SCHOOL OF ARCHITECTURE, BUILDING

& SCIENCE
BUILDING SCIENCE 1 (BLD60803)
PROJECT 1: Case Study
(Identifying innovative passive design strategies)
LOCATION
Solaris,
The Pinnacle @
BandarSingapore
Sunway, Malaysia.
PREPARED BY:
Alex Wong

0303228

Chew Wen Lin

1007c10646

Chin Pui Man

0310331

Daniel Yap

0309100

Gan Chin Bong

0313738

Teo Kian Hui

0310165
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TABLE OF CONTENT

No
1

Content

Page
1

Introduction
2-3

Detailed Information
4-8

Appendix
9-12

Climate Data
13-14

Wind Analysis
15-16

Sun Path Case Studies and Psychometric Chart

17-23

Passive Design Features

24

Conclusion
24-25

Reference List

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INTRODUCTION

SOLARIS is state-of-the-art facility that forms an integral part of the renowned

Fusionopolis clusters based on the design of Eco-Green mindset with a goal to be
certified BCA GREEN MARK PLATINUM which is the highest green certification
given by the benchmark of Singapore's Sustainable building. It is a 15 story
multi-tenanted structure with has the main function for info-communications, media,
science, research and clean-tech development at One-North. The overall energy
consumption for this building is the local precedents consumption with the reduction
of 36% which leads to the winning project in JTC competition. In addition, it also
introduces plantation that exceeds by 113% from original area site that is 8,000 m2 of
landscaping.

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Detailed Information

Project by:
Soilbuild Group Holdings Ltd

Building Address:
Solaris Fusionopolis 2B, One North

Architect:
TR Hamzah Yeang

Photo source from: http://www.realwowz.net/2013/01/science-centre.html

Figure 1: Solaris, Singapore

Photo source from: http://www.spring.gov.sg/AboutUs/CI/Pages/map-solaris.aspx#.U2szSBaZ2gE

Figure 2: Site plan

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Green Design Features of the Solaris, Singapore

Green design features that can be found in the Solaris building are
I.
II.

Spiral Ramp Design

Naturally Ventilated Spaces

III.

Skylight/ Actuated Smoke Vent Louvers

IV.

Rain Harvesting System

V.
VI.
VII.

Climate Responsive Faade System

Planter Box Design on Landscape Spiral Ramp
Roof Gardens and Corner Sky Terraces

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APPENDIX

Figure 3: Level 2 floor plan

Figure 4: Level 3 Floor plan

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Figure 5: Level 6 floor plan

Figure 6: Level 10 floor plan

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Figure 7: Level 17 floor plan

Figure 8: Entrance of Solaris from interior

Figure 9: View of interior with skylight

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Figure 10: Panorama view of roof garden

Figure 11: Panorama view of roof garden

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Climate Data

Singapore is located on the southern tip of the Malaysia Peninsula in Southeast Asia,
between the Indian Ocean and the South China Sea. Singapore lies on north of the
Equator near Latitude 1.3667 N and Longitude 103.8 E. Singapore features a hot,
wet climate and tropical rainforests.
Singapore's climate is divided into two different seasons, which are the Northeast
Monsoon, and the Southeast Monsoon season. These two seasons are separated by
two short inter-monsoon periods.

35

30
25
20
Daily Maximum C

15

Daily Minimum C

10
5

Figure 12: Average Daily Maximum and minimum temperature C chart

The minimum temperature in Singapore is ranged 23c to 26c and maximum

temperature ranged 25c to 31c throughout the year. From the chart, January and
December are the coolest month throughout the year.
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20
18
16
14

12
10
Daylight (Hours)

Sunlight (Hours)

4
2
0

Figure 13: Average Sunlight and Average Daylight Chart

Singapore receives sunlight throughout the year and it is very rare for Singapore to
have full day of clear skies. Singapore temperatures are varying less than 3c
annually.
84
82
80

78
76
74
Daily Maximum (%)

72

Daily Minimum (%)

70
68
66

64

Figure 14: Relative Humidity (%) Chart

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Relative humidity in Singapore is in the range of 70% -82% throughout the year.
Singapore is a country where it has high level of humidity. It differs from 82% in the
morning and falls to 60% in the afternoon, when it is not raining.

