Shading Performances On Neo-Minimalist And Colonial Style Apartment In Penang, Malaysia

This study aims to measure the sunlight shading performance on the two front apartment façades with different design of the architectural styles in Malaysia. Two case studies of high-rise apartments in Penang were selected for a comparative study of the results of sunlight shading performance. The first case study is Halaman Kristal apartment, a thirty one stories high rise with a mix of European and traditional architectural styles so called the colonial architectural style located in Jelutong, Penang. On the other hand, the second case study is twenty six stories Bayswater condominium designed with early neo-minimalist style located at the east cost of Penang Island, Malaysia. Penang with a latitude 5° 25' 0" N and longitude 100° 19' 0" E is in tropical climate. Nowadays, it is second most important state in Malaysia, which has witnessed great developing progress during the last decade. SunTool software is used in the survey to calculate shading area on the high rise façade. The survey will be conducted in hourly intervals from 8:00 am to 7:00 pm at a position when the sun path is perpendicular to the house façade, and then the comparison between these two designs will be made from the results of the computer simulations. The research finds that the colonial style has slightly better results of its shading performance compared to the neo-minimalist style in the morning and evening hours. The recessed wall and balcony design at Halaman Kristal is more effective shading elements compared to those at Bayswater Apartment. The elements block sunlight penetration to the indoor area and solar radiation to the façade wall. The important focus is the facade design for the late evening hours after 5:00 pm where the use of vertical louver and attached roof overhang as the additional shading devices are important to tackle solar radiation.