Project 1 : Case Study: Identifying innovative passive design strategies Duration : 7 Weeks Marks : 40% of final Marks (30% + 10% Peer Evaluation) Location : Subang Jaya, Malaysia Buildings : Menara Mesiniaga Architect : Ken Yeang INTRODUCTION The futuristic bio-climatic tower, Menara Mesiniaga, also known as IBM tower was built in Subang Jaya, Malaysia in 1992. The tower which belongs to Mesiniaga Berhad, was designed and built by the architect Kenneth Yeang using his 10 years research into bio-climatic design principle. According to the case study done by Bill Chan “The bioclimatic high-rise is a tall building with passive low energy benefits, achieved through design responses to the climate of the place and through optimizing the use of the locality’s ambient energies, to enhance the quality of life and comfort for its occupants".
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Project 1 : Case Study: Identifying innovative passive design strategies
Duration : 7 Weeks
Marks : 40% of final Marks (30% + 10% Peer Evaluation)
Location : Subang Jaya, Malaysia
Buildings : Menara Mesiniaga
Architect : Ken Yeang
INTRODUCTION
The futuristic bio-climatic tower, Menara Mesiniaga, also known as IBM tower
was built in Subang Jaya, Malaysia in 1992. The tower which belongs to Mesiniaga
Berhad, was designed and built by the architect Kenneth Yeang using his 10 years
research into bio-climatic design principle. According to the case study done by Bill
Chan “The bioclimatic high-rise is a tall building with passive low energy benefits,
achieved through design responses to the climate of the place and through
optimizing the use of the locality’s ambient energies, to enhance the quality of life
and comfort for its occupants".
Diagram 1 : Menara Mesiniaga
DETAILED INFORMATION ABOUT THE BUILDING
CLIMATE
Climatically both Singapore and Malaysia are a hot and humid country;The city of
Kuala Lumpur is situated 3° North of the equator. According to the report by
Safamanesh (1995), rainfall in Malaysia is heavier along the East coast than the
West coast. Most urban and agricultural land is on the West coast and,
consequently, so is most of the population. Due to its position relative to the equator,
the country has no distinct winter or summer and temperatures are consistently
somewhere between 20c and 40c with humidity level between 60 and 70 percent.
GREEN CERTIFICATION
Menara Mesiniaga received the Aga Khan Award for Architecture. This is
possible due to Kenneth Yeang's ten-year research into bio-climatic principles for the
design of medium-to-tall buildings. These concepts can be applied to many-storied
structures in tropical climates (The Aga Khan Development Network, 2007).
Diagram 2 : Logo for Aga Khan Award in Architecture
SITE LOCATION
Diagram 3 : Site Plan of Menara Mesiniaga
The building sits beside a highway towering above a mixture of unplanned
structure and environment; a lake which can be seen from every level of the building,
some residential complexes and townhouses, office buildings, and a mosque. There
is also a medical centre which is within view of the building. Overall, many of the
surrounding buildings are low budget adaptations of older houses. The natural
landscaping catches the eye's attention with a substantial amount of growth within
the area, in respect to community development. The traffic ranges from moderate to
congested at certain hours of the day, due to the existence of the federal highway
nearby.
ORTHOGRAPHICS DRAWING
Diagram 4 : Ground Floor Plan
Diagram 5 : East Elevation
Diagram 6 : South West Elevation
Diagram 7 : Section
How is the thermal environment of Menara Mesiniaga affected by natural and man-
made factors?
1. Built form
Diagram 8 : Part of Elevation on Menara Mesiniaga
Mesiniaga’sverticality allows exposure to the full extent of heat, weather and
temperatures. Mesiniaga’s exoskeleton which are the exposed steel and reinforced
concrete structure helps to reflect the sun, and the entirely exposed columns and
beams are open to cross ventilated cooling. This single core services are built on the
hot side which is on the east.
2. Planting and sky garden
In order to shelter and insulate the lowest three levels from the morning sun,
artificial sloping landscape was created to connect the land to the verticality of the
building. Moreover, its circular spiralling body with landscaped sky courts that helps
cools, ventilates and provide a space for occupants to relief.
Diagram 9 : Elevation of Menara Mesiniaga
3. Solar orientation and shading devices
Curtain wall glazing which are the garden insets provided on the north and
south side helps reduce solar gain and provide thermal comfort for the occupants
while the recessed and shaded windows are on the east and west side as a
response to the tropical sun path. Moreover, cantilevering rooftop pool and a gym
with curvilinear roof on the south facade helps provide thermal comfort for users of
the facilities especially during the high-angled afternoon sun. Furthermore, the pool
insulates and reflects the overhead sun.
Diagram 10 : Top Axono of Menara Mesiniaga
4. Ventilation
Large multi-storey transitional spaces provides airflow in between the zones
and provide better circulation of hot and cool air in and out of the building. Moreover,
the permeable external walls of the building provides cross ventilation even in air
conditioned spaces. Air movement is encouraged underneath the building,
specifically at the lobby entrance as it is half open to the surrounding land while the
other half is circled by the sloped berm.
Diagram 11 : The sloped berm on half ofthe building
while the other half is open for the entrance to the building.
PICTURES OF THE SITE
Diagram 12 : Workspace in Menara Mesiniaga
Diagram 13 : Planter Box
Diagram 14 : South Elevation
Diagram 15 : East Elevation
Diagram 16 : West Elevation
Diagram 17 : North Elevation
Diagram 18 : Site Context of Menara Mesiniaga
Diagram 19 : Lobby of Menara Mesiniaga
CLIMATE ANALYSIS
Diagram 20 : Relative Humidity for Kuala Lumpur
Kuala Lumpur has a tropical wet climate with no dry or cold season as it is
constantly moist due to year-round rainfall. Relative humidity is in the range of 80% -
85%.
Diagram 21 : Average Temperature for Kuala Lumpur
The annual average temperature is 26.6 degrees Celsius. On average, the
warmest month is April while the coolest is September. April would be the wettest
month and June is the driest month.
WIND STUDIES
http://myweb.wit.edu/ oakess/Catalog/
MM_ventilation.html
Diagram 22 : The air flows(green arrows) and air conditioning
air flows(yellow ellipse) throughout the building.
Due to the various wind
directions, the winds are nearly
transferred equally. Menara Mesiniaga
main ventilation is by air conditioning,
as well as the natural ventilation.
The escape stairs are unenclosed
and pushed to the edge of the building. The elevator lobby and washroom spaces
have shaded window openings that give in view and natural ventilation (Architectural
review.V. 192 1993 Jan-June).The sliding doors on the terraces opened up for
natural ventilation to flow throughout the office areas. Office areas uses air
conditioning, as shown by the yellow ellipse. Besides that, part of highest floor which
is an opened space swimming pool area allows for natural ventilation. Moreover, tiny
gap to allow the wind to ventilate the gymnasium under the overhang-curved roofing
is provided. Lastly,the basement parking area is also ventilated.