Paper on Terrace Housing: PRIVACY AND MODIFICATION OF TERRACE HOUSING AMONG MALAY OCCUPANTS IN KLANG VALLEY, MALAYSIA

Author:

Zaiton Abdul Rahim

Faculty of Human Ecology, Universiti Putra Malaysia

Abstract:

Privacy at home is important for normal functioning of daily activity. However, in the context of housing in Malaysia, there are many opinions which suggest that existing terrace housing in incongruent with the privacy needs of its inhabitants. Inconsistency between the house as a site for privacy and the occupants result in behavioural adaptation and redefining of privacy needs, which over time, changed the concept of privacy. Due to its importance, privacy is expected to be one of the main reasons for housing modification which has become a Malaysian culture. 

This research is focused on examining the concept of privacy in the context of housing among Malay families living in terrace housing, and the relationship between privacy and terrace housing design among Malay families living in terrace housing, and the relationship between privacy and terrace housing design and modification. The research employed a combination of survey interview and case study which uses in-depth interview, analytical review of housing layout drawings and site observation. The research involved 374 respondents for the survey interview and 11 respondents for the case study from three housing schemes in Gombak and Kajang. SPSS (Statistical Package for Social Science Software) was used to analyze data from survey interview. Data from case study were interpreted and transcribed to provide consistent results which complement each of the analyses. 

The research found that the concept of privacy in the context of terrace housing among Malay families have changed. Privacy of the family is given importance as compared to community ties and individual privacy. The changes are partly attributed to terrace house and housing environment which do not support the privacy needs of Malay families. It was found that at tthe private level, privacy is most affected by some aspects of terrace housing design particularly the lack of a clear division between the public and private spaces. At the public level, privacy is affected by the overall arrangement of housing units and the external factors of housing environment. Privacy is found to influence housing modification base on the specifics of design attributes modified. However, financial resources of the family, availability of space, individual family's privacy perceptions and expectations and housing environment influenced the level of privacy achieved after housing modification. 

Reference: here.

Paper on TERRACE HOUSING: EMBODIED ENERGY OF BUILDING MATERIALS: A COMPARATIVE ANALYSIS OF DOUBLE STOREY TERRACE HOUSES IN MALAYSIA

By TamilSalvi Mari

Compilation of Research Abstracts by SABD Academic.

Reference: Massa June 2009

Paper on Terrace Housing: HOUSING PREFERENCE IN SHAH ALAM

By Marizatul Liza Meor Gheda

Compilation of Research Abstracts by SABD Academic.

Reference: Massa June 2009

Paper on Terrace Housing: THE NIGHT VENTILATION TECHNIQUE FOR TERRACED HOUSE IN HOT-HUMID CLIMATE OF MALAYSIA

By Doris Toe Hooi Chyee

Compilation of Research Abstracts by SABD Academic.

Reference: Massa June 2009

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.

Paper on Terrace Housing: REINTRODUCTION OF VENTILATION COMPONENTS FOR TERRACE HOUSES IN MALAYSIA

Author:

Ismail Said , Raja Nafida  Raja Shahminan and Rajeh Salleh

Department of Architecture, Faculty of Built Environment

Universiti Teknologi Malaysia, P.O. Box 791

80990, Johor Bahru, Malaysia

Abstract:

The migration of rural population to cities in Malaysia caused the government and private agencies to built 1.8 millions units of house from 1976 to 1995. Most of the houses are built in rows called terrace houses with openings only on the front and back elevations. The lack of emphasis of local authorities to regulate sufficient ventilation, low outside wind velocity and building design disregard the need of cross ventilation have resulted houses having poor natural ventilation of less than 1.0 m/s air movement in the interior spaces. The ventilation quality could be improved by the introduction of perforated components use by many traditional houses and shophouses in the country. The components include  tophungs of door and window, tall window with adjustable louvers, wall panels and gables. The introduction of these features in the terrace houses will improve the living comfort of urban housing, revitalizing the traditional craft to modern society, and harmonizing the urban dwellers in a multi-racial society by an architectural artifact. Utilization of the panel could boost the furniture and cottage industries which inline with the government policy.

More on the paper can be read here.

Paper on Terrace Housing: CULTURAL-ETHNIC LANDSCAPE OF TERRACE HOUSING COMMUNITY IN PENINSULAR MALAYSIA

Author:

Ismail Said

Universiti Teknologi Malaysia

Abstract:

Cultural-ethnic landscape symbolizes the belief and cultural values of an ethnic group living in a community. The landscape is an expression of people's idea and work; illustrating intrinsic understanding and relationship of people to their fellow beings and environment. Such landscape  is significant to the human community development and more challenging to establish it in a multi-ethnic society such as terrace house neighbourhood in Peninsular Malaysia than in homogenous society. 

