Paper on Terrace Housing: A PRELIMINARY STUDY OF THERMAL ENVIRONMENT IN MALAYSIA’S TERRACED HOUSES

Author:

Agung Murti Nugroho

Architecture Department, Faculty of Engineering, Brawijaya University, Malang (INDONESIA)

E-mail : sasimurti@yahoo.co.id

Abstract:

In a tropical climate, passive cooling is difficult to achieve with respect to mass housing design.  A good house design keeps the indoor environment favorable and comfortable during most of the year without the use of any mechanical devices. Terraced houses are typical examples with low comfort problem that need particular consideration. Low air velocity and high air temperature are experienced during the daytime and the wind effect is not well captured, especially in the single sided ventilation. Use of natural ventilation has been increasingly examined as an energy-efficient means to provide thermal comfort as well as a healthy indoor environment. This paper discusses the measurement of thermal comfort in Malaysia’s single storey terraced houses. The thermal environment and comfort conditions were investigated using field measurement technique. The results indicated that the design of single storey terraced houses is not effective in providing natural ventilation for achieving thermal comfort. The microclimate condition surrounding the terraced house indicated very low wind speed. Therefore, modification of the natural ventilation mechanism needs to be manifested and evaluated.

More on the paper can be read here.