Exploring historical shop-house and townhouse vernacular architectural design and elements as a solution for successful passive low energy housing

• Main Authors: Hashim, Helena Aman, Ab Ghafar, Norafida
• Format: Conference or Workshop Item
• Language: English
• Published: 2005
• Subjects: H Social Sciences (General); TH Building construction
• Online Access: http://eprints.um.edu.my/25079/1/Exploring%20Historical%20Shop-House%20and%20Townhouse%20Vernacular%20Architectural%20Design%20and%20Elements%20as%20a%20S.pdf; http://eprints.um.edu.my/25079/; http://www.plea-arch.org/index1.php
• Institution: Universiti Malaya

Malaysia's hot humid climate raises problems in the shading, cooling and ventilating of its buildings. The rapid development of its urban areas and the corresponding increasing land cost resulted in developers capitalizing and maximizing on development potentials. The construction of high density box-like houses which often require additional mechanical means of cooling and ventilation to reach an acceptable comfort level for its occupants is increasingly becoming the norm for these developers. This paper explores the passive low energy design and architectural elements of the traditional shop house and townhouse typology commonly found in the urban centers of Malaysia particularly in the historical city of Malacca, which address the hot and humid climate of the country. The long and narrow building plots commonly found in these historic urban areas raise issues in ventilating and lighting of the internal areas of these houses. The design solutions and elements commonly found in these buildings can be incorporated in today's modem housing in order to achieve a successful passive low energy house.