PORTFOLIO
ARC61804
GREEN STRATEGIES FOR BUILDING DESIGN
"Green strategies should guide the design from the start, not be added later,” as my lecturer Mr. Shawn often reminded us. This principle shaped my entire approach in the Green Strategies module, where sustainability became a core driver rather than a decorative afterthought. This became a key mindset throughout the Green Strategies module, shaping how I approached my Creative & Recreational Hub in Taman Wawasan. From the earliest stages, I considered how the building could respond to its site, a lush, tree-filled park beside a water body through passive strategies such as site orientation, daylighting, natural ventilation, and strategic landscaping.
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Through this journey, I strengthened my ability to translate environmental data into spatial experiences, communicate sustainable concepts visually, and think critically about how tropical contexts shape architectural form. Ultimately, this module deepened my belief that architecture should work in harmony with nature to create spaces that are both functional and enduring.
Project 1 - Comparative Case Studies Poster & Booklet
During the data gathering for the ST Diamond Building, we had the opportunity to visit the building in person. It was my first time seeing it, and I was fascinated by its striking diamond-shaped form. This faceted geometry not only gives it a bold identity but also serves practical purposes in shading and heat reduction. Despite being sleep-deprived from working late the night before, the visit was worth it. Seeing the building up close allowed us to better understand its passive strategies, from the way the façades are angled to reduce solar gain, to the integration of daylighting features that are hard to grasp through drawings alone. This firsthand observation greatly enriched our data collection and gave us insights that directly informed our analysis
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Through the comparison, I learned how climate heavily influences design priorities. For example, the ST Diamond Building prioritises shading, heat reduction, and cross ventilation, while the Bullitt Center focuses on maximising daylight in low-sun conditions and managing heat retention during colder months. This contrast helped me understand how the same principles can be adapted in different ways depending on the environmental context.
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This task strengthened my analytical skills, improved my ability to communicate sustainable concepts visually, and deepened my awareness of climate-responsive design. It also prepared me for my final project by reinforcing the importance of choosing passive strategies early in the design process
Project 2 - Green Building Strategies Report
This assignment made me realise how passive design strategies are all connected. At first, I was just focusing on orienting the building for ventilation, but later I saw how it also improved daylighting and shading. They overlap, and the challenge was getting them to work together without one affecting the other too much.
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One of the things I enjoyed most was rethinking landscaping as more than “green decoration.” Before, I saw it as just something to make the building look nice, but after studying the S11 House and analysing my site, I started to see the trees, water, and terrain as part of the building’s performance. Designing the café to sit partially over the lake wasn’t just for the view; it was also a way to take advantage of evaporative cooling and to create a unique user experience. Preserving the mature trees became more than just a visual decision; it felt like a responsibility to maintain the biodiversity and microclimate that already existed on site.
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This assignment taught me that sustainable design is about more than technical strategies. It’s about understanding the site, thinking holistically, and working with nature. It was rewarding to see my final design not just as a building in a park, but as something that belongs to and works with the park’s natural setting.