interpreting equatorial malaysiana [5]

FACTORS INFLUENCING HOUSE DESIGN [AN AFFORDABLE PARADISE?] IN TROPICAL OR EQUATORIAL MALAYSIANA FOR A CLIMATICALLY SUSTAINABLE RESULT.

“DISCOVER HIDDEN PARADISE – Welcome to the Newly Discovered, Tropical and Pacific Paradise of ………………………….., in Tropical Malaysia where we can offer large hillside lots from only US$1 per sqm, tailor made bungalows, of all kinds – from only US$39,000.00. We have fantastic, pristine beaches, corals, caves, rivers, waterfalls, wildlife, tracking, bicycling, canoeing, A CLEAN NON POLLUTED ENVIRONMENT and more to offer . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

WELCOME TO OUR AFFORDABLE PARADISE”

i think everyone must feel pretty fortunate of being born and so live in this part of the world, the TROPICAL MALAYSIA. i myself am very proud every time i flip through glossy traveling or properties magazines, when most of the ADVERTISEMENTS in trying to win the heart of travelers and properties buyers, relate and equate tropical climate as being merely paradise [ i don’t know to be frank, how actually ‘paradise’ be like because i myself still pretty unsure whether i am really qualify enough to be there. may ALLAH bless me with His generosity and fulfill all the dreams of me the humble being in this tiny world ].

anyhow that would be my future luck but the present true fact is ALLAH has been so generous for what we already have here now in malaysia, His rewarding gift of TROPICAL CLIMATE.

malaysia lies within the most exotic, the most beautiful sector of this beautiful earth, at the southernmost tip of asia i.e. between latitude 1º N to 8º N and from longitude 99º E to 120º E. the countries comprises the malay peninsula [west malaysia] and sabah and serawak [east malaysia]. eventhough malaysia generally classified as one of the tropical countries because it also lies within the tropics, but climatically, malaysia’s climate would be more perfect to be classified as warm-humid equatorial climate.

equatorial climate characteristics:

high temperature – air temperature averages between 22ºc and 32ºc.
high humidity throughout the year – with heavy cloud cover and high water vapour contents, solar radiation is filtered but occasionally it can be so strong and can cause painful sky glare.
low variable wind in general but strong winds can occurs with the rain. winds come from two dominant directions, from the north-east and south-west.
high rainfall throughout the year averaging from 250cm to 300cm annually and can becomes more intense with the monsoons.
vegetation growth is prolific and is sometimes difficult to control under favorable conditions of moist air, moderate heat and high rainfall.

climatic comfort requirements in designing tropical houses:

the main causes of climatic stress in malaysia are high temperatures, solar radiation, humidity and glare.

exposure to the large areas of land surfaces with less vegetation growth and with less cloudy covered sky under an extreme high heat, may cause problem of unfavorable stressful climatic condition. the relatively high percentages of reflected solar radiation from the land surfaces or even the sky sometimes make glare in houses dominantly be a forever problem if necessary protection and prevention not cleverly taken.

SO, to achieve climatic comfort in designing houses in malaysia, the above factors must be controlled besides the control of rain, floods and occasional strong winds.

sir john soane, a distinguished english architect, once said:

“before we apply the orders of architecture in the exterior of buildings for domestic purposes, we shall do well to pause for a moment and reflect that they were first used in climates where it was desirable to exclude the too powerful rays of the sun, and to produce shade and fresh air from about the building”

from the above preceding explanation of the climatic characteristic of malaysia, it is therefore obvious that to attain optimal climatic control in the process of adapting to the tropical and equatorial malaysiana, a perfect ALLAH’s gift the equivalent of an affordable paradise comfort as what it has been frequently equated to, an house form in malaysia should provide the followings:

1. allow adequate ventilation for cooling and reduction of humidity,
2. use building materials with low thermal capacity so that little heat is transmitted into the house,
3. control direct solar radiation,
4. control glare from the open skies and surroundings,
5. protection against rain; and
6. ensure adequate natural vegetation in the surroundings to provide for a cooler micro climate.