Asian Architecture [ARC 2213/2234]

PROJECT 1: CASE STUDY

Applications of Natural Materials in Building Design to

Achieve Thermal Comfort in Belum Rainforest Resort,
Pulau Banding.

NAME:

SHARIFAH DIYANA BINTI SYED HUSSAIN

STUDENT ID:

1006AH78373

LECTURER:

MR. KOH JING HAO

SUBMISSION DATE:

11 NOVEMBER 2014

Applications of Natural Materials in Building Design to Achieve Thermal Comfort in

Belum Rainforest Resort, Pulau Banding.

Applications of Natural Materials in Building Design to

Achieve Thermal Comfort in Belum Rainforest Resort,
Pulau Banding.

Table of Contents

Page

Abstract ........................................................................................................................ 3

1.0

Introduction ..................................................................................................... 4

2.0

Materiality in Belum Rainforest Resort ............................................................ 5

3.0

Properties of Natural Materials in Belum Rainforest Resort ............................. 6

3.1

Timber ......................................................................................................... 6

3.2

Bamboo....................................................................................................... 6

3.3

Rammed Earth ............................................................................................ 7

4.0

Factors Affecting Thermal Comfort ................................................................. 8

4.1

Temperature ............................................................................................... 8

4.2

Humidity ...................................................................................................... 8

5.0

Applications of Natural Materials Affecting Temperature & Humidity ............... 9

5.1

Timber ......................................................................................................... 9

5.2

Bamboo..................................................................................................... 11

5.3

Rammed Earth .......................................................................................... 14

6.0 Conclusion ........................................................................................................ 16

7.0 References ........................................................................................................ 17

ARC 2213/2234 Asian Architecture

Applications of Natural Materials in Building Design to Achieve Thermal Comfort in

Belum Rainforest Resort, Pulau Banding.

Abstract
The purpose of this report is to identify the applications of natural materials in
building design to achieve thermal comfort in Belum Rainforest Resort. Through this, a
better understanding of how each natural material addresses the issues of achieving
thermal comfort by taking into considerations of factors such as temperature and
humidity. Literature reviews were conducted to further support the case study through
various sources regarding the topic. Materiality plays a big role in building design.
Through the application of certain materials, it helps to enhance the quality of a space,
as well as achieving sustainability. It could also contribute in reducing environmental
impact while taking into consideration of thermal comfort. Belum Rainforest Resort had
well applied natural materials into their building design to achieve thermal comfort.. By
doing so, it also strengthens the relationship between surrounding nature and the
building itself. Thermal comfort can be broken down into various factors such as
environmental factors and personal factors. However the two of the factors that were
focused on included both temperature and humidity. Further studies on each of the
factors as to how it will affect the spaces and building design were carried out. Some of
the natural materials that can be found at Belum Rainforest Resort are timber, bamboo
and rammed earth. Each of the natural materials was studied to obtain their respective
properties and characteristics. An analysis was conducted to understand the
relationship of each natural materials and how it contributes in achieving thermal
comfort. After obtaining all the relevant information, this paper focuses on how the
application of each natural material into various spaces and building design achieves
thermal comfort in Belum Rainforest Resort. In conclusion, the selection of natural
materials complements each other and the applications of natural materials in Belum
Rainforest Resorts building design manages to achieve thermal comfort.

ARC 2213/2234 Asian Architecture

Applications of Natural Materials in Building Design to Achieve Thermal Comfort in

Belum Rainforest Resort, Pulau Banding.

1.0 Introduction
Belum Rainforest Resort is located in Pulau Banding, Perak. It is set in a
tropical paradise surrounded by nature and known to be one of the main unharmed
forest reserves in Peninsular Malaysia. It is home to a vast number of species of
animals and plants such as the hornbills and rafflesia (Belum Rainforest Resort, 2014).
Unique in its own way, the resort provides amazing experience on the beauty of the
jungle and its surrounding for nature lovers. Besides outdoor activities, guest can
choose to relax indoors as well. The resort provides restaurants and bar with
spectacular views of the lake, as well as a swimming pool. Belum Rainforest Resort
also caters to guests who prefer to stay in with variety of rooms to accommodate their
likings.

