ASIAN ARCHITECTURE (ARC60403)

PROJECT: CONTEXTUAL ARCHITECTURE STUDY

& CASE STUDY PAPER

A STUDY ON THE APPLICATION OF OPENNESS

AS A DESIGN CONCEPT TO ACHIEVE THERMAL
COMFORT IN SEKEPING SERENDAH

NAME: LING YUAN MING

STUDENT ID: 0318758
TUTOR: NURUL ALIA AHAMAD
SUBMISSION DATE: 24 NOVEMBER 2015

1 | Page

A STUDY ON THE APPLICATION OF OPENNESS AS A DESIGN

CONCEPT TO ACHIEVE THERMAL COMFORT IN SEKEPING
SERENDAH.

Table of Content
Cover Page

Abstract

1.0 Introduction

2.0 Case Study

2.1 Overview of Thermal Comfort
2.2 Factors affecting Thermal Comfort in Sekeping Serendah retreat

5
6

3.0 Openness as a Passive Design Concept

4.0 Factors affecting Effectiveness of Openness

4.1 Georaphy and Layout
4.2 Natural Ventilation
4.2.1 Cross Ventilation
4.2.2 Stack Ventilation
4.3 Shading
4.3.1 Natural Shading devices
4.3.2 Man-made Shading devices

8-9
10-11
12-13
14-16
17-18

5.0 Discussion and Recommendation

19

6.0 Conclusion

19

7.0 References

20

2 | Page

Abstract
The objective of doing a study on the design concept of the retreat in Sekeping Serendah is to
identify actually how and how effective is the concept applied in that particular surrounding
context. As Sekeping Serendah is located in a forest, it is important to understand the suitability
of the concept and how it fully utilize its surrounding to achieve best results. The mentioned
efficiency is based on the thermal heat comfort aspect on how this concept deals with heat gain,
heat circulation and the expel of heat. Thermal comfort of buildings determines the satisfaction
of the visitors and is important in order to allow pleasant stay at the retreat. Passive design is a
method of achieving thermal comfort without using mechanical system but through usage of
passive design elements such as sunshades, overhangs, cavity walls and many more. Information
on Sekeping Serendah itself and also passive design strategies are obtained and gathered from
various sources such as the official website, online newspaper and credible design webs as
hardcopy documentation are not yet available. The most prominent design concept found in this
retreat is the openness of the building design available in Sekeping Serendah. Taking advantage
of the surrounding context, the architect used the context, ventilation and shading to achieve
thermal comfort in the Sekeping Serendah retreat. By altering the massing and orientation as
well as the openings of the buildings, natural ventilation is greatly encouraged and prevailing
winds are utilized. This generates cross and stack effect, effective in expelling heat. The
advantage of the context is that it is covered by tall trees and with the additional help of
overhanging in buildings, heat gain is severely minimized and the effort to achieving thermal
comfort eases.

3 | Page

1.0 Introduction
Located at the equilateral, Malaysia is a country which experiences hot and humid climate
throughout the year. Malaysia has a consistent temperature about 20-30C with high humidity
about 70-90%.
Designed by Ar Ng Sek San, Sekeping Serendah retreat is located at Hulu Selangor. Hidden
in the midst of the tropical rainforest, the retreat hides well underneath the trees fully utilizing
the environment. The retreat consists of 10 sheds of 5 different types. The sheds are designed
based on traditional Malay house to fully accommodate the tropical climate and context as well.
They have maximum openings and high ceilings contributing to great lighting and ventilation.
The building materials depends on the different types of sheds. The paper investigates the design
strategies in achieving thermal comfort of the Sekeping Serendah retreat by responding to the
following research questions:
1. How openness acts as major concept when designing the Sekeping Serendah retreat?
2. How does vegetation contribute in natural shading to achieve thermal comfort in
Sekeping Serendah?
3. Are overhanging eaves effective help in achieving thermal comfort in Sekeping
Serendah?
4. How effective is the application of ventilation strategies in regulating the thermal comfort
in the building in Sekeping Serendah?
5. How shading and ventilation components in Sekeping Serendah strategically orientated to
achieve thermal comfort efficiently?

4 | Page

2.0 Case Study

2.1 Overview of Thermal Comfort
ANSI/ASHRAE Standard 55 (2013) defines the range of indoor thermal environmental
conditions acceptable to a majority of occupants, but accommodates an ever increasing variety of
design solutions intended both to provide comfort and to respect today's imperative for
sustainable buildings. Hence, thermal comfort is subjective and varies depending on individual.
However, there is a range of comfort zone for temperature for instance, 21-27C. Thermal
comfort range in Malaysia can be seen in the yellow box in the psychrometric chart below.

