SCHOOL OF ARCHITECTURE,

BUILDING & DESIGN

Centre for Modern Architecture Studies in
Southeast Asia
ARCHITECTURAL DESIGN STUDIO 4 [ARC 2126]
Prerequisite: Architectural Design Studio 3

Abstract
In the subject, students explore various environmental sustainability issues with two main
projects. The first project involves the design of small space in a suburban/open landscape.
This small space will allow students to focus and explore the environmental poetics of the
building enclosure that respond to the basic natural context such as the sun, wind, heat,
cold, energy issue, and the existing building context.. Subsequently, students explore a
larger project (simple public building) with higher complexity. This includes the complexity
of site topography and vegetation, socio-cultural events, and variety of strategies for
sustainable design. Students explore design solutions that reduce environmental impact
and use of fossil fuel related energy. The design work should contribute to and merge
harmoniously with nature and the site, and provide the best of experiences for the users.

Objectives
 To develop awareness of environmental sustainability in architectural design.
 To develop the student’s ability to meet the imperative and inter-related
environmental and social needs, as well as make poetry with the buildings.

Learning Outcomes
Upon successful completion of the subject, students will be able to:
1. Identify environmental and social needs of a site
2. Apply ideas of environmental sustainability in architectural design
3. Analyze environmental and social needs of a site
4. Design architectural spaces with consideration of environmental poetics in relation to
the basic natural context and existing built context
5. Create architectural spaces which impact on users’ experiences
6. Design a simple public building in the open landscape/suburban context
7. Combine the environmental needs, the site (site topography, history and socio-cultural
events), and the users’ experiences within simple building design
8. Produce drawings (both 2D and 3D), modelling and verbal presentation to
communicate and visualize architectural design and ideas.

Mode of Delivery
This is a 6 credit hour subject held over 14 weeks. The mode of delivery will be in the form
of Studio and Self-Study. The breakdown of the hours is as follows:

Studio: 12 hours/week
Lecturer : Pn Nor Hayati Hussain (NHH) norhayati.h@taylors.edu.my
Tutors : Ar Jas Salleh (JS)(PT), Mr Huat Lim (HL)(PT)
Rooms : Arch Studio 12 – 14 (E4.15, E4.16, E4.17)

Student-Centered Learning Approach

A student-centered approach will be employed in the delivery of this unit. The Studio
sessions will be conducted to facilitate students in the design and design process.
• The Studio is significant for the development of design works. The Studio will
engage in different forms of teaching & learning methods which includes Exercises
for your design projects, Peer Critiques and Review of Projects.
• As each studio session is set to achieve different milestones, attendance to all
sessions is compulsory.
• Students should be self-directed in their design process, and work vigorously on
their design projects within studio hours. The design tutor will facilitate your
learning process.
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 • Students are required participate in interim reviews and pin-ups. This is compulsory
and leads to the final assessment of each project.

BB7 will be used as a communication tool and information portal for students to access
course materials, project briefs, assignments and announcements.
References
1. Slessor, Catherine. 2001. Sustainable Architecture and High Technology. Thames &
Hudson: London
2. Hyde, Richard. 2000. Climate Responsive Design. Spon Press: N.Y.
3. Battle, Guy. 2001. Sustainable Ecosystems and the Built Environment. Wiley: Great
Britain.
4. Hawkes, Dean. 2002. Energy Efficient Buildings, Architecture, Engineering and
Environment. WW Norton: N.Y.

Assessments
This course will be graded in the form of coursework. It will consist of 2 projects, 2
assignments and a portfolio submission.

Project 1
NATURE’S RETREAT: EXPLORING THE ENVIRONMENTAL POETICS
Project 1 explores the environmental poetics of a structure that respond to the basic
natural context such as the sun, wind, heat, cold, energy issue, and the existing context.
Students are required to design a small space within an open landscape applying ideas of
environmental sustainability in architectural design. The structure should provide both a
shelter and suitable environment for users.