The building design of Belum Rainforest Resort is based on tropical architecture.

Due to the surrounding nature, both Phase 1 and Phase 2 of the resort incorporate
natural materials in the design. This is to create a harmonious relationship between the
surrounding nature and the building itself. The natural material resources are also high
in availability throughout Pulau Banding, Perak. Timber and bamboos plants are seen
planted through the resort itself. The selection of each natural material compliments
one another in achieving building sustainability. The usage of natural materials helps in
reducing environmental impact while addressing the factors of thermal comfort.

This paper will investigate on the applications of natural materials in building

design to achieve thermal comfort in Belum Rainforest Resort by responding to the
following question:
1. What are the factors affecting thermal comfort?
2. What are the properties of each natural material?
3. How does the application of timber affect temperature and humidity?
4. How does the application of bamboo affect temperature and humidity?
5. How does the application of rammed earth affect temperature and humidity?

ARC 2213/2234 Asian Architecture

Applications of Natural Materials in Building Design to Achieve Thermal Comfort in

Belum Rainforest Resort, Pulau Banding.

2.0 Materiality in Belum Rainforest Resort

Materiality plays a big role in a building design. It is an important part of the
design process. The application of certain materials enhances the quality of a space
while achieving sustainability. As each material comes with different properties, an
architect should have enough knowledge on them to propose the design with that in
mind. The selection and uses of the materials should address function, aesthetic
aspects, as well as taking into consideration the environmental consequences (Ching &
Eckler, 2013).

Materials must be selected appropriately as it affects thermal comfort in

buildings. The properties of the materials contribute on factors such as temperature
and humidity in the spaces. Thermal conductivity of the materials must be assessed
when constructing the exterior of a building. Building designs with natural materials
show a higher performance in achieving thermal comfort (Gezer, 2003).

Natural materials can easily be obtained and transported around Pulau Banding.
Some of the natural materials that can be found at the resort are timber, bamboo and
rammed earth. Belum Rainforest Resort has well applied natural materials into their
building design. By doing so, they manage to achieve thermal comfort while decreasing
energy cost.

Figure 1: Natural materials found at Belum Rainforest Resort including timber,

bamboo and rammed earth (Source: Syed Hussain, S. D.)

ARC 2213/2234 Asian Architecture

Applications of Natural Materials in Building Design to Achieve Thermal Comfort in

Belum Rainforest Resort, Pulau Banding.

3.0 Properties of Natural Materials in Belum Rainforest Resort

Natural materials are considered as raw materials that can be obtained or
produced locally. Each of the natural materials has their own unique properties and
characteristics that contribute in achieving building sustainability. Natural materials that
were used in Belum Rainforest Resort compliments one another in achieving thermal
comfort hence increasing the effectiveness of its applications. Natural materials that
are used in Belum Rainforest Resort consist of timber, bamboo and rammed earth.

3.1 Timber
Timber is known to be one of the common natural materials that can be found.
As a construction material, timber is strong, lightweight and easy to work with (Ching &
Eckler, 2013). It is aesthetically pleasing as well. They are frequently used as floorings,
walls, furniture and roofing in a building. In Belum Rainforest Resort, timber is used
throughout the Phase 1 and Phase 2 building, as well as the Orang Asli Houses in
Tanjung Satu. Some of the properties of timber are high in thermal insulation and high
in moisture content. This allows low heat transfer between the outside surrounding and
inside of a building (Deplazes, 2005). Moisture content of timber depends on the
absorption and release of moisture in the surrounding air. Timber is required to be well
ventilated to avoid rotting.

