This document is a project proposal for a case study on the Walian House, an architecture project from the 1980s in Malaysia. The proposal includes a concept map, research questions, and annotated bibliography. The student proposes to study how the Walian House design incorporated passive design strategies and sustainability to minimize solar heat gain and achieve environmental values. Specific research questions focus on how sustainability, orientation, open planning, vegetation, layered roofing, and material choice help balance the building with nature and thermal comfort. The summary provides context on global warming and increasing energy demands, and how more sustainable architecture can help reduce environmental damage. Sources cited will discuss sustainability, vernacular influences, responding to climate, and passive design strategies.

1. Asian Architecture (ARC 2234 / ARC60403) Project 1: Case Study Paper
Topic & Issue Proposal (10%) Due Date: 30 Sept 2014
Preparea two-pagetype-written proposal,including aconceptmapping,asummaryof the topic and/or
issueto be explored,someof the questionsyou hopeto address,alongwith a title, and anannotated
bibliographyof sources.
Studentname and ID: Joshua Lee Yee Kai (0315820)
Tutor:Shahrianne Mohd Shah
The mission to achieve environmental value in Architecture
through practicing sustainabilityand minimizing solar heat gains
in building through passive designing for a harmonious balance
between man-made structure, the Walian House and nature.

2. Research Question(s):
Question1: Howsustainabilityhelpsinachieving environmentalvalueinArchitecture?
Question2: Why does the orientationof the buildingplaysan importantroleinsustainability?
Question3: What are the benefits of implementinganopenplanninginourhotand humidtropical
climate?
Question4: Howdoes the gardensandvegetation affect the surroundingtemperatureofsite
contextuallyof the WalianHouse?
Question5: Howdoes the designof the layered roof structure of the WalianHouse affect the thermal
comfortandits significancetosustainability?
Question6: Why the extensive usageof timberas a sustainablebuildingmaterialinthe constructionof
the WalianHouse?
Question7: Howcanpassive designstrategies helpinmaintainingaharmoniousbalancebetween
man-madestructureandnature?
Summary ofthetopic (254words):
With the rise in the usageof HVAC to keep us coolandcomfortableindoors,thedemandforelectricity
alsoincreases.Thisinadditionincreasesthedemandofthe burning of coalswhichinturn returns
carbonmonoxidetoourenvironmentwhich ultimatelycausesglobalwarming.However,at timeslike
this, Architecture canbeseen shiftingtowards becomingmoreenvironmentalconscious.Thepush
towardsdeveloping moresustainablebuildingsthatdoes not impacttoomuchofthe environmentisa
goodsign as the irreversibledamage donetoour earth hasgreat consequences.
Thephenomenonofglobalwarminghappeningcanbegreatlyreducedifmoderndayhouseslookinto
practicinga moresustainableapproach.Theresearch ofthisprojectwilllookinto how contemporary
houseslike the WalianHousewhichwasbuiltaroundthe 1980’shas started addressingissuesof global
warmingbypracticingsustainability.JimmyLim,the awardwinningArchitectincorporatessustainable
architectureforthe tropicalclimateextensivelyby taking advantageof the site, incorporatinglayered
roofing,placingairvents andopeningsat groundlevel andetc inhis designs.Thus,the research ofthis
projectwillrevolve aroundthe passive designstrategies foundin the WalianHouse that canimprove
the thermalcomfortandat the sametime strike a harmoniousbalancewithnature.
Passive designstrategies likethe orientationof the building,the openplanning,vegetation,roof design
andmaterialusagearediscussedassolutionsto overcomingcontinual usageof energyintensive air
conditioningandforpushingtowardsamoresustainableapproach.

3. Annotated Bibliography
Gauzin-Müller, D. (2002). Sustainable architecture and urbanism: concepts, technologies,
examples. Springer Science & Business Media.
Discussion about climate change, global warming issues, and irreversible environmental
damage and the implications of the building sector and how it impact the environment. Also
focuses on sustainability and discussed the approach and steps taken to rectify current
problems involving the environment.
Ismail, H. W. (2005). Houses in Malaysia: Fusion of the East and the West. Penerbit UTM.
The fusion of the east and west relates how Architecture influenced each other across
borders with no boundaries. The book closely relate how vernacular architecture from the
east or west can influence one’s way of designing a building and adopting it to fit the local
climate and condition perfectly with improvisation.
Lim, J. C. TROPICAL ARCHITECTURAL STUDIES TOWARDS A SUSTAINABLE FUTURE.
This book shows the importance to respond towards local architecture with site context and
being sensitive to the climate while building towards sustainability.
Mimar 26. (1987). Mimar Architecture In Development.
A compilation of contemporary residences, self-built houses in Mayotte, Architecture in South
east asia: Malaysia, Istanbul guide.
Williamson, T. J., Radford, A., & Bennetts, H. (2003). Understanding sustainable architecture.
Taylor & Francis.
This book discussed on the understanding of sustainable Architecture as a review of the
assumptions, beliefs, goals and bodies of knowledge that underlie the endeavour to design
(more) sustainable buildings and other built developments.