Assignment 2: Site Research Report

Submission Date: 2nd December 2013

Place: Starhill Gallery Kuala Lumpur

Group Member Danielle Yoong Li Ping Chung Hui Ping Ng Wei Lin Rya Ghunowa Noora Azwer

ID Number 0317206 0310592 0316302 0316565 0316440

Table of Content
1. Objective------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 1 2. Introduction--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 2-3 3. Materials Used In Starhill Gallery 3.1 Stone------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ 4-11 3.2 Ceramic---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------12-19 3.3 Glass-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------20-24 3.4 Timber----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------25-31 4. Conclusion----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------32 5. References----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------33-38

Objective
The objective of this assignment is to enable us to get to know better the materials used in different type of buildings, to actually recognise and distinguish the materials based on what we learnt in lecturers and understand why or its purpose of it being used for that particular area. Thus we decided to choose Starhill Gallery as our building for its unique design and various materials that is not common in our everyday life. Other than that, we also can further strengthen the bond between our group members as corporation is vital in successfully completing this assignment. Hence, throughout the whole the assignment, we will be get to know further the properties, advantages and disadvantages, installation method and application of the material.

Introduction
The building chosen for our building materials assignment is Starhill Gallery. Starhill Gallery is located at Bukit Bintang, which is a shopping district of Kuala Lumpur.

Map taken from Google Maps Other than Starhill Gallery, there is Pavilion, Sungai Wang, Berjaya Times Square, Lot 10 and many bigger shopping complexes (Wikipedia 2013).

Picture 1 shows the overview of Starhill Gallery which is connected to Sephora through a sky bridge.

Starhill Gallery was originally a shopping centre at the year 1996. However, in 1999, YTL Corporation took over and changed the business to a luxury brand retail centre. Architect David Rockwell redesigned it and it was reopened in July 2005 as Starhill Gallery (Wikipedia 2013). In the year 2009, Stephen Pimbley of SPARK was hired to refurbish the faade, entrance foyer interior and construct a new retail pavilion which is currently leased to Sephora. Due to the crystalline facets of the new Starhill faade, it attracted many tourists (Wikipedia 2013). It is constructed by using lightweight steel and state of art technology which has a sleek, angular stone and glass panels of glimmering liquid like effect (Starhill Gallery n.d.). Starhill Gallery was also listed as one of Asias most beautiful shopping malls (Starhill Gallery n.d.).

Stone

The Picture above shows the location where granite can be found in Starhill Gallery

STONE
Stone is simply rock, that has been valued for billions of years , which mainly consist of concreted earthy or mineral matter leading to the availability of complex varieties of stone and its rich palette of colours and beautiful textures. Granite is coarse grained, with a uniformly dispersed crystalline structure, composed of varying amounts of feldspars, quartz, micas and other small minerals Apart from its many uses; such as its important function in making aggregates and involvement in industrial purposes, stone is also shaped and/or finished for building and construction purposes. And a few examples of such stones are Granite, Limestone and Marble. According to the British Geological Survey, Stone is used as a building material as well as a decorative stone mainly due to its resistance to weather and its aesthetic appeal. This is listed as its Number 1 usage. Starhill Galley being one of the finest buildings in Bukit Bintang very attractively showcases the usage and effects of stone as a building material. ADVANTAGES & PROPERTIES

Hard, Durable & Long Lasting Granite is deemed to be the hardest material after diamonds which are known for their hardness. It is virtually indestructible, and can be used for a lifetime with correct use and care.(My Atlanta Flooring, 2011) Resistant to fracture Due to the interlocking nature of the minerals inside the stone Scratch Resistant The hardness of the minerals that comprises granite disallows itself to be effected by a scratch; therefore, it resists cuts, scratches and scuffing which contributes to its longevity of its life span. (Precision Stone Designs, 2009 & My Atlanta Flooring, 2011)

 Hypoallergenic, allergen & Bacteria resistant Granite does not accumulate bacteria, allergens or molds. Studies of bacteria retention on common countertop surfaces have proven to be more superior to other types of surfaces. (Precision Stone Designs, 2009 & My Atlanta Flooring, 2011) Heat Resistant Upto +-250 Degree Celsius (Precision Stone Designs 2009) Easy Maintenance Countertops can easily be cleaned using a damp cloth or dust mop. Granite Flooring can easily be cleaned using a damp mop with mild Ph neutral stone cleaner, or even vacuumed. Biodegradable as a stone product it is completely biodegradable making it a very environment friendly Resistant to water and moisture Absorption rates (% water, by weight) of granite range from 0.1% - 0.60% proving that the pore volume capable of anchoring a staining agent is very little. (Precision Stone Designs,2009) Stain Resistant Volume of pores in granite in small and so are very good in resisting stain. It can easily be cleaned in one swipe. Available in wide range of colours and patterns Granite comes in a variety of colours and manmade finishes polished, honed of flamed surfaces.