3.2 Bamboo
Bamboo is considered a safe natural material for construction. It can be used in
different ways such as building faade and furniture seen in both Belum Rainforest
Resort and the Orang Asli Houses in Tanjung Satu. Its capacity to survive an
earthquake or a hurricane is well known (Jenssen, n.d.). This is due to the high
compressive strength within bamboos. Some bamboos are known to be stronger
compared to timber, as a smaller piece of bamboo can carry a higher load. Bamboos
are also high in moisture content. It varies and is very much influenced by the age of
the bamboo. A younger shoot has a high relative moisture content as compared to and
older shoot. The moisture content is higher in the inner part than the outer part.

ARC 2213/2234 Asian Architecture

Applications of Natural Materials in Building Design to Achieve Thermal Comfort in

Belum Rainforest Resort, Pulau Banding.

3.3 Rammed Earth

Earth is a natural resource which is one of the oldest and versatile that is
commonly used throughout the world as building material (Gezer, 2003). It is low in
cost, easy to work with and can be constructed in various methods such as rammed
earth and sun-dried bricks. Foundations, walls and floors are just a few of the things
that can be done with earth. Rammed earth in Belum Rainforest Resort has an
advantage of high thermal capacity, low thermal conductivity and high moisture content.
These properties directly contribute in achieving thermal comfort. Belum Rainforest
Resort adopts this method of earth to construct walls for building design which pleases
both aesthetically and addresses thermal comfort.

ARC 2213/2234 Asian Architecture

Applications of Natural Materials in Building Design to Achieve Thermal Comfort in

Belum Rainforest Resort, Pulau Banding.

4.0 Factors Affecting Thermal Comfort

Thermal comfort is a very important issue in a building design. An effective
thermal comfort is to create a thermal environment that satisfies the majority of people
in the space (What is Thermal Comfort, n.d.). It can be broken down into environmental
and personal factors. The environmental factors are considered during the design
process of a building to achieve thermal comfort. Two of the factors that will be focused
on are temperature and humidity.

4.1 Temperature
Air temperature is one of the six basic environmental factors of thermal comfort,
also known as the measure of heat. Temperature of the outer air and radiant heat such
as the sun affects the air temperature in a building. Radiant temperature has a greater
influence than air temperature (The Six Basic Factors, n.d.). This is due to the fact that
we absorb radiant energy more. By using natural materials with properties that
contribute in thermal comfort, we are able to maintain the temperature of a building and
providing a satisfactory environment. Belum Rainforest resort has applied this strategy
very well in their building design to obtain optimum temperature throughout the resort.

4.2 Humidity
Another major environmental factor is the humidity. Relative humidity is the ratio
between the actual amount of water vapour in the air and the maximum amount of
water vapour that the air can hold at that air temperature (This Six Basic Factos, n.d.).
This means that relative humidity relies on temperature. Moisture in the air increases
as the temperature increase. A humid building provides better thermal comfort than a
dry space, as it prevents evaporation of sweat. The relative humidity and air
temperature for indoor spaces varies according to climate at the particular region.
Materials chosen for the design is as equally important as it has specific property such
as moisture content that contributes to humidity of a space.

ARC 2213/2234 Asian Architecture

Applications of Natural Materials in Building Design to Achieve Thermal Comfort in

Belum Rainforest Resort, Pulau Banding.

5.0 Applications of Natural Materials Affecting Temperature

& Humidity
Selection of materials in a building design is very crucial, as it helps to address
certain issues of the space. It does not only provide beauty but also helps in
overcoming environmental comfort of a building. Each of the natural materials has their
respective properties and characteristics that contribute in achieving thermal comfort.
This paper focuses on how the application of each natural material into various spaces
and building design achieves thermal comfort in Belum Rainforest Resort and how it
affects both factors of temperature and humidity. The materials that are highlighted
include timber, bamboo and rammed earth.

5.1 Timber
Timber is suitable in all sorts of applications. As seen in the Belum Rainforest
Resort, timber is used as walls, flooring, stairs, windows, fenestrations, building facade,
and roofing. This is due to the easy access of natural materials around Pulau Banding,
Perak. The Belum Rainforest Resort is mainly design with timber to strengthen the
relationship between the surrounding nature and the building itself.