Figure 1: Psychrometric Chart for Malaysia

Source : https://octerra.wordpress.com/

5 | Page

2.2 Factors affecting Thermal Comfort in Sekeping Serendah retreat

A users thermal environment differs depending on the both the environmental factors and
also personal factors. The combination of environmental factors such as humidity, movement as
well as the temperature of air together with personal factors such as metabolic rate and clothing
affects the thermal comfort of oneself and the environment. Personal factors are mostly affected
by the activities carried out by users. Activities such as playing by the pool or bird watching are
definitely cooler compared to jungle trekking and would require thinner clothing and lower
metabolic rate in comparison. In Sekeping Serendah, the humidity is constantly high as it is
contained in a tropical rainforest. However, the most important factors, temperature and air
movement were tackled by the architect. By lowering the surrounding temperature by only 2-3
degrees, our body is capable of detecting the change, not to mention more than five degrees. This
little numbers helps a lot in regulating the thermal system. Next, the presence of air movement or
wind chills at any temperature will cool the user. Therefore, by improving air ventilation and
reducing the temperature in the retreat, thermal comfort can be achieved.

6 | Page

3.0 Openness as a Passive Design Concept

As stated in the title, this case study would focus more on the application of openness as a
passive design concept. It can be seen from all the five different styles of sheds in Sekeping
Serendah retreat that is it obvious the concept openness is used. The openness of space can be
defined as spaces which are constructed with minimal to no enclosure on the top, sides, or both.
Openness is considered a passive design concept as it requires minimal mechanical systems to
improve the condition. This is because openness allows both natural ventilation and also natural
lighting into and out of the space reducing the need of air conditioners and lighting.
The application of openness are usually for public spaces where the concept itself affects the
privacy level of spaces besides aiding as a passive design element. However in Sekeping
Serendah retreat, this has been countered with the help of the surrounding context. As a retreat,
users can maintain their privacy at the same time fully enjoy everything nature can provide
without mechanical systems.
The sheds are intentionally kept basic with open sheds and maximum openings, making them
transparent-like. This is because the design is partially influenced by the Traditional Malay
houses. The significant features of the Traditional Malay houses that made them special are the
openings and their spatial layouts.

7 | Page

4.0 Factors affecting Effectiveness of Openness

The concept of openness can be very effective and would greatly aid in achieving thermal
comfort if done properly. This concept contributes to natural lighting and also natural ventilation
which are mainly from the sun and wind respectively. Thus by designing responsively towards
these two sources, the surrounding temperature and air movement can be manipulated to our
advantages.
4.1 Georaphy and Layout
Sekeping is located right alongside but at the foot of the Titiwangsa Mountains represented
by the green patch marked 1 on the diagram below with an arrow indicating the location. Foothill
usually collects most rain and wind as they are restricted to go further, making Sekeping an
exceptionally windy spot during the Southwest Monsoon from late May to September.

Figure 2: Peninsular Malaysia map showing Titiwangsa Mountains and Sekeping

8 | Page

Figure 3: Plan layout of Sekeping Serendah retreat

Source: http://www.sekeping.com/serendah/home.html

The sheds in Sekeping Serendah are randomly distributed with large gaps and distances
among each other to capture wind. This ensures that the wind velocity in the houses of the latter
path of the wind will not be substantially reduced. With a spread building layout, each shed
experiences unobstructed maximum wind velocity as wind travels freely.

9 | Page

4.2 Natural Ventilation

Ventilation can be defined as a process or act of supplying a space continuously with fresh
air. Natural ventilation, also called passive ventilation uses natural outside air movement and
pressure differences to both passively cool and ventilate a space. It is important as it provides and
move fresh air without the use of mechanical systems like fan. Natural ventilation helps in
meeting a buildings cooling load without using air conditioning systems. Natural ventilation can
be divided into two types, namely cross ventilation and stack ventilation. These two types uses
the same concept but help ventilation in different ways in a space.

4.2.1 Cross Ventilation

Cross ventilation uses wind to carry out the ventilation, therefore also called wind
ventilation. It uses the force of wind to pull air through a space. Wind ventilation is the easiest,
most common and least expensive form of passive cooling and ventilation.
Cross ventilation is activated by placing inlets and outlets to optimize the air path flow in the
building. In Sekeping Serendah, the concept of openness has minimized the number of walls at
the same time maximizing openings. Most of the sheds are open and not enclosed at the sides.
Cross ventilation aids movement of air around users to cool down 1-1.5 oC. This design of the
buildings allow maximum airflow through the spaces. Diagrams below show the airflow in three
different sheds.