This Table, retrieved from Mineral zone, shows the physical properties of Granite

This Table, also retrieved from Mineral Zone, shows the chemical composition a typical granite stone would be composed of.

DISADVANTAGES Expensive & High Initial Cost Requires Professional Installment Needs Regular Sealing In order to maintain the floors stunning look, regular sealing is required Regular Maintenance Although it is resistant to heat, direct heating above a certain temperature (250 Degrees ) can cause cracking

(Serene Interiors & Precision Stone Designs, 2009)

INSTALLATION OF GRANITE FLOORING 1. The granite tiles are cut slowly using a tile saw with a diamond blade to required measurements.

2. A small amount of white thin-set mortar is spread of the area to be tiled, using a notched edge of a trowel. The mortar would be thin enough to only cover the subfloor and not so that the tiles would sink into it.

3. The tiles would be pressed onto the mortar according to the desired pattern.

4. The tiles are then tapped with a rubber or wooden mallet to ensure that there are no air bubbles inside.

5. The mortar is then let to dry for 24 hours.

6. The tiles are then grouted (the grout is spread over the tiles) and let to cure for a period of 72 hours and then cleaned using sponge and warm water.

7. After the grout has dried, it is then sealed with a grout sealer for protection of water and stains. (E-how, 1999-2013)

APPLICATION FLOORING Granites inherent strength, abrasion resistance and superior weathering durability pave the way and reason for its usage in residential and commercial interior application such as heavy-duty surfaces like floors. Therefore the quality of the floor is still maintained due to the nature of the stone, inspite of the floor being a heavily used surface, and survives of chemicals and drinks by people that tread on it. Granite is an igneous stone that is formed from the solidification of lava at extremely high temperatures which creates and contributes to the stones strength and also results in the resistance it demonstrates to be safe and slip resistant surface which prevent people from slipping while walking. Granite floors come in different types of manmade finishes, such as High Gloss finish which is a polished, shiny and reflective surface, like that of a mirror, where the full colour and structure of the stone is visible resulting in a very fine and smooth finish. Or a matte finish, also known as a Honed finish which is a matte appearance that results in a smooth but not reflective surface. A satin or a leather finish is an high

intermediate

between

gloss and honed finish, thus, it is a surface with a faint gloss.( Best GM, 2010 & My Atlanta Flooring, 2011) This diagram on the left is another picture taken of the polished granite flooring in the pathways of Starhill Gallery.

Granite has been used only on the outline in order to enhance the appearance of the floor.

This diagram on the left is a picture taken of the Polished Granite flooring in the pathways of Starhill Gallery .

TABLE TOPS Furthermore it is resistant to chemicals and acids, and also available in a striking array of colours, making it suitable for kitchen counter tops, table tops and bar surfaces. Due to its resistance to chemicals, it provides for easy maintenance making it ideal in these situations.

The diagram on the left from shows the granite counter tops that are being used as a kitchen counter top in one of the restaurants in Starhill Gallery.

This diagram on the left is a picture taken of the polished granite table top in Starhill Gallery.

Ceramic

The picture above pin point the location where ceramic can be found in Starhill Gallery

Ceramic
Ceramic is one of the earliest building materials used in construction (Lyons 2010). According Everett (1994), ceramics are made from a mixture of mineral material (commonly quartz sand) and a clay binder (hydrated aluminium silicate) with impurities such as chalk, dolomite, and sulphates, plasticized with water. Ceramic is always present around us, for example tiles, bricks, plates, glass, and toilets. At the moment when the ceramic is shaped, it is fired to a high temperature and this process is called kiln (Johnson n.d.). Properties Most ceramic are compound, which means that they are made from two or more elements. The bond present is holding them together is covalent bond and ionic bond, which affects the properties (Johnson n.d.). Thus, as ceramics have a wide range of properties, they are used in many various applications (Johnson n.d.). The properties of ceramics are, very hard when fired at very high temperature, has high thermal expansion and corrosion resistance, and low density. Hence, ceramic has high wear resistance with a low density, wear resistance in corrosive environments and resistant to corrosion at high temperatures (Ceramic Substrates and Components Ltd 2013). Advantages Due to the properties mentioned above, ceramics have many advantages, such as durability. Ceramic has a longer life compared to the other materials used. Ceramics tiles are fireproof which means that they do not burn, release smoke or any fumes. Other than that, ceramic tiles are best used in moisture area as they have a lower absorption rate compared to other materials. Another reason why people always use ceramic as flooring or walling is because it can be easily maintain, it only requires sweeping, and vacuuming them. Because it has easy maintenance, thus it is hygienic and recommended to be used in hospitals or clinics (Build Direct 2013). Disadvantages Likewise, there are also the drawbacks of ceramics. The drawbacks are firstly, since ceramic is hard, thus it is not suitable to be used a flooring at a place where people needs to have to