Timber can be used as a construction material in any climatic region. It provides

both comfort and aesthetics. Timber has amazing properties that allows thermal
comfort in buildings to be better. Some of its properties are high in strength, high
thermal insulation and has high moisture content. Indoor temperature and humidity is
important in a building (Gezer, 2003). This is why the selection of materials plays a
major role as it affects the temperature and humidity of a space.

Moisture content is one of the main factors in achieving thermal comfort. Timber
as studied above is very much suitable for moisture storage applications. It allows
controlling and maintaining the humidity of the space. Belum Rainforest Resort uses
timber in both outdoor and indoor aspects of the building to moderate the respective
humidity changes. The usage of timber gives off a cooling effect towards the space.

ARC 2213/2234 Asian Architecture

Applications of Natural Materials in Building Design to Achieve Thermal Comfort in

Belum Rainforest Resort, Pulau Banding.

High in thermal insulation, timber are commonly used in walls and roofing
system. This is adopted in the Belum Rainforest Resort design as well. Thermal
insulations help in reducing heat transfer from the outdoor space to the indoor space. It
reflects the thermal radiation from the sun and other sources, therefore maintaining low
temperature throughout the indoor spaces.

Figure 2: Timber faade and roofing of Belum Rainforest Resort restaurant

(Source: Syed Hussain, S. D.)

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Applications of Natural Materials in Building Design to Achieve Thermal Comfort in

Belum Rainforest Resort, Pulau Banding.

5.2 Bamboo
Bamboo stands out as a building material due to its properties, especially in
tropical countries. Its popularity is increasing as a building material. As aesthetically
pleasing, the usage of bamboos enhances the sustainability of a building. It is a natural
resource that can be found throughout the site, as well as non-polluting.

Figure 3: Bamboo plants located all around Belum Rainforest Resort

(Source: Syed Hussain, S. D.)

Properties of bamboos allow it to achieve a better thermal environment of the

spaces created. Its high compressive strength is fully utilized as it is used if various
applications such as walls, stairs, fenestrations and roofing. A small piece of bamboo is
able to carry a higher load than timber itself.

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Applications of Natural Materials in Building Design to Achieve Thermal Comfort in

Belum Rainforest Resort, Pulau Banding.

Figure 4: Bamboo exterior and fenestrations seen in Belum Rainforest Resort

(Source: Syed Hussain, S. D.)

Due to its structure, bamboos have high moisture content allowing it to maintain
the humidity of a space. As the temperature increases, bamboos releases moisture
stored within the material to stabilize the humidity while reducing the temperature. The
evaporation of water vapour gives off a cooling effect in the spaces (Stein & Reynolds,
2010).

Belum Rainforest Resort has well adapted bamboo as a building material. The
usage of bamboos can be seen throughout the resort. One of the main spaces is the
reception area as the faade and roofing uses bamboo material. This is to provide
great thermal comfort for the users while providing optimal air temperature and
humidity.

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Applications of Natural Materials in Building Design to Achieve Thermal Comfort in

Belum Rainforest Resort, Pulau Banding.

Figure 5: Bamboo as a materials for Belum Rainforest Resort wall and roof
design (Source: Syed Hussain, S. D.)

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Applications of Natural Materials in Building Design to Achieve Thermal Comfort in

Belum Rainforest Resort, Pulau Banding.

5.3 Rammed Earth

Rammed earth is one of the earth construction methods. It is commonly used
as a building material due to it being a natural resource. The material is cheap and
easily obtainable throughout Pulau Banding, Perak. Building can consist of entirely or
partially of soil depending on the architect and design (Gezer, 2003). This provides
high compressive strength of the building.

Advantages of using rammed earth are low in cost, high availability, easy
workability and suitable for construction material in different parts of the building. It can
be used as walls, flooring, and stairs.