Assignment 1(GROUP)
PRECEDENT STUDIES: LOOKING AT HOW BUILT SPACE INTERACT WITH NATURE
Assignment 1 is to seek and investigate existing knowledge on sustainable architecture
and scheme that respond to the basic natural context such as the sun, wind, heat, cold,
energy issue, and context. The main aim is to analyse and compare 2 selected
architectural precedents for environmental-friendly design features.

Project 2
PENANG ECO RETREAT INTERNATIONAL STUDENTS COMPETITION (ARCASIA)
Project 2 explores a project (simple public building) with some complexity. This includes
the complexity of site topography and vegetation, socio-cultural events, and variety of
strategies for sustainable design. Students explore design solutions that reduce
environmental impact and use of fossil fuel related energy. The design work should
contribute to and merge harmoniously with nature and the site, and provide the best of
experiences for the users.

Assignment 2(GROUP)
SITE ANALYSIS
Assignment 2 is to identify and analyze environmental and social need of a sites looking
into condition of a site; its topography, climate, vegetation and socio-cultural events.

Taylor’s Graduate Capabilities (TGC) Portfolio

The portfolio is an edited document that is to include all the work produced in this unit. It
should demonstrate the student’s learning process and outcomes.

Type of assessment and feedback

Each student will be graded in the form of formative and summative assessments.
Formative assessments will provide information to guide the student in the design process.
This form of assessment will be conducted through Interim Critique/Review sessions.
Summative assessment will inform the student about the level of understanding and
performance capabilities achieved at the end of each design project.

Assessment Details
Assessment Learning Duration % Due
outcomes
Project 1: Nature’s 2,4,6,8 6 weeks 25 Progressive
Retreat submissions.
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 5 Week 3
Concept Presentation 10 Week 5
Design Review 10 Week 6
Final Submission &
presentation
Assignment 1: Precedent 1,3 4 weeks 10 Week 4
Studies
Project 2: PENANG ECO 2,5,7,8 7 weeks 45 Progressive
RETREAT submissions.
10 Week 11
Interim Review 10 Week 13
Internal Review 25 Week 17
Final Submission & External
Review
Assignment 2 : Site 1, 3 2 weeks 10 Week 9
Analysis
Taylor’s Graduate 1 week 10 Week 17
Capabilities Portfolio
TOTAL 100%

Attendance and Participation

Your attendance is compulsory. You are expected to attend and participate actively in
class. The lectures and tutorials will assist you in expanding your ideas and your project
progression.
Your work will be graded based on your performance throughout the semester. Your class
participation is as important as the end product.You are required to do your work in the
studio, which is the most productive design environment.
Please adhere to the studio critic hours and submission requirements during classes.
Each of your presentation in the studio critic hours will be graded and calculated as part of
your final grade.

Marks and Grading Table

Assessments and grades will be returned within 2 weeks of your submission. You will be
given the grades and necessary feedback for each submission. The grading system is
shown below:
Grade
Grade Marks Definition Description
Points
Evidence of original thinking;
demonstrated outstanding capacity to
A 80 – 100 4.00 Excellent analyze and synthesize; outstanding
grasp of subject matter; evidence of
extensive knowledge base.
A- 75 – 79 3.67 Very Good Evidence of grasp of subject matter,
some evidence of critical capacity and
B+ 70 – 74 3.33 analytical ability, reasonable
understanding of relevant issues;
Good
B 65 – 69 3.00 evidence of familiarity with the
literature.
B- 60 – 64 2.67 Evidence of some understanding of
the subject matter; ability to develop
C+ 55 – 59 2.33 Acceptable solutions to simple problems;
benefiting from his / her university
C 50 – 54 2.00 experience.
D+ 47 - 49 1.67
Evidence of minimally acceptable
D 44 - 46 1.33 Marginal Pass familiarity with subject matter, critical
and analytical skills.
D- 40 – 43 1.00

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 Insufficient evidence of understanding
of the subject matter; weakness in
F 0 – 39 0.00 Fail
critical and analytical skills; limited or
irrelevant use of the literature.
Given to a student who does not
F(A) 0 0.00 Fail attend the final examination without
valid reasons.
Given to a student who is barred from
taking the examination due to
attendance of less than 80% or to a
F(X) 0 0.00 Fail
student who arrives more than 30
minutes late for the examination
without valid grounds.
Given to a subject withdrawn between
WD - - Withdrawn week 5 and week 7 (inclusive) of the
semester.
Given to a subject withdrawn between
WF 0 0.00 Fail week 8 and week 11 (inclusive) of the
semester.
Given to a student who does not
complete certain requirements,
IN - - Incomplete including examination / test (excluding
practicum), on valid grounds such as
medical conditions.