This research investigates the characteristics of terrace house gardens from three ethnic groups, namely, Malays, Chinese and Indians. Through inventory and analysis of 23 neighbourhoods in Peninsular Malaysia, it is found that 52% of the terrace houses have gardens. The design of garden and its features are partially influenced by ethnicity belief of the residents. The differences are in selection of plant species which are determined by the religious belief and ritual rite of the ethnic group. In hierarchical importance, the plant species are planted in the house garden for five reasons or uses, namely (i) decoration, (ii) food, (iii) medicine and cosmetics, (iv) ritual, and (v) provision of shade.

More on the paper can be read here.

Paper on Terrace Housing: TAKING CUES FROM THE PAST: INCREASING THE LIVABILITY OF TERRACE HOUSING IN MALAYSIA THROUGH THE RAISED FLOOR INNOVATION

Author:

Mazlan Mohd Tahir, Nur Akmal Goh Abdullah, Azimin Samsul Mohd Tazilan, Nik Lukman Nik Ibrahim, Mastor Surat, Abdul Halim Ismail, Zuhairuse Md Darus, Ismar M.S. Usman 

Architectural Research Group UKM 

Department of Architecture, Faculty of Engineering, 

Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia,Malaysia. 

mazlan@vlsi.eng.ukm.my

Abstract:

The ubiquitous terrace house is still the most popular housing type in the country. Terrace housing has long been considered the densest form of  property development and in Malaysia has become the stereotyped form of accommodating the masses. However, its design has been plague with various issues for decades. It has been associated with bad design, heat collector, safety issues and unsightly renovations. In contrary to the tropical architecture with sun shading devices, ventilation, openings and the use of local material such as timber, terrace houses have been designed as masonry and reinforced concrete boxes fitted with air conditioning. The modern day terrace house whilst designed has perhaps overlooked one of the most important elements of a tropical house that is the raised floor. The traditional raised floor design involves issues such as ventilation, lighting, thermal comfort and social aspects.  

This research intends to explore the various issues mentioned above and proposed to uniquely develop a new design for in-house habitation as well as providing for an aesthetically pleasing look. It suggests a possible and promising way of increasing the livability of terrace housing by the means of a raised floor and at this stage it is still in the experimental stage. 

More on the paper can be read here and here. 

Paper on Terrace Housing: THE IMPACT OF WIDER FRONTAGE DESIGN OF LOW-COST DOUBLE STOREY TERRACE HOUSE (LCDSTH) TO AIRFLOW AND NATURAL VENTILATION IN MALAYSIA

Author:
Nurulashikin bt Md Taib @ Md Talib
Kulliyyah of Architecture and Environmental Design
International Islamic University, Malaysia


Abstract:

This thesis presents the result of an analysis which was done to predict the impact of wider frontage design of low-cost double-storey terrace house (LCDSTH) to airflow and natural ventilation in Kuala Lumpur. The existing LCDSTH has narrow frontage and deep plan which necessitates its internal planning with partitions to divide the spaces and arranged the rooms to have single-sided openings. These arrangements have extremely limited cross-ventilation potential and caused discomfort to occupants.

Due to the availability of natural ventilation from the prevailing wind in Malaysia, the LCDSTH design could be manipulated to enhance the natural ventilation to flow into the living spaces and gives cooling effect to ameliorate occupants' thermal comfort. Predictions of the mean internal air velocity in the existing and proposed LCDSTH are used to identify the potential plan for improving thermal comfort.

Computational Fluid Dynamic is chosen due to its capability in fluid dynamic studies. A specific software named FLOVENT is used to predict the internal air velocity by simulation the simplified building configuration of the existing and proposed model of LCDSTH. The outcomes of the simulated results are then compared using the graphic velocity vectors and contour from FLOVENT and also from the mean internal air velocity graph.

The results show that although the proposed design with wider frontage, shorter depth plan and different building height in a staggered and checker board pattern position give the best solution as compared to the existing plan, it is not significant enough to provide to the most preferable air velocity values of 1.0m/s for thermal comfort at every position of each unit in a row of LCDSTH. However, it does improve the performance of the mean internal air velocity in comparison with the existing double storey terrace house that has the design of narrow frontage and deep plan.

More on the paper can be read here.

Paper on Terrace Housing: ADAPTING BY ALTERING: SPATIAL MODIFICATIONS OF TERRACED HOUSES IN THE KLANG VALLEY AREA

Author:
Erdayu Os’hara Omar, Esmawee Endut & Masran Saruwono
Faculty of Architecture, Planning & Surveying
Universiti Teknologi MARA, Malaysia
erdayu24@salam.uitm.edu.my


Abstract:

This paper presents the initial findings of a study on the spatial modifications of fifty houses by homeowners in the Klang Valley area. Using a standardized format, various attributes consisting altered spaces and features were compiled and examined. It appears that certain features of the houses including the kitchen, bedrooms and bathrooms were desperately altered. People have used their creativity in altering the spaces beyond the original intentions of the architect. To some extent, the findings indicate that the current model for providing houses has shortcomings in addressing the need to satisfy the aspirations of individual family to living. 

More on the paper can be read here.