Plea2004 - The 21th Conference on Passive and Low Energy Architecture.

Eindhoven, The Netherlands, 19 - 22

September 2004 Page 1 of 4

Socio-climatic design for high-rise dwellings

Joo-Hwa BAY
Department of Architecture, National University of Singapore, Singapore

ABSTRACT: This paper discusses the relationship of two major concerns, social-cultural and
climatic-ecological issues, in urban environmental systems in the high-rise high-density context.
Through centuries, the ‘Socio-climatic’ design of the kampong (tropical vernacular villages) in the
South-East Asian region, as well as many other regions, has evolved as equilibrium systems
between social-cultural and climatic-ecological needs. A case study, Bedok Court Condominium,
shows how such salient characteristics are re-adapted and re-invented successfully, in enhancing
the quality of life in the high-rise high-density settings, as well as providing various passive modes of
environmental control. This paper also discusses questions for further research into various aspects
concerning the semi-open space and socio-climatic strategy for high-rise building design.

Conference Topic: 1 Sustainability and high-rise buildings

Keywords: sustainable architecture, high-rise high-density, socio-climatic, sustainability and
community, tropical architecture

BACKGROUND (Fig. 1, 2 & 3). The physical character of the

‘corridors’ of Bedok Court Condominium literally
It is recognized that passive-design to climatic resembles the streets in kampongs with views of
conditions for human comfort is a major aspect of verandas (semi-open forecourts) along the way, and
sustainability in that it provides human thermal the modern terrace housing estates with view of the
comfort with minimal operating energy consumption. garden-terrace entrance. However, there is a major
The bioclimatic approach is one major trust mooted in difference; they are streets in the sky with more than
the early 1950’s at a conference for design in the one level of visual connectivity, 3-dimensional multi-
tropics by Victor Oglyay, 1952 [10]. Since then the layered streets, with much higher density.
concept remains dormant for designers considering
passive response to the climate in design, including
Ken Yeang, 1996 [13], who has taken it to high levels
of sophistication in the urban skyscrapers. This
approach to sustainability, like many other
approaches, focuses largely on the performance of
the physical environment. Concerns are on the
biological behaviour, the material ecological, and
energetic impact.
Very little social-cultural dimensions in the urban
context are discussed in detail in relation to climatic
aspects in the bioclimatic approach for contemporary
design.
Through centuries, the ‘Socio-climatic’ design of
the kampong (tropical vernacular villages) in this Figure 1: Typical Bedok Court Condominium veranda
region has evolved as equilibrium systems between space to each apartment that affords many long
social-cultural and climatic-ecological needs. periods of environment that are conducive for many
A case study, Bedok Court Condominium, shows social activities (Source: Author)
how such salient characteristics are re-adapted and
re-invented successfully, in enhancing the quality of
life in the high-rise high-density settings. 2.1 Design objectives and inspirations
The design of this 280-unit development of mixed
heights of 4 to 21 storeys, was conceived in 1980 by
2. A CASE OF SOCIO-CLIMATIC DESIGN Cheng Jian Fenn of Design Link Architects,
Singapore, and was implemented and completed in
Large open entrance terraced courtyard to each 1985. In an interview by the author, Cheng mentioned
apartment and air-wells mediate between apartment that his inspiration comes from his first-hand
units and the linear common corridors, creating an experience of the village verandas and the strong
environment of visual connectivity, light, ventilation sense of security, relaxed friendly atmosphere and
and tropical comfort for various forms of activities sense of community found in the kampong setting.
Plea2004 - The 21th Conference on Passive and Low Energy Architecture. Eindhoven, The Netherlands, 19 - 22
September 2004 Page 2 of 4

The visual connectivity corresponded so well with the Court Condominium showed various positive
social connectivity and familiarity, so that any visitor responses (Table I, summarised from Bay 2000 [1]).
would be immediately noticed, alerting various
households.
He also wanted to design apartments similar to Table I: Summary of survey results of human
terraced, semi-detached and single houses in the sky, aspects relating to the veranda spaces at Bedok
with environmentally conducive open and semi-open Court Condominium (Source: Author)
spaces for gardening and various activities.
Responses about the % of
veranda space respondents
Conscious of and chose the 86%
veranda area as the most
desirable physical design space
compared to the interior,
balcony, lift, lobby, playground,
swimming pool, car-parks
The verandas were the spaces 80%
with the highest frequency of
seeing other neighbours
Used more than once a week 86%
Used as extended living area 52%
Figure 2: Bedok Court Condominium typical plan of including receiving guests
high blocks, with verandas facing North (Source: Giving parties 56%
Author, after plans courtesy of the Architect) Gardening 80%
Children’s play 72%
Laundry 72%
He mentioned that his other influence was the
Felt more in touch with nature 80%
arguments given in a book of Jane Jacobs, 1962 [7],
for the need of street life. However, Cheng also Good environment to bring up 84%
observed that in order to create such environment children
certain sacrifice of privacy would be necessary to gain Greet each other more than once 64%
familiarity and trust. a week
Visited each other at least once 60%
a week
Did not feel a lack of privacy 90%
Felt a high sense of security 96%
Strong sense of belonging and 90%
ownership

