconies and open plans.
Figure 2.I.II.II The entrance of house with the blockage of wall.
Figure 2 I.II.III Ground floor plan, main spaces are well glazed by sunlight

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2 ARCHITECTURAL THEORY
“Building Dwelling Thinking” by Martin Heidegger has considered to adopt in this project. A
design of residential building, consideration of dwelling a space for children to stay to carry out their
activities is important in foreseen in long-time period of user’s usage. ‘A man is not being in the world,
but part of the fourfold of earth, sky, divinities and mortals.’ Heideggar,1971. In the beginning of the
article has stated that the understanding of fourfold and listed out the four elements to be explain as
a place, vegetation, topography or materials around the site.
Fourfold elements is unseparated which play as an important part in thinking process of
designing a building. Firstly mortals which symbolize human being or occupants of a space. The
occupants for residential house mostly in a family with adults and kids while Ar. Steven has adapted
the simplicity of geometry, color and protective impression of faç ade with vertical fins into Surian
Tropika Semi Detached House. Secondly is sky which related to weather, sun, rain and wind. The
Seme-Detached House is emphasize on clarity of forms and elimination of unnecessary details. The
openings are design purely for functional purpose with vertical fins only. Moreover, vegetation which
related to the ‘earth’ responding to preserve the environment and minimize the sacrificed vegetation
to avoid disturbing the landscape. And lastly, orientation of building built in form has to relate to site
circulation, boundaries and vegetation. As a saying by Ar. Steven Ng, “Back to fundamental,
minimize the sacrificed of mother nature.’ Divinities, has lead Ar. Steven in building design and
always try to fit the compatible to every belief.

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2.II.I FUNCTIONALITY
Figure 2.II.I Section drawing of define the public and private space
According to the plan, the house mainly functionalism. Functionalism has become popular
phase with ‘Form follow Function’ concept means that the building is clearly reflect the belief of every
aspect including mass, size, spatial organization and etc. Ar. Steven expressed that he emphasize
on practically and usability instead of including abstract theoretical thoughts where it is obviously
being seen in his projects. Surian Tropika is a township that strives on innovation to provide a lifestyle
that is above the rest. It is a modern-day living with combination of contemporary house designs set
within landscaped greenery which literally reflected its name, Surian Tropika. It is unique approach
to live up its name with the meaning of living under the protection of shade with wide use of greenery
and landscaping around the boundaries line.
Spread across Surian Tropika land, the most defining features are its groundbreaking
designs that lend the homes a modernistic twist yet remain functional for family living. Through the
floor plan, we can find out that the house is being built in functions itself. The simple volume of the
house can be divided the spaces into few different boxes and we can see that every spaces is
occupied differently.
Figure 2.II.I Space organization diagram

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Circulation, space organization and activities has shown the practical design style that Ar.
Steven has been used throughout the year. In Surian Tropika Semi Detached House, the circulation
of building is simple and each space is connected by staircase in the center of plan. The ground floor
plan is a public space, the living room and dining area which a gathering space for occupants to
interact and communicate meanwhile second floor is private space, bedroom and study area. In the
plan we can see the public area is at ground floor which right after the main entrance meanwhile the
private area is about at first floor level to enhance the sense of privacy.
In addition, Ar. Steven has design the layout as modular structure which a simple grid line
system able to reduce time cost for construction. The length and size of column and beams are the
same. The use of roof trusses is to enable larger span and forming wider and higher space for
activities.
2.II.II SIMPLICITY FORM AND DESIGN
The approach to design a contemporary architecture that we see now in 2014 is influenced by the
function where the aesthetic design comes later. Minimize the decorative elements and ornament
affect designer come out with clear and pure form of presentation in architecture. The massing and
plan of design has emphasize of rectangular forms and horizontal vertical lines with it own usage
such as shading device or invite wind ventilation.
Figure 2.II.II Elevation study of simplicity of form and decorative elements

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3 CONCLUSION
In conclusion, Ar. Steven has been allowing himself to explore in different kind of
achievement and practice at the same time gaining a lot of good traits and skills along way. After
studying Surian Tropika Semi Detached House, Ar. Steven is trying to achieve ‘Practical Frugality
Architecture’. The design of Ar. Steven house can say as literally direct and not abstract and
complicated with hidden meaning behind but he express his concern in practical way. During the day,
he start working in various firm to explore himself to learn and gain the architecture system
knowledge through working experience. Until then, he has start his own firm with partnership of 2
architects and 40 employees to continue the journey as a successful architect. Form follow Function,
which the concept that we can find in most of the project that he had done which more towards
structural and functional design. During the interview, he has told us his philosophy in architecture is
‘Back to Fundamental, minimized the sacrifice of nature..” Along the process of studying his projects,
he has succeed to blend the building to the site as the thoughts in “ Building Dwelling Thinking” with
chosen materials according to Malaysia hot and humid climatic condition. The principles of light,
materiality and geometry are clearly visible in contemporary architecture. The residential units are
respond to the architectural theory which related to the 3 criteria; climate, user and space in overall
situation of Malaysia. It seems logical to expect that the approach to architecture present here will
naturally lead to a tropical sustainable architecture. Practicality and Frugality is directing but in my
opinion, well interpretation of idea in abstract and consideration of aesthetic in a well-blended way is
another challenge to architect of next generation to achieve the balance between them as the
definition of architecture is about art and science.

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4 REFERENCES
1. Koeningsberger. O. H. Ingersoll. T. G., Mayhew. A. and Szokolay. S. V. “Manual of
Tropical Housing and Building: Part 1: Climate Design.” Longman, London, 1973.
2. Bonta, J.P. (1979). Architecture and its interpretation, Rizzoli, NY.
3. Tropical Architecture website: http://tropical-
architecture.blogspot.com/2011/07/modern-tropical-architecture.html (accessed 10
December 2011)
4. Windfinder.com - Wind and weather statistic Morib/Kuala Lumpur Airport. (n.d.).
Retrieved November 23, 2014, from
http://www.windfinder.com/windstatistics/morib_kuala_lumpur