Figure 6: Rammed earth constructed into walls in Belum Rainforest Resort

(Source: Syed Hussain, S. D.)

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Applications of Natural Materials in Building Design to Achieve Thermal Comfort in

Belum Rainforest Resort, Pulau Banding.

Rammed earth has properties like high thermal capacity, low thermal
conductivity and high moisture content. Is also has an excellent heat insulation capacity
(Gezer, 2003). The usage of rammed earth in a building design enhances thermal
comfort while addressing issues such as temperature and humidity. Due to the material
being high in thermal capacity and low in thermal conductivity, heat transferred
between the outer space to the inner space is low. Rammed earth has low absorption
of heat as well, which helps in maintaining a lower temperature of the particular space.
As to increase of humidity, rammed earth has high moisture content. All these
properties contribute on providing thermal comfort towards the building.

Belum Rainforest Resort has applied this natural material to its building design.
The features walls that are seen in front of the Phase 2 rooms, provides both aesthetic
values and thermal comfort as it helps in blocking direct heat transfer between the
spaces. Rammed earth was also adapted into the traditional houses located along the
lake in Belum Rainforest Resort.

Figure 7: Traditional house with rammed earth wall design in Belum Rainforest
Resort (Source: Syed Hussain, S. D.)

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Applications of Natural Materials in Building Design to Achieve Thermal Comfort in

Belum Rainforest Resort, Pulau Banding.

6.0 Conclusion
Materials do play a big part in building design. Through the application of
certain materials, it helps to enhance the quality of a space. Not only does it provide
aesthetic values, it also contributes in building sustainability. Each of the natural
materials such as timber, bamboo and rammed earth with their respective properties
and characteristics are well applied in Belum Rainforest Resort design. The natural
materials manage to address the issues of achieving thermal comfort by taking into
consideration of the environmental factors such as temperature and humidity. This also
allows a strong relationship between the surrounding nature and the building itself. The
selection of natural materials complements each other and helps to increase the
effectiveness of achieving thermal comfort

Belum Rainforest Resort offers both amazing experience indoors and outdoors.
The building design is very well planned with the surrounding context and provides
great comfort throughout the resort. Architecturally, Belum Rainforest Resort has
applied the use of natural materials into the building design successfully in order to
achieve thermal comfort for the users.

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Applications of Natural Materials in Building Design to Achieve Thermal Comfort in

Belum Rainforest Resort, Pulau Banding.

7.0 References
Belum

Rainforest

Resort.

(2014).

Retrieved

from

http://www.belumresort.com/index.htm

Ching, F., & Eckler, J. (2013). Introduction to Architecture. New Jersey: John Wiley &
Sons

Deplazes, A. (2005). Constructing Architecture. Materials, Processes, Structures. A

handbook (Second ed. . Bir h user

Gezer, N. (2003). The Effects of Construction Materials on Thermal Comfort in

Residential

Buildings.

Retrieved

September

24,

2014,

from

http://etd.lib.metu.edu.tr/upload/4/1104645/index.pdf

Hall, M. (Ed.). (2010). Materials for Energy Efficiency and Thermal Comfort in Buildings.
Woodhead Publishing.

Jenssen, J. (n.d.). The Mechanical Properties of Bamboo. Retrieved from

file:///C:/Users/L/Downloads/inbar_pr_03_1.pdf

Liese,

W.

(n.d.).

Anatomy

and

Properties

of

Bamboo.

Retrieved

from

file:///C:/Users/L/Downloads/inbar_pr_03_1.pdf

Stein, B., & Reynolds, J. (2010). Mechanical and Electrical Equipment for Buildings.
New Jersey: J. Wiley & Sons.

The

Six

Basic

Factors.

(n.d.).

Retrieved

September

20,

2014,

from

2014,

from

http://www.hse.gov.uk/temperature/thermal/factors.htm

What

is

Thermal

Comfort.

(n.d.).

Retrieved

September

20,

http://www.hse.gov.uk/temperature/thermal/explained.htm

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