Ken Yeang plays it smart
by Ed van Hinte
High-rise bioclimatic architecture
The poetry of Ken Yeang's high rise buildings follows
directly from their being down to earth.
His office T.R. Hamzah & Yeang Sdn.Bhd., that right
now employs about 40 people, doesn't just pay lip service to sustainability.
Instead it develops pleasant high quality buildings for housing and
offices on the basis of straightforward hard work.
It performs thorough location analysis:
* ground quality and hillyness
* climatologic circumstances (sun, wind, temperature, humidity)
* ways in which the building can contribute to its environment
* concepts for climate control in traditional housing
Ken Yeang has developed principles for bioclimatic architecture.
Sustainability, however, entails more than minimum energy climate control.
Therefore ideas on different aspects are being developed.
Ken Yeang is not a believer in rigid dogmas. Bioclimatic
principles are a valuable and important inspiration. In November '98
he lectured at 'Play it smart in architecture' in Amsterdam, a 'Doors
of perception' side event. Here he answered some questions.
To what extent does the climate within a building
depend on consumption of
extra energy?
Yeang: An ecological building should not be a weapon in a retreating
battle. On the contrary it can contribute positively to the environment.
A
green area is a productive area. So the building can generate energy
instead of consume it.
Modern buildings tend to have large transparent outer
surfaces. Isn't that
counterproductive?
Yeang: 'The advantage of glass is that it reduces the need for artificial
lighting. The disadvantage is that it hampers a building's ability to
deal
with heat. There is a balance when the glass surface is about 35 percent
of
the whole.
Aren't bioclimatic buildings more expensive?
Yeang: The building costs may be higher. On the other hand exploitation
is
cheaper, because energy consumption is lower. We don't design until
we've
got the financials right. In Amsterdam biologist Julian Vincent applied
Darwin to technology with the slogan 'Survival of the cheapest'. All
costs
must be included in the design budget, also the costs of what happens
to a
building in its after-life.
Are your buildings designed to last, to save energy
and materials?
Yeang: The issue of ecology in the building industry is still in its
infancy. As far as climate control is concerned, I think we now know
the
right way to analyse and solve the problem. So that takes care of the
largest part of building operation. Other contributing factors are
construction and materials and life span extension. Then of course there
is the output. That is where reuse of building parts and material recycling
come in. Suppliers should become responsible for their materials. Recycling
is the next theme we will be adressing.
Will we ever have total control of building ecology?
Yeang: Total control means lack of freedom. The environment doesn't
provide
a rigid set of rules, but rather an inspirational basis.
More information on Ken Young is available in the
GRID
Ken Young (architect)
Bioclimatic Architecture (concept)
Menara Mesiniaga (project)
Tokyo Nara (project)
Other links to Bioclimatic Architecture:
Green Building (project)
BN/DLO Building (project)
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