stand for a long time. Besides that, the process of installing ceramic tiles is heavy and requires using a variety of mortar, grouts and tools which would cost more as it is labour intensive (Lewitin 2013). There are many types of ceramic products available, however in this assignment; only vitreous china, glazed tiles, homogenous tiles and mosaic tiles are discussed.

Vitreous China
Vitreous china is a type of ceramic that material is made from a finer grade of clay and fired at a higher temperature to make it less dense and less porous compared to ceramic. Thus, vitreous china is more commonly used as sanitary ware such as sinks, toilet bowl or any toilet ware. Advantages and disadvantages Vitreous china products are painted and fired, hence resulting in a baked-on-finish. Furthermore, it also uses a smoother grade of paint to produce a more uniform and glossy look on the products. Based on Brady (2013), vitreous china products can be wiped and cleaned with normal bathroom cleaners. However, it may chip if it is being hit or scratch by a heavy or sharp object. The beneficial part about vitreous china is that it would not rust and is germ- resistant. Other than that, vitreous china products normally do not sell in stores but are special-order products. Thus, it is quite pricey compared to the regular ceramic and commonly being used in hotels, retail brand shopping complex and others (Brady 2013). Application The reason Starhill Gallery uses vitreous china as their toilet sinks and bowls is because its glossy and elegant appearance. Starhill gallery is high end retail brand complex which mostly attracts customers who have a reasonably high income. Thus to leave a good impression to the customers, the material used must also be of a certain standard. Other than that,

vitreous china sanitary wares are also very easy to maintain, hence saving the maintenance cost. Besides that, since Starhill Gallery is a shopping complex, thus the average amount of customers using the toilet per day would be many. Vitreous china sinks and toilet bowls are less
porous, hence it does not ware off easily when it gets in contact with water every day.

Glazed Ceramic Tiles

Glazed ceramic tiles are

basically tiles that have a layer of sheen on the surface. Under a very high

temperature, approximately 2000 degrees Fahrenheit, the liquid glass or sometimes known as glaze is baked onto the surface of the clay

(Algarra 2008). This liquid glass enables the tiles to be moisture resistant, stain proof and give them various colours (Schneider 2011). Most of the glazed tiles are very slippery when it is wet, thus suppliers often apply a non-slip finishing for these types of tiles. There are a few sizes for glazed tiles. However, the smaller sizes ones such as mosaic glazed tiles are less slippery compared to the bigger ones because of its many grout lines (Algarra 2008). Installation Process Before installing ceramic floor tiles, the subfloor must be structurally sound, rigid, smooth and flat, free of wax or oily films and free of curing compounds (Mosaic Tiles and Co n.d.). Secondly, the room is squared off and measured and chalk lines are snapped. The installer will put the loose tiles on the floor so that the cut-lines are of the equal size on each floor. Most tiles have a slight difference in the tone of the colour, thus installers will mix the tiles before installing. The third step is installer starts to put a thin set on the floor section by section. A layer of coating will be spread with a trowel, followed by the second coat. The forth step is

placing the tiles one at a time using the twisting and pressing motion while

allowing suitable spacing for the grout. By using a short length of wood, the tiles are tamped to ensure that it is in touch with the thin set (Mosaic Tiles and Co n.d.). The last step which is grouting is done on the next day to allow the thin set sufficient time to set up before putting the grout. Clean the tile with a damp cloth after grouting (Mosaic Tiles Co n.d.). Glazed tiles are more suitable for indoor usage. Common places used are kitchens, bathrooms, and many more. Compared to unglazed tiles which are not as slippery as glazed tile in wet conditions, it is more frequently being used at outdoors (Algarra 2008). Alternative One of the most popular alternative used to replace glazed tiles are porcelain. Porcelain tiles are made up of 50% feldspar and fired at a much higher temperature compared to the normal ceramic tiles. Thus, it is harder and has a lower absorption rate, less than 0.5%. Other than that, porcelain tiles can be utilized for internal or external used (American Tile and Stone 2013). Application Ceramic glazed tiles are used in Starhill Gallery because it has a very shinny glossy look that makes it beautiful and elegant. Other than that, glazed tiles are easy to maintain due to its smooth and shinny surface that can be easily cleaned by the workers.

