Journal of Design and Built Environment

Investigation of the Acoustics Performance of the University’s Lecture Rooms by using Economical and Feasible Design Improvement Strategies

Abdul Wafi Razali, Nazli Che Din, Sinin Hamdan — Tue, 26 Dec 2023 00:00:00 +0800

Students encounter difficulties in speech comprehension because of unfavorable classroom acoustics conditions, which subsequently affect their cognitive development and academic performance. Therefore, optimal listening conditions are required to ensure that listeners perceive and recognize speech effectively. This invites numerous studies to explore plausible acoustic interventions and treatments as an initiative to remediate the issue. Thus, this study seeks to a) identify the actual acoustic conditions in two (2) classrooms in the Faculty of Built Environment, Universiti Malaysia Sarawak, and b) establish economical acoustic design strategies for future improvements. This quantitative study embarks on on-site acoustic measurements to evaluate the reverberation time and background noise level of the selected classrooms. The data from the on-site measurement is applied for 3D model verification for the simulation process. The establishment of plausible design treatment alternatives is further analyzed through simulation using ODEON software. The simulation process yielded the effects of a) material surface treatment and b) sound field amplification systems on several acoustic parameters. The findings reveal that the surface treatment using low-cost material and the installation of sound field amplification significantly enhanced the classroom acoustic quality and are feasible to be implemented for future improvements.

Neglected Aspects and Maladaptation to Rules in Low-Cost Housing, Malaysia: Social Practices of Commoning

Tue, 26 Dec 2023 00:00:00 +0800

The enactment, monitoring, and enforcement of rules play a crucial role in determining the success of self-organisation in common properties within high-rise housing developments. However, maladaptation to these rules can arise from diverse factors such as the parcel holders’ backgrounds, history, norms, and culture, leading to disrepair or the emergence of urban slums. This study examines two key issues: the influence of rules on the self-organisation of common properties, particularly in high-rise apartments, and the occurrence of maladaptation due to the forced relocation of urban squatters to new environments. Employing a mixed-method approach involving a questionnaire survey, interviews, and field observations, the findings underscore the significant impact of rules on self-organisation in high-rise housing. Furthermore, the forced relocation of urban squatters to unfamiliar environments comes at a heavy cost. The paper advocates heightened attention to soft human infrastructure, placemaking, and the introduction of commoning as a social practice to enhance adaptation to new living environments.

Designing Gender-Neutral Playgrounds: The Impact of Natural Environments on Children's Behaviors

Beril Isci, Deniz Hasirci — Tue, 26 Dec 2023 00:00:00 +0800

Children’s engagement in free-time activities is a significant aspect of their lives. Their attitudes and play preferences are influenced by their sociocultural environment and parental background, which are often intertwined with gender stereotypes. This can have negative social effects, including social exclusion, aggression, or social withdrawal. Risk-taking patterns in play can also be affected by gender stereotypes, which may result in hostile attitudes directed against individuals. This study examined how gender-neutral and natural play environments can impact early childhood gender-related behaviors by analyzing individual and group play attitudes through behavioral mapping, observation checklists, and interviews. The study specifically focuses on the design of public playgrounds in İzmir, Turkey, aiming to eliminate negative gender-related behaviors through a collaborative design process. The findings highlight that the attitudes of both children and parents are influenced by the layout of the playground and equipment, offering valuable insights for researchers, educators, and playground designers.

Materials and Processes of Eco-concrete Mixtures for Artificial Marine Habitats

Tue, 26 Dec 2023 00:00:00 +0800

Poor quality habitat profiles of artificial coastal structures for biodiversity growth compared to natural shore have led researchers to utilize ecological engineering principles in creating habitat enhancement models mimicking the natural environment to help improve living conditions for marine organisms. Extensive global trials have been conducted with concrete formulations incorporating eco-friendly materials and recycled resources. However, eco-concrete production for marine environment use is still lacking in Malaysia. The technology involved in casting, moulding, and demoulding remains at the experimental stage, with unreported comparisons of different moulding materials used for casting geometrically complex habitat enhancement models. This study evaluated different casting, moulding, and demoulding techniques using locally produced eco-concrete. The main aim of this study is to determine the effect of different materials including plaster of Paris, drilling wood, expanded polystyrene, rubber foam, and vacuum forming on the mould production time, labour requirements and fabrication factors. Vacuum forming mould is highly preferred for its quick production time, less work, design uniformity, and ability to cast larger habitat enhancement models. However, the demoulding methods require improvements and further experimentation to ensure an easier demoulding process and reusability of the mould for long-term production.

The Symbolism and Survivability of Royal Identity (RI) for the Upper Section of the Taoist Temple Built in the 19th Century in the Klang Valley, Malaysia

Tue, 26 Dec 2023 00:00:00 +0800

Taoist temples are considered a nation-specific religious and exceptional cultural landmark regionally. The design principle of the lower, middle, and upper sections of the physical building profoundly symbolised royal identity (RI). Scholars discovered that despite Chinese lineage positively recognising the importance of this symbolism, they were clueless about it, notably the configuration of the upper section. The objective of this paper is primarily to identify the design symbolism of the Taoist temple and assess the survivability of the RI for the upper section: 1) roof form; 2) ornamentation and 3) roof colour. Qualitative research was administered by conducting an observational study amongst the ten selected Taoist temples constructed in the 19th century in the Klang Valley. The results revealed that most of the design symbolisms inherited from the Southern region of Mainland China and RI were lessened. Interestingly, the samples synthesised the orthodox RI with indigenous local Malay vernacular architecture, the ventilated roof. The finding not only potentially intensifies the Chinese community by providing insightful knowledge, but it also eases the practical-knowledge gap amongst design practitioners and revitalises the tourism industry in the culture, arts, and heritage domains.

Framework to Manage the Impacts on the Contractor’s Budget for Construction Projects Due to the Economic Crisis in Sri Lanka

Tue, 26 Dec 2023 00:00:00 +0800

While several studies have separately investigated the management of the contractor’s budget and the impact of the economic crisis in Sri Lanka, the novel contribution of this study lies in its unique exploration of the synergy between these two crucial areas. Therefore, this study aimed to assess how to manage the impacts of the economic crisis on the contractor’s construction budget in Sri Lanka This research study successfully identified the factors influencing the contractor’s budget amid the economic crisis in Sri Lanka, along with effective solutions to mitigate these impacts. For that, the qualitative approach with semi-structured interviews using experts for the data collection through three qualitative Delphi rounds was used. The collected data were analyzed using manual content analysis. In there, twenty-three (23) significant factors as factors affecting the contractor’s budget due to the economic crisis in Sri Lanka, eleven (11) effects of the economic crisis on the construction industry in Sri Lanka, and eighteen (18) solutions to reduce the impact of the Sri Lankan economic crisis on the contractor’s budget were identified. Finally, a framework was developed based on the findings which will hold significant value for Contractors as that provides valuable insights and practical measures to counter the challenges posed by the economic crisis on construction projects.