FEATURE
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FEATURE
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DeLIGHT Homes : Efficient Ventilation Design using Computational Fluid Dynamics Simulation
By Nurulhuda Mat Kilau , Maria Zura Mohd Zain Centre for Advanced Technology and Innovation , Construction Research Institute of Malaysia
Zuhairi Abd Hamid , Freelance Consultant
In the face of the issues concerning housing demand and affordable housing in Malaysia , our plastered-on , short-term quick fixes are starting to burst through the seams . The availability of affordable housing is essential in ensuring socio-economic stability and promoting national development . Affordable housing provides a platform that creates strong and stable communities by accelerating economic , education , and health outcomes while ensuring safety for all . Hence , the Government aims to provide good quality , affordable housing for the low and middleincome groups with varying levels of support .
Rapid urbanisation has put tremendous pressure on the state ’ s capacity for housing provision . Although urbanisation brings about many positive effects on society , it is considered a double-edged sword . One of the effects of rapid urbanisation is that cities become congested and consequently , surrounding housing issues become more prevalent . As such , rapid urbanisation has driven many local and state Governments to provide land to construct houses to accommodate the ever-growing urban population .
Sustainable Design for Affordable Housing : DeLIGHT Homes
The word ‘ affordable ’ in housing is typically mistaken for ‘ cheap ’ and signify ‘ low quality ’.
One of the problems associated with affordable housing is the lack of quality of life that represents the well-being of individuals and societies . Thus , it is essential to provide a house that satisfies the needs of its residents . This can be done by listening to their voices regarding their needs for housing and the surrounding environment – not just in terms of a bedroom , bathroom , and kitchen but also the quality of life that gives a sense of belonging . The liveability aspect of affordable housing is vital to improve the quality of life of low and middle-income households . Liveable communities are defined as places that are safe , attractive , socially cohesive and inclusive , and environmentally sustainable . Figure 1 shows the common design problems for low-income housing programmes .
The desire to build tall at the lowest possible cost may result in some design issues . For example , to design a building with 500 identical home units within a block that rises between 18 and 25 storeys provides very little flexibility to meet the occupants ’ diverse needs . The corridors leading to individual homes in the tower block are dark , necessitating the use of artificial lighting throughout the day . Outside the house , a small entrance foyer ( the width of a door ) is provided to allow the occupants to add a grill if needed . The drying yard , kitchen , and third bedroom all have access to air wells in most of the housing units . As a result , there are multiple air wells in a
34 VOL 94 APRIL-JUNE 2023