The University of Sheffield School of Architecture ARC 6989: Reflections on Architectural Design Process (MAAD) Name: Xianfeng Wu Registration No: 120185403 Bioclimatology - other way of doing High-rise building Abstracts As the construction climax of high-rise building emerges all over the world, architects increasingly focus on how to weaken inevitable and irresistible issues. Therefore, many design methods and research strategies are proposed to minimize or even conquer these obstacles. The essay first introduces the background and trend about developing history of skyscrapers and also discusses pros and cons on skyscrapers. Then, the definition of Bioclimatic Skyscrapers is presented. After that, analysis on how to develop this method to guide skyscrapers is introduced. Besides, one case study, Menara Mesiniaga, designed by architect Ken Yeang, in Subang Jaya Selangor, Malaysia, is introduced. In this case study, I introduce how to reflect design process in three ways – site, response and make. Finally, the limitation of bioclimatic design is argued and the theory response to the design process is concluded. The paper aims to demonstrate how bioclimatology reflects design process. The strategy of skyscrapers design responses to cultural, professional and economic context. Background As an architectural student, with a background of design practice through academic courses and researches, I am gradually interested in high-rise building and focusing on the ways of designing high-rise building. Each coin has its two sides. High-rise building is no exception. The advantages of high-rise building are obvious while the disadvantages are tough to be settled down. Many constructed or constructing high-rise buildings are still in the state of environment-unfriendly, low standard and efficiency, high consumption and pollution, and featureless (Feng & Wu, 2011). Architects concentrate on how to weaken inevitable and irresistible issues. Therefore, many design methods and research strategies are proposed to minimize or even conquer these obstacles. Floorplan and spatial configuration are main traditional strategies. Architects organize and make different spaces to meet the requirement of variety functions. For example, in order to rationally use the natural resources, the direction toward of tall building is considered by designers. Researches have been done to demonstrate that the same building which towards to east or west will have more energy load than to north and south. The cores of tall building should be arranged at the east-west direction to keep the main body from direct sunlight, thus saving air conditioning energy consumption and minimize the heat loss (Feng &Wu, 2011). Other strategies, like the forming of high-rise building, adding local culture and styles etc., are also excellent to tackle drawbacks of tall building. Besides, with the deterioration of the environment, people have increasingly realized the importance of ‘Green’ concept, which can helps to improve and protect the environment (Stuart, 1993). The need to conserve energy and design for a sustainable future is becoming imperative for all designers (Yeang, 1996). Before Ken Yeang`s research, many architects also think about how to make the high-rise building sustainable and harmony with environment. For architects, the greater challenge comes from the use of form and space to achieve ‘green’ building, this approach is more low-cost, more sustainable results, more readable, fuller of architectural features. Architectural form has a close relationship with shaping space through the ‘building’ space to ‘building’ people's behavior, so the initial impact of the creative design, to building ‘green’ at the starting line (Gissen, 2002). However Ken Yeang has pioneered the passive low-energy design of tall buildings, which he calls the ‘bioclimatic skyscraper’. Ken Yeang is an expert in new building technology and the modern world. However, he is interested in low-tech building and believes the simplest and efficiency solutions can be found by using natural resources. In his architectural practice, tall building could be reconsidered as ‘an environmentally sensitive mechanism’. The core conception is high rise building models in tropical climates. Traditional modern tall building is air-conditional and artificial building interior environment. Conversely, Ken Yeang presents his skyscrapers that consist of natural light and ventilation in interior environment and are decorated by variety vegetation. The sense of nature in urban life is addressed but not added within the building. The buildings he created are response to surrounding environment. In my essay, the definition of Bioclimatic Skyscrapers is presented. After that, analysis on how to develop this method to guide skyscrapers is introduced. Then, one case study, Menara Mesiniaga, designed by architect Ken Yeang, in Subang Jaya Selangor, Malaysia, is introduced. Through case study designed by Ken Yeang, this essay mainly discuss about how tall building with bioclimatic technology reflects its site, make and even cultural section. Finally, the bioclimatic method of doing skyscrapers is reflected to my studio design. Definition Typically, the definition of Bioclimatic skyscrapers is that ‘one which uses passive low energy techniques to produce buildings which are environmentally interactive, efficient and increase occupant comfort’ (Yeang, 1996). Three basic elements are related: buildings (i.e. architecture), environment (i.e. climate) and comfort. The relationships between these three elements are, according to Dean Hawkes, described by Vitruvius's tri-partite model. Vitruvius in his ‘Ten Books on Architecture' describes the fundamental relationships between climate, comfort and architecture in his model of environment. This is illustrated in Figure 1. (Davies, 1999) This model defines the building primarily linked climate and the comfort and ignore the influence of technology. Technology improved the building to a new direction since the Indudtrial Revolution. Mr. Olgyay (1963) developed the Vitruvian`s model and believed that a method of controlling environment could be found through working with climate. This is shown in Figure 2. Figure 1 Figure 2 We can define the bioclimatic skyscraper as a tall building whose built form is configured by design... to relate to the site`s climate and meteorological data... (Yeang, K., 1996) In his opinion, the key character of the bioclimatic design that using passive ways to shape the building configuration and choose building materials is encouraged. After reviewing a few of the buildings, you will find that climate is the most important factor considered by Ken Yeang. He concentrates on how to make a comfortable interior and exterior of the tall building based on tropical climate. Therefore, it is really important to understand what the climate is like in Malaysia where most of his architecture practices have been built. The climates in three cities in Malaysia with two cities in Europe are compared to distinguish different zones of climate. This data clearly demonstrates the difference between a tropical climate, e.g. Malaysian, and a temperate climate, e.g. European. Malaysia has typically tropical characters: high temperatures and wet months throughout the year. The temperatures change little all the day and night. Wind speed is the most important influence in Malaysia in mitigating the oppressive sultry heat (Pearce & Smith, 1990). Conversely, the weather changes frequently from day to day in Germany and the United Kingdom. The adopting and implementation of these ‘Green’ concepts including green space, green building and green behavior delivers the intention of using environmentally friendly architecture design to bring people a better life (James, 2000). Indeed, the green design provides us a natural-feeling environment. How to apply the bioclimatic strategies to influences the design process? Case study 1. Introduction Menara Mesiniaga, designed by architect Ken Yeang, in Subang Jaya Selangor, Malaysia. This is a headquarters building for an electronics and business machine company (IBM`s Malaysia agency). This building is considered as a masterwork to arrange the relationship between building and its surrounding climate. Both external and internal design features use a bioclimatic approach to produce an operationally low-energy building that makes the most of the pleasant ambient tropical climate. Though Ken Yeang is a specialist in Sustainable technology, Menara Mesiniaga is also designed to assembling variety of passive ways to make the building sustainable. 2. Site How is site understood? Menara Mesiniaga is designed as a high rise building. The surrounding environment is a mixture of unplanned and beautifully lush places. Residential complexes, living houses, office buildings and beautiful natural views could be seen from the tall building. The largest shopping center is located within walking distance of the skyscraper and the medical center can also be seen. In summary, the surrounding buildings are all in low levels-1 to 2. Low density buildings and beautiful natural views could all be seen from high rise building. The natural landscape is really beautiful. A substantial amount of growth within the area is very eye catching. With the help of federal highway, the transportation flow is acceptable. High rise building might be the idea of clients. However, when realizing such a beautiful view surrounds the site, even not the purpose of clients, architects