Homogenous Ceramic Tiles

Homogenous tiles are one of the types of ceramic tiles but fired at a higher temperature, hence the tiles are harder and less porous. Properties The major difference of a homogenous ceramic tile and a normal ceramic tile is the properties. A homogenous tile has its colour and pattern which are consistent for the entire tile, whereas for a normal ceramic tile, it is only coated with a layer of ceramic coating in the surface. Advantages One of the important benefits of homogenous tiles is that if you crack or chip a homogenous tile, there will none differences seen in its properties beneath the surface. However, if there is a chip in the normal ceramic tile, a baked clay like material will be seen underneath it (SG Interior Hub 2011). As homogenous ceramic tiles are resistant to stain, it makes it an excellent choice for areas with high human traffic (SG Interior Hub 2011). Application Starhill Gallery uses homogenous ceramic tiles as one of the type of its flooring because of its ability to be resistant to stain. Since it is a shopping area, children are bound to spill beverage on to the ground. Hence having flooring which is resistant to stain reduces its maintenance fee.

Mosaic Ceramic Tiles

Mosaic ceramic tiles are normally used to create images with small assorted pieces of coloured tiles. It is one of the art methods or of

decorative

interior

decoration. Ceramic mosaic tiles are made of small pieces of ceramic tiles of various colour. Mosaic tiles can be used for flooring or walling.

Advantages Mosaic tile can either be glazed or unglazed. Unglazed mosaic tiles are suitable to be used in swimming pools as it does not get slippery when wet. Mosaic tiles are also frost proof and resistant to chemicals (Lyons 2010). Installation Process Mosaic tiles are normally installed using the meshbased tessarae or also known as the mosaic tile sheet. Since mosaic tiles are small, it would be very tedious to install it one at the time. Thus normally a total of 144 tiles approximately are affixed to a fiberglass mesh sheet that holds the tiles in place (Wallender 2013). Next a layer of adhesive approximately 3mm to 4mm thick is applied on to the area that is going to be tiled. The layer of mosaic is then applied onto the adhesive and a short length of wood is used to tap the sheet level to the wall. Finally, on the next day, grout is applied to the tiles. Clean excess grout from the tiles using a damp cloth (Tile Deport 2013). Application

Starhill Gallery uses ceramic mosaic tiles for its washroom to have a unique type of walling. Although the mosaic tiles are not of various colours, however, due to its unique size, it is more beautiful compared to a regular size of ceramic tiles. Other than that, using mosaic tiles can actually reduce the cost of tiles than using regular sizes ceramic tiles .

Glass

The plan above shows the location where glass can be found in Starhill Gallery

Glass
Glass is a hard material but fragile and transparent material that is can be seen in our daily life (Lenntech 2013). The major components of glass are sand (silicates, sodium carbonate, and calcium carbonate). Lenntech (2013) also mentioned that the components are put under high temperature to fuse together and then later left aside to cool down to form a strong structure. The cooling rate depends on the different properties glass products that are to be produced. Properties Glass has various properties that distinguishes what kind of product is going to be manufactured and being applied at where. Firstly glass is a solid and hard material. It also has a chemical resistance where when it gets in contact with acid, the effect is almost negligible (Brand GMBH n.d.). Glass is also good for thermal insulation, able to control the amount of solar energy entering into the building and also has fire resistant properties (Glass for Europe n.d.). Other than that, the website Glass for Europe (n.d.), also stated that glasses are also able to provide safety and security by laminating it or toughening the glass. Noise control is also one of the main properties of glass that made it favourable to people (Glass for Europe n.d.). Glasses also come with various colour. Advantages The advantages of glass are similar to its properties which are chemical resistance, thus it does not get rusty and can last a long period of time if handled with care. Thermal insulation prevents unwanted sunlight to enter the building. Other than that, glasses block the fire so that people on the other side of the glass are safe. Although glass does not fully prevent noises from entering, however it reduces the noise thus making more tolerable to those that prefer the peace and quiet. Furthermore, with various colours of the glass, privacy of the people

can also be protected. Glasses can also be recycled and reused, thus protecting the environment as well. Disadvantages Mainly the disadvantages of glass material are from the manufacturing process. Since the silicates, sodium carbonates and calcium carbonates are fired by a relatively high temperature, thus a lot of energy is consumed which is not environmentally friendly. Other than that, the manufacturing of glass releases air pollutants that contribute to various environmental problems (Ghar Expert 2013). In this assignment, the type of glass that will be discussed is tempered float glass, and crystalline glass.