10 | P a g e

Figure 4: Cross-ventilation illustration in a glass shed

Source: http://www.sekeping.com/serendah/home.html

Figure 5: Cross-ventilation illustration in a timber shed

Source: http://www.sekeping.com/serendah/home.html

11 | P a g e

Figure 6: Cross-ventilation illustration in a timber shed

Source: http://www.sekeping.com/serendah/home.html

4.2.2 Stack Ventilation

Stack ventilation and Bernoullis principle are two types of passive ventilation that works
together using the difference in air pressure to pull air through a space. Stack ventilation uses
temperature differences to move air. Physics principle, Hot air rises, cool air sinks happens
because hot air is less dense, lighter and has lower pressure compared to the heavier cool air
which has higher pressure. Due to this, hot air rises and collects at the ceiling. The outside air
which is constantly moving has a lesser pressure compared to the still hot air below the ceiling
causes the hot air to ventilate out, cooling the interior.
In Sekeping Serendah, sheds are designed with higher ceilings to collect hot air at higher
height and openings are present at the ceiling or roof for easy elimination of hot air. Diagrams
below show the movement of hot air rising and escaping via openings at the roof.

Figure 7: Stack-ventilation illustration in glass shed

Source: http://www.sekeping.com/serendah/home.html

12 | P a g e

Figure 8: Stack-ventilation illustration in glass shed

Source: http://www.sekeping.com/serendah/home.html

Figure 9: Stack-ventilation illustration in warehouse

Source: http://www.sekeping.com/serendah/home.html

Both types of natural ventilation expel heat and stale air from a space by movement of air
effectively. With this design concept, air flow and ventilation is allowed to happen freely. This
reduces the need of mechanical ventilation system in the buildings in the retreat, thus making the
retreat sustainable and eco-friendly.

13 | P a g e

4.3 Shading
Sun is the primary natural heat contributor and heat is first and mostly transferred to areas
exposed to sunlight. With proper shading devices, the concept of openness can be widely used
despite the how open the buildings are.

4.3.1 Natural Shading Devices

Sekeping Serendah is built on a heavily vegetated irregular slopes. Surrounded by 500-yearold tropical rainforest with canopy trees blooming over 40 meters high in average, the Sekeping
retreat gets all the natural shading it can have. Trees are the first line of defense against sunlight.
With the presence of canopy layer above a building, sunlight is mostly filtered and with some
areas even fully blocked. This can be seen in the figures below that the sheds are fully shaded
most of the time with little light rays that contribute to the poeticness of the spaces.

Figure 10: The interior of warehouse shed showing the light reflected on the floor covered by dense vegetation.
Source: http://www.sekeping.com/serendah/home.html

14 | P a g e

Figure 11: Tall canopy trees surrounding the glass box shed with minimal sunlight
Source: http://www.sekeping.com/serendah/home.html

Figure 12: Light rays on the ground with timber shed

Source: http://www.sekeping.com/serendah/home.html

However, heat is transferred through radiation but with direct sunlight greatly reduced, heat
is greatly minimized. According to ACTrees (2010), an experiment had been carried out and it
showed that the canopy layer is able to reduce the temperature below the canopy as much as 5 to
15 degree Celsius depending on the thickness of the canopy.

15 | P a g e

Figure 13: Section showing how sunlight is filtered by the tree canopy and the temperature difference

The tree canopy available at the site is able to filter and reduce heat gain as much as 30-60%.
Sheehan (2007, p. 95) stated that careful placement of trees can reduce the energy required for
cooling by 7-40%. This is because the building will be cooled by evapotranspiration which is the
release of water vapour from soil and plant surfaces into the atmosphere. (Landscape for Life,
2015). Thus, thermal comfort can be accomplished with ease and the need of air conditioning
system is reduced to a minimal. Not only that, due to the many openings and wall-less
construction, sunlight that penetrates through the canopy layer is sufficient in lighting the spaces
up during the day, saving the need of mechanical lighting system. Therefore, environmental
sustainability is achieved.

16 | P a g e

4.3.2 Man-Made Shading Devices

Exterior shades plays an important role in controlling heat gain and are generally more
effective than interior shades because sunlight is fully blocked before entering window. Exterior
shades comes as a second line of defense against sunlight after the natural shading. Exterior
shading devices include awnings, louvers shades and overhanging eaves.
Overhanging eaves are very effective because they block direct sunlight. Their materials and
effectiveness are determined by the roof. A gap is usually present between the uppermost layer
and the floor level to allow accumulation of heat directly under the eaves or roofs. This is to
prevent direct heating into the entire interior space.

