Permeability Housed

The approach stems from a minimalistic standpoint that “lightness” - of building footprint, carbon footprint, weight, construction/ materials & logistics, embedded energy - applied through well considered design of the spatial configuration, envelope and form, coupled with the principles of “permeability” of the elements brings forth holistic sustainable solutions. These are fundamentally found in time-tested passive concepts, vernacular practices, and occur in natural processes and phenomenon, as expressed in the equation below: _ lightness + permeability = sustainability At the fundamental level it’s based on biophilic principles - using greenery as environmental cushion on the building envelope or skin to mediate air temperature, shading against solar heat gain from direct sunlight and radiation (also against reflecting back into the surrounds), manage and harvest rainwater and drainage cycle (for irrigation, aquaponic and stormwater management) and to induce biodiversity into the neighbourhood.  In the hot and humid tropical climate, protection from direct sunlight, low thermal mass and cross ventilation are key to keeping the building cool - whereby daily outdoor air temperature difference is small (24*C - 34*C) and constant throughout the year.   The concept of permeability applies to the building skin design and construction to filter and temper the elements of air/ breeze, light and water using plants, soil & planters, glazing (glass, polycarbonate, etc), louvres, mesh, wall covering, et al, for cooling by air change/ ventilation/ stack effect, heat penetration control, organic insulation, daylight diffusion, evaporative cooling from plants and water drips.  The outcome is to reduce energy consumption in lighting and mechanical cooling quantitatively, while qualitatively, it induces the perception of cool ambience visually and by feeling through lower heat radiation from the surfaces in the environment. Permeable ground absorbs and percolates water - cools the compound, waters the plants, charges the fish ponds and mitigates stormwater discharge rate to reduce the thermal footprint and water impact sustainably.  This system is looped back up to the roof tanks to repeat the cycle, harvesting rainwater-pond water and filtering it with the vertical greens for the fish ponds in an aquaponic cycle as well as continuously cooling the house envelope. Lightness principle entails low weight, thermal mass and carbon footprint. Overall, the approach of this residential building refurbishment with a permeable facade that takes into account monsoon architecture has improve the building's performance, comfort, and resilience during the monsoon season while providing a sustainable and healthy living environment for its occupants. The design and construction integrates greenery as a living and dynamic component of the building envelope hand in glove and symbiotically rather than treating greenery as an add-on feature.  It could contribute to the ratio of greenery over the given plot size, expressed as “green plot ratio”.  If collectively more buildings in the city could play their role in similar way to reduce ambient heat radiation back into the environment, the urban heat sink effect could be reduced thereby lowering the overall ambient air temperature and perceived heat sensation.  We need to have collective view and effort, be holistic in our approach.  Current efforts and rating systems on sustainable/ green buildings seem to have a narrow base approach, satisfying minimal criteria and individual building focused. _ video credit to Ivan Tang, HS Tang & Steven Ngu