Tempered Float Glass

Float glass is one of the most common types of glass used in the world. It is manufactured from a mixture of sand, sodium carbonate, limestone, dolomite, and sodium sulfate and then fired to 2700 degrees Fahrenheit. The molten product is poured into a mould (Sawatzky 2013). A normal float glass is slightly green in colour because of its effect of iron oxide impurities within the sand (Lyons 2010). However, tempered float glass undergoes two extra stages which are annealing and heating it in a furnace and then cooling it down with forced air. According to Sawtzky (2013), he explains that annealing means the glass is heated until it turns slightly soft to allow any internal stresses to relax and later cooled slowly. Advantages and Disadvantages Tampered float glass or sometime known as safety glass. Tempered float glass is more resistant to breakage compared to normal float glass. Even though it is broken, it will break into small parts and pieces, thus the injury caused will be less serious (Guardian 2008). Other than that, with the thickness to a normal float glass, it is approximately 5 times stronger. On the other hand, the disadvantages are that tempered float glass has a soft surface; hence it can be easily scratched. Tempered float glass also cost more compared to the normal tempered float glass (Fenesta 2013). Application Tempered float glass is used in Starhill Gallery at the edge of the floor level, under the metal bar and handrail and at the excelator is to prevent children of that height from falling down. Besides that, the tempered float glass would not break easily if someone kicks it or hits it.

Crystalline Glass
All crystal is glass but not all glass is crystal explains Etched Crystals (2013). Thus, a glass must at least contain a certain percentage of lead before it can be called a crystal. The definition of crystal changes depending on the country (Moore 2013). Based on a European definition of crystal, a glass must have a minimum of 24% of lead oxide to be called a full lead crystal. It is said that glass is not considered as a crystal because it only has one amorphous structure giving its shape. On the other hand, crystals are arranged in crystalline structures (Moore 2013). Advantages and Disadvantages Crystalline glasses are valued for their beauty, unique patterns and very eye catching sparkle. The lead content enables the crystal to be softer compared to glass and hence easily to be cut into its distinctive shapes. Due to its high index of refraction, it creates a brilliant sparkle of crystal that is cut at sharp angles. The major disadvantage is that although the higher content of the lead, the more it belongs to the crystal, however, too much lead can leach into acidic beverage and cause various illness (Moore 2013). Application Starhill Gallery used tinted crystalline glass as the faade of the building firstly is because of the sparkle that attracts attention of many passersby and to give it an elegant look. Other than that, the tinted panes are able to reflect the sun and filter in only the natural light. Thus, keeping the inside of the building cool and reduces the cost of air conditioning.

Timber

The picture above tells the location where timber materials can be found in the complex

Timber
Starhill Gallery is a luxury retail mall and so requires the most aesthetically beautiful materials for its interior design. Timber being a natural material, being aesthetically beautiful possessing various colors, tones and grains. The columns used in the interior of the building and ornamented by timber such as this one, in the diagram below, taken at Starhill Gallery. The different colors of the timber give the room a natural look, therefore, adding a touch of luxury to it. Timber is still widely being used in the construction industry because of its versatility, diversity, and aesthetic properties. Properties The properties of timber can be further divided into structural, physical and acoustical properties. There are a few structural properties on timber which are wood depends on the thickness of the cell walls and not the thickness of the fibers, wood is a good material to be used as insulation as it has a very fine porous structure and wood is a fibrous material. On the other hand, for its physical properties, firstly the sized of the wood may vary according to the temperature and moisture. Wood may experience shrinkage in size when it is heated up to a high temperature due to the loss of water in the wood. Besides that wood is a poor conductor of heat, corrosion resistant and has a relatively high absorption capacity. Wood is famous for its acoustical properties that make it a favourable material to be used in orchestra halls. This is said because wood has a good sound insulation that produces a better sound quality (Spence, Kultermann 2011). Advantages Timber has many advantages that made it so popular in the construction industry. The advantages are timber is a renewable resource as trees can be grown through proper

development, it is resistant to any electrical sources, is a good insulator of heat and has good sound absorption as mentioned in the properties above. Furthermore, timber has a long span of life and is strong enough to be a load bearing member of a building as the columns, piles or walls (Allen, Iano 2009). Disadvantages The main disadvantage of timber is its defects. There are many types of defects; some are natural and some caused by the processes. One of the natural defects is knots.

