Sustainable Indigenous Housing

This study analyses the thermal performance of apartment facades designed based on vernacular architecture in Malaysia. The focus of this study on solar radiation This study attempts to measure the level of solar radiation and shading performance of the apartment facade designs equipped with shading devices (for passive cooling) in response to tropical conditions. This is called a passive design.
.The design does not include mechanical cooling or heating, but in case of using shading devices, it is characterized by roof overhangs, attached roofs, recessed walls, balconies or verandas, and louver screens. Vernacular style is derived from the traditional architecture. The design requires the designer’s understanding of nature and the surrounding environment. The knowledge of nature is important intraditional architecture. This design-with-nature approach is best reflected in the climatic design of the building. Two apartments with vernacular architecture in Putrajaya were selected as the case studies. A thermal device named Fluke Ti20 Infrared Camera was used to record a series of thermal images of the surface of the apartment facades. The images of the apartment facade were taken hourly during the field works. The results of the study show that the facade designs of apartments have a good thermal performance due to shading design.. In conclusion, apartments designed based on the vernacular architecture including traditional passive cooling features ,embedded as a part of the design, suit the tropical climatic conditions of Malaysia and are thermally comfortable