Rules and Regulations

The School imposes a late submission penalty for work submitted late without a valid
reason, which must be supported by relevant documentations, e.g. a valid medical
certificate. A student MUST notify the Programme Director within 48 hours to ensure that
the Board of Examiners is notified of the evidence. The evidence will assist the Board to
reach a fair consensus and action.

Any work submitted after the designated dateline shall have the percentage grade
assigned to the work on face value reduced by 10% for the first day and 5% for each
subsequent day late. A weekend (Saturday and Sunday) counts as 1 day.

However, the lecturer(s) reserves the right to NOT accept work submitted more than 1
week late.

Class will officially begin as in the schedule. Any student who arrives late after the first
half-hour of class will be considered as absent. Any medical certificate must be forwarded
to the lecturer in case of any sickness, which prohibited you from attending the class.

Plagiarism will be taken as a serious case and will result in failure of the course.

Schedule and Topics

WEEK SESSION TOPIC Submission
2 August Subject Introduction
4 August Introduction to Project 1
Assignment 1 briefing
Week 1
Lecture 1: What is Sustainable
Architecture? (HL)
Tutorial 1: Precedent analysis
9 August Visit 1
11 August Lecture 2: How does concept works?
Week 2
(NHH)
Tutorial 2: Conceptual development

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 16 August Visit 2 /Concept Presentation Sub Project 1: Concept 5%
Week 3
18 August Visit 2 /Concept Presentation
23 August Precedent Studies presentation and Assignment 1: 10%
25 August submission
Week 4
Sketch Design: Exploration of
sustainable strategies
30 August Lecture 3: How to built space? (JS)
Tutorial 3: Making space
Week 5
1 September Design Review Sub Project 1: Design
Introduction of Project 2 Review 10%
MID SEMESTER BREAK (6 – 10 September 2010)
13 Design Review
September Design Review
Week 6
15
September
20 Sub Project 1: Final
Presentation and submission of Project
September Presentation 10%
1
Week 7
Assignment 2 briefing
22
Site visit & Investigation
September
27 Site Analysis
September Tutorial 4: Analyzing space 1
Week 8 Lecture 4: What is space
29 programming? (JS)
September Tutorial 5: Analyzing space 2
4 October Presentation & Submission of Assignment 2: 10%
Week 9 6 October Assignment 2
Concept development review
11 October Sketch design: Exploration of
sustainable strategies and social
Week 13 October needs through plans and sections
10 Lecture 5: How to experience space?
(HL)
Tutorial 6: Space development
18 October Interim Review Sub Project 2 : Interim
20 October Design development: Sectional and Review 10%
Week elevational studies in relation to
11 environmental needs and users’
experience
Tutorial 7 : Design development
25 October Design Development : 3 dimensional
studies of environmental sustainable
Week
features
12
27 October Tutorial 8: Design Development
Tutorial 9 : Design Development
1 November Lecture 6: Design Presentation Do’s
Week 3 November and Don’ts.(NHH)
13 Tutorial 10: Development of
presentation drawings and model
8 November Internal Review Sub Project 2 : Internal
Week
Tutorial 11: Development of Review 10%
14
10 November presentation drawings and model
Wk 15 15 November Preparation of Portfolio, Final Models
Study 19 November and Drawings
Wk
Wk 16 22 November
Exam 26 November Exam Week
Wk
Wk 17 29 November Final Submission and External Review Sub Project 2: Final
30 November Portfolio submission Submission and External
Review 25%

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 Portfolio 10%

This course outline is subjected to changes at short notice.

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