Figure 1 shows the natural defect of timber, knots (Wood Work Forum 2007) Defects caused by the timber processing methods such as during conversion of wood sloping grain or wane may occur. Other than that, during seasoning, the timber may experience defects such as bow, spring, twist and cup.

Figure 2 shows the defects caused by seasoning(Brandon 2012)

Timber has many different applications in a building. In this assignment, we will be discussing timber being used in flooring and as panels of shops.

Wood Parquet Flooring

Wood parquet is elegant and decorative as flooring. It is commonly used in homes, shopping complex, sports hall and others. People use it for its excellent mechanical and insulation properties and various other reasons such as the unique colour, natural appearance and acoustics (Parketi Tomovic 2013). Types of Parquet Flooring Parquet wood can be easily installed and maintained. The type of wood used for parquet flooring must be relatively strong, flexible, weather resistant, termite resistant and also humidity. Hence, the more common ones used for floor parquet are teak, marine resin, iron wood, oak, pine or mahogany. Parquet flooring can be categorized into solid parquet and synthetic parquet. Solid parquets are

stronger, durable and the design is more similar to a real wood, but the price is more expensive. On the other hand synthetic parquet has limited durability, colour and texture. It will also fade after a long period (Best Home Inspirations 2013). Installation The installation process of wood parquet flooring is similar to tiles installation. Firstly, plan the installation by snapping chalk lines between the midpoints of the walls. A trowel is used to apply and spread the adhesives over a small section of the floor as it sets very quickly. The parquet is pressed carefully onto the adhesives. Try to use the same amount of strength when pressing the parquet onto the adhesives to avoid uneven parquets. Sometimes, a hammer covered with cloth or a short length of wood is used to tap the parquet (Better Homes and Gardens 2013). Application It is a very luxurious type of flooring and adds beauty to the shopping mall. The wood parquet is hygienic since it does not collect dust. This kind of flooring helps to maintain a

desired room temperature as it is an insulator therefore the mall is at a uniform temperature. The wood floor raises the value of the property.

Wood paneling
In recent years, wood-based panel products have become increasingly specialized and are used widely, including as a substitute for metals and plastics in some applications (McLain, 2007). Properties Wood-based panels cover a variety of different board products that have a wide range of engineering properties. Wood composites are low grade logs or chips and sawdust produces at sawmills. Wood composite are more favourable to be used for wood panels instead of solid timber because it is more consistent which means that they can support loads with smaller safety margin. Other than that, the properties of wood composites can be engineered, cost less and come in bigger sizes when needed. The special properties which wood composites come with are low thermal conductivity, fire resistance,

improved bio-resistance and better surfaces (Irle, Barbu 2010). Besides that, the equilibrium moisture content for wood composites such as fibre boards, MDF or OSB are lower compared to solid wood (Niemz 2010). Functions Wood panels are normally used as a partition for a space or for decorative purposes and sometimes to upgrade the acoustical

properties of a room. Nowadays, people favours to use wood panels as a decorative partition to separate the space optimally and Photo courtesy of Venus Buzz (2011)

elegantly (Top Akustik 2013). This wood panel was used as a means of partitioning a restaurant from the other compartments. Timber finish is an exotic and natural way of enhancing a room. It acts as

replacement for paint or even cement as the wooden finish adds beauty to the Photo courtesy of Love Chance and Choice (2013) columns inside the mall

The figure on the left shows the use oaf timber as partition wall. Fiberboard is a possible form of wood panel used here. It saves space and replaces the use of concrete walling.

Photo courtesy of Mijune (2010)

Conclusion
In conclusion, there are various different types of materials used in Starhill Gallery, however, we narrowed it down to four types, which are granite, ceramic, timber and glass. Granite is used throughout the whole building such as in the walkway, washroom and in some shops as well. Ceramic on the other hand is more focused in the washroom and tiles flooring at the walkway of the shopping complex. Other than that, timber due to it aesthetical value, is used mostly for decoration purposes in the building. Furthermore, glass has many applications to the building, for example faade purposes, safety purposes and decoration purposes. We had to do extra research on new materials that we have never learnt in lecture such as ceramic homogenous tiles used as flooring and crystalline glass used as faade of the building for its sparkling properties.

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