Innovative Teaching of Building Technology to Architecture Students in Malaysia

Abstract

Architecture teaching involves not only the teaching of art and aesthetics but also the science of building. With the increased usc of high-rise construction, intelligent building features as well as the use of Building Services to make the buildings habitable, it becomes imperative that the students of architecture understand and appreciate the complexities of the engineering systems to make the buildings sustainable and energy efficient. The process of Architecture design starts with
the sketch design by the architect. At this point, many major decisions are being made with respect to the orientation, fenestration, service cores, environmental control systems etc. These preliminary design decisions would affect the overall energy efficiency of the building as such. It is thus necessary for the architec ture s tudent to comprehend and assi mila te adva nced building technologies. This paper presents a novel approach adopted in the Department of Architecture at the University of Malaya, commencing from the academic session 2005-2006 for the teaching of
Adva nced Building Technology to Year 4 students.

Keywords: Building Technology, Energy Conversation, lntellgent Buildings, Building Service