The overall conclusion of the social study is that

Figure 3: Typical Bedok Court Condominium semi-
open veranda space to each apartment linked to
st th
circulation corridors from 1 level to the 21 level
(Source: Author)
2.2 Configurations of verandas and apartment units
The verandas are generously big enough for
maximum flexibility of use for gardening, hobbies,
children’s play, study group activities, parties and
even large enough for 4 to 6 outdoor dining tables.
The living and dining hall opens out directly to these
courtyards creating a porous spatial continuity and
varying degrees of privacy or openness.
2.3 Survey of human response
A survey conducted by the author on the social
aspects relating to the veranda spaces at Bedok
Bedok Court, though not perfect, is a modern high-
rise development that re-invented the regional
Kampong nuances, with semi-private, semi-public
spaces, personalized ownership, pieces of tropical
‘green’, and high frequency of casual semi-public
meetings and interactions, and sense of belonging
and security.
2.4 Survey on human thermal comfort
There are studies of thermal comfort for naturally
ventilated interior of high-rise dwelling in Singapore
(e.g. Wong 2002 [12]), but none for semi-open
spaces. A survey of the human thermal comfort votes
with measurement was also done in the hottest period
of June-July 2003 (Bay and Lam 2004 [2]) for the
activity of meeting people and chit chatting in the
forecourt of the case of Bedok Court Condominium, in
generally casual clothing. The comfort votes are
charted against the mean radiant temperature in
Figure 4. The results show a high percentage (70%)
of votes for comfort -1, 0, 1 range for mean radiant
temperature between 28 to 32 degrees, even for the
warmest period of the day. About 20% of respondents
expressed that they felt a little cool, which is a good
Plea2004 - The 21th Conference on Passive and Low Energy Architecture. Eindhoven, The Netherlands, 19 - 22
September 2004
thing for the tropical environment where heat is more
a problem. Only 10% express that they felt a little
warm. This means that the overall thermal comfort
condition is very good.
The conditions for evening and morning are
generally cooler. The key reasons for the comfort are
because the people could enjoy ample shading from
the solar radiations from the sun while receiving lots
of ventilation due to wind in the semi-open spaces.
Also the shades and winds combined to keep the
building cool through the afternoon, with less heating
up of the building façade.
* Mean vote of comfort by each respondent
plotted against MRT
_____ Regression line showing mean vote and mean
MRT intersection
Figure 4: Comfort Votes at Bedok Court
Condominium semi-open veranda space to each
apartment (Source: Bay and Lam 2004)
What is also important is that each of these
verandas is climatically conducive and immediately
accessible for various human activities in a semi-
covered configuration for a large part of each day.
Page 3 of 4
3. SOCIO-CLIMATIC RELATIONSHIP
In the case of Bedok Court Condominium, the
verandas provide quite substantially for both of the
social activities in terms of physical dimensions, as
well as the thermal comfort aspects.
The verandas provide shade and ventilation,
keeping the apartments cool and affording long
periods of thermal comfort suitable for various
activities. These in turn afford personal expressions,
visibility and familiarity of the residents to neighbours,
necessary for building neighbourliness and sense of
security.
The semi-open spaces also facilitate gardening,
which in turn improve the environment for social
activities. At the same time one also reaps the benefit
of plants in the urban environment to reduce heat
island effect, pollution and improved air quality (Ong
2003 [11]).
The combined social and climatic benefits create
the desire to maintain uncluttered verandas,
preserving the equilibrium of the comfort conditions.
Out of 280 units of apartments, only one family walled
up their veranda space. Also majority of the owners
expressed that they would wall up their balconies
(looking away) if they needed more interior space, but
they would not wall up their verandas (forecourts
relating to common circulations and entrances)
because of the high recreational and social value.
4. SUMMARY AND DISCUSSION
The bioclimatic approach and studies tend to treat
human subjects as mainly biological beings, while
most social-architectural study tend to avoid the
parametric aspects of the environment. The high-rise
dwelling tropical veranda spaces in the case study
showed the related benefits of environmental
conduciveness and quality of life.
Noting the value of the high-rise veranda and the
relationship of the social and climatic factors, what
further investigations can be made for guiding future
design for high-rise dwellings?
What are some possible questions for research
into the aspects of correlations of social and climatic
factors, for improving designs for community and
sustainability. The sizes and configurations of
verandas constrain the types of human activities
possible. What is the optimal size for various
activities? Are there higher and lower limits for each
social activity, and how do these relate to the thermal
comfort conditions? (The design guideline and
optimal size of this type of semi-open spaces in
relation to the thermal comfort condition through
shading is being discussed in another paper by Wang
and Bay 2004 in PLEA 2004.)
How about acoustic and lighting considerations
for comfort? It is important to have better
understanding of the matrix of these inter-related
factors for developing guidelines for future designs.
Plea2004 - The 21th Conference on Passive and Low Energy Architecture. Eindhoven, The Netherlands, 19 - 22
September 2004 Page 4 of 4

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