1. Asian Architecture (ARC 2234 / ARC60403) Project 1: Case Study Paper
Topic & Issue Proposal (10%) Due Date: 11 October 2016
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: CHONG YI QI (0304898)
CHOWHONG DA (0318571)
CLEMENT CHENKIT SEONG (0319574)
JAMESTAYJIACHUEN(0322210)
JANICELEEJUEN YUNG (0318695)
KONG XHIANG LYNN(0317730)
Tutor:MRNICHOLASNG
Solutions to Passive Cooling in Wooi Residence Using Elements
from Traditional Rumah Melayu in Response to the Climate in
Wooi Residence, Shah Alam.
2. Research Question(s):
1. How doesthe openingsaffectthe ventilation in term of type, size, positionandorientationinWooi's
residence?
2. In term of site context,how doesthe surroundingbuildingaffectstheventilationof Wooi's residence.
3. CompareMalayvernaculararchitectureandWooi'sresidenceinterm of ventilation.
4. In term of contextualclimate,whatissuesare encounteredbyapplyingthis designapproachin
Wooi's residence?
5. What are the buildingcomponentswhichpromoteventilationinWooi'sresidence?
Summary ofthetopic:
Contextual architecture is an architecture whose design inspiration comes from
acknowledging notonly the immediate, butthe larger contextofthe building. Being in Malaysia,
a country ofthe tropics, we are exposed to constantrain, sunshine and heat. Therefore, the
need ofpassive design elements are vital to compensate with the hot and humid weather
conditions ofour country.
The building chosen is Wooi Residence, the brainchild ofMalaysian ArchitectWooi Lok
Kuang. Born in a small Malay kampong in Alor Setar, he is inspired to create a truly Malaysian
House from implementing traditional Malay vernacular architecture. Instead of taking Malay
building elements atface value, he reads into the practical reasons for the building elements
which is influenced by the contextof the building. He then reinterprets it with modern ideas and
materials, creating an experimental yetfittingly Malaysian Architecture.
This paper will be exploring the solutions to passive cooling in Wooi Residence using
elements from traditional Rumah Melayu in response to the climate in Wooi Residence, Shah
Alam. Ventilation in a tropical climate such as in Malaysia has many natural factors for Ar. Wooi
to consider. Factors such as openings, site context, building form and building components are
influential to the design ofthe building. For Wooi Residence, experimentation by Ar. Wooi has
made the house an example ofpassive cooling done rightfor Malaysian Architects designing
for local climate.
3. Annotated Bibliography
1. "Contextual Architecture." A Dictionary of Architecture and Landscape Architecture. .
Retrieved October 09, 2016 from
Encyclopedia.com: http://www.encyclopedia.com/education/dictionaries-thesauruses-
pictures-and-press-releases/contextual-architecture
2. Givoni, B. (1994). Passive and low energy cooling of buildings. New York: Van
Nostrand Reinhold.
3. Santamouris, M., & Wouters, P. (2006). Building ventilation: The state of the art.
London: Earthscan.
4. Etheridge, D. (2012). Natural ventilation of buildings: Theory, measurement and design.
Chichester, West Sussex: Wiley.
5. Tugnutt, A., & Robertson, M. (1987). Making townscape: A contextual approach to
building in an urban setting. London: Mitchell.
6. Hassan, A. S. (2009). Contextual issues of the built environment in Malaysia. , Pulau
Pinang: PenerbitUniversiti Sains Malaysia.
7. Richardson, V. (2001). New vernacular architecture. New York: Watson-Guptill
Publications.
8. Asquith, L., & Vellinga, M. (2006). Vernacular architecture in the twenty-first century:
Theory, education and practice. London: Taylor & Francis.