17 | P a g e

Figure 14: Glass Shed with steel decking as roof and

overhanging eaves
Source: http://www.sekeping.com/serendah/home.html

Figure 15: Section showing how heat is accumulated under

the steel decking

18 | P a g e

Figure 16: Fist floor of the glass shed

Source: http://www.sekeping.com/serendah/home.html

Figure 17: Timber shed with large overhanging protecting from the sun
Source: http://www.sekeping.com/serendah/home.html

Overhanging eaves can be found on glass sheds and timber sheds in Sekeping Serendah. The
reason overhanging eaves can be found in glass shed is because it consists of two floors causing
it to stand taller than the other sheds, closer to the canopy. As a result, there is thinner layer of
canopy above and the shed has higher chances of exposure to the sun. As for the timber shed,
overhanging eaves are present throughout the entire house as a symbol of tradition from the
Traditional Malay house. With the help of the overhanging eaves, a larger region beneath it can
receive protection from the sun, thus gaining lesser heat over time and will maintain an overall
lower temperature.
19 | P a g e

5.0 Discussion and Recommendation

In overall, Sekeping Serendah retreat is a success realizing the architects dream in achieving
sustainability through passive design strategies. The strategies are worked very well with the
surrounding. However, due to its openness, the sheds are prone to wildlife. Safety measures need
to be taken into consideration.
During the Southwest Monsoon from late May to September, the wind may be too strong at
the site occasionally and the wall-less construction cannot protect users from strong wind. Wind
breakers such as scrubs should be planted on the South-East direction of the site.

6.0 Conclusion
As a conclusion, the sheds in Sekeping Serendah retreat are well blended into the
surrounding. The concept of openness is implemented into the design perfectly. Even though this
design concept has weaknesses, the architect was able to turn the tables and achieved the main
purpose of creating Sekeping Serendah. The fusion of the concept openness and the context
successfully created a sustainable environment despite the small scale project. By utilizing the
geographical location, wind and the dense vegetation available, the retreat uses natural
ventilation and shading to achieve thermal comfort. With the help of a canopy above as a
segregation layer, heat is greatly reduced and is further minimized with the help of ventilation.
As a result, a much lower temperature is achieved in the shed and the need for mechanical
ventilation system as well as lighting system in the retreat is reduced. Nonetheless, the great

20 | P a g e

nature experience and comfort in Sekeping Serendah are preserved despite the effort in achieving
thermal comfort.

References
Aflaki, A., Mahyuddin, N., Al-Cheikh Mahmoud, Z., & Baharum, M. R. (2015). A
review on natural ventilation applications through building faade
components and ventilation openings in tropical climates. Energy & Buildings.
Ashrae. (2015). Standards, Research & Technology. Retrieved from Ashrae:
https://www.ashrae.org/standards-research--technology/standards--guidelines
Autodesk. (2015). Passive Design Startegies. Retrieved from Autodesk Sustainability
Workshop: http://sustainabilityworkshop.autodesk.com/buildings/passivedesign-strategies
Chuk, L. R. (2011, October 4). Ng Sek San. Habitus Living, p. 1.
Fund, R. C. (n.d.). General Features of Tropical Plants. Retrieved from Rainforest
Conservation Fund: http://www.rainforestconservation.org/rainforestprimer/rainforest-primer-table-of-contents/e-composition-of-tropicalrainforests/3-general-features-of-tropical-plants/
Kuhns, M. (2015). Planting Trees for Energy Conservation: The Right Tree in the
Right Place. Retrieved from Utah State University:
http://forestry.usu.edu/htm/city-and-town/tree-selection/planting-trees-forenergy-conservation-the-right-tree-in-the-right-place
Life, L. f. (2015). Use Vegetation to Increase Energy Efficiency. Retrieved from
Landscape for Life: http://landscapeforlife.org/plants/use-vegetation-toincrease-energy-efficiency/
Mah, K. (2013). Getting away without leaving town. Kuala Lumpur: The Malay Mail.
McGinley, M. (2011, June 11). Climate of Malaysia. Retrieved from The Encyclopedia
of Earth: http://www.eoearth.org/view/article/151260/
Ng, T. (n.d.). Photo Gallery. Retrieved from Sekeping Serendah:
http://www.sekeping.com/serendah/home.html
Octerra. (2013). Casa de Tarra. Octerra, 1.
Publishing, I. (2012, August 27). Green Maverick Ng Sek San. Indesign Live
Singapore, p. 1.
Sheehan, M. O. (2007). State of the World 2007: Our Urban Future. Earthscan.
21 | P a g e

Case Study Paper Plagiarism Check - 13%

22 | P a g e

23 | P a g e