Wet Days
20
18
16

18

17

14
12

10

14

15

19

16

15

13

13

14

14

11

Wet Days

6
4
2

Figure 15: Wet Days chart

Singapore is located on the equator, thus the country experiences rainfall throughout
the year. As mention in the introduction, Singapore climate is divided into two
seasons, which is;

A) Northeast Monsoon; which happens on the period of December to March. From

the chart, December and January achieved the highest value, which labeled as "wet
phase" while February and March has lower value that is labeled as "dry phase"

B) Southwest Monsoon; which happens on the period of June to September. From the
chart, this period has average number of wet days that usually last for most 2 hours.
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Wind Analysis

Wind Direction

Percentage (%)

North

18

Northeast

29

East

Southeast

South

19

Southwest

56

West

10

Northwest

6
Table 1: Wind Direction for year 2013

Month

Wind Force (kph)

January

15.1

February

9.2

March

5.1

April

3.3

May

4.0

June

8.9

July

9.9

August

8.8

September

10.1

October

9.8

November

6.4

December

10.9
Table 2: Wind Force for year 2013

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Figure 16: Wind Arrow of Singapore

From the wind arrow chart, we can conclude that there is always strong wind
at the direction north-east while weaker wind at the direction south-east. The darker
blue represent longer hours, while lighter blue represent shorter hour.

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Sun Path Case Studies

Figure 17: Sun Path Analysis in the morning on 8th of May

Figure 18: Sun Path Analysis in the afternoon on 8th of May

Figure 19: Sun Path Analysis in the evening on 8th of May

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Psychometric Chart

Figure 20: Psychometric Chart of Malaysia (same as Singapore)

From the chart above, we can conclude that to achieve thermal comfort, the
temperature and humidity of the place or area should reach within the yellow box
value showed above. The values inside the box stat that with the range of temperature
from 23 degree Celsius to 27 degree Celsius and the humidity value from 4 to 13 is
the thermal comfort zone. With the present data, a green building should have the
ability to maintain as a thermal comfort zone.

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Passive Design Features

Throughout this case study, two (2) passive design features are pointed out from the
Solaris, Singapore. Two passive designs are:

I.

Skylight / Actuated Smoke Vent Louvers

The primary function of skylight is to bring warm and light into the interior space.
Besides bringing in light and warm, it also brings in the sense of spaciousness and
looks more attractive. The light bring in by skylight are up to 5 times of a wall
window with the same size. If a skylight is equipped with a moveable sash, it can be
the roof window with ventilation function.
Skylight come in varies style in sizes and shapes with different types of glazing such
as plastic, glass or insulated glass.
As an opening of the roof, the skylight framing structure must be strong enough and
able to transfer the skylight roof load properly to the building structure to prevent
failure. Water run off slop design must be applied to prevent water leakage and water
gathering at the surface of the skylight.
The choice of materials for the glazing also plays an important aspect. For example,
a low quality plastic glazing can easily break when something hits on it and
sometimes the low quality glazing can distort by the heat of sun.

Skylight also can be an important architectural element with different types of

skylight to create different types of effect. For example, box like arrangement of
skylight project like turret and tiny glass dome can act as a modern touch.

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In Solaris, the skylight besides allowing the natural light to enter, it also serves as
another purpose besides the stacking effect. It is also consider as a fail-safe
system. When fire is detected (via the building's intelligent management system),
the skylight louvers will automatically open and became an exit for the smoke or
harmful gas. For safety reason, the louvers will automatically open even without
power supply. With this system, smoke control system is being eliminates which
leads to saving cost and power. For extra purposes, it is also a weather shield such
as rain by rain detection sensors and direct sunray.

Photo source from: http://www.greenroofs.com/projects/solaris/solaris5.jpg

Figure 21: Skylight view from the interior

Figure 22: Skylight view from the exterior

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II.

Climatic Responsive Facade System

Photo source from: http://www.realwowz.net/2013/01/science-centre.html

Figure 22: Perspectives view of Solaris showing the facade

According to local sun path analysis, sun rise from east in the morning and fall on the
west during evening. For a tall building like Solaris, most of the buildings facade are
installed with sunshade louvers or light shelves that are controlled by climatic
response censor to adjust them. Sunshade louvers have been designed to reduce direct
sunlight from entering the building but at the same time allowing gentle light to enter
to the interior space. The light shelves reflects the direct sun beam into the interior
space, reducing it to become gentle light to bright up the deeper interior space.

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Figure 23: Light shelf

By doing so, artificial lighting cost for daytime can be significantly reduced.
Additionally, low-E double glazing glass is used as the curtain wall of the building to
minimize the heat transfer from interior to the exterior. This can also help reduced the
energy cost for mechanical cooling. The linear length of the buildings sunshade
louvers is over 10km. Therefore, the louvers are opened at strategic locations to reveal
high volume entrances and sky terrace activity areas.

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Conclusion

After the survey and research of Solaris, we found out that it is a better working place
compare to other types of building because it doesn't provide a sick building effect
which will reduce the efficiency of the workers production. Through interviews, we
found out that the users are satisfied with the building design and structure. All they
can say is that this building is one of a kind in this century and no one will deny it. As
the conclusion of our group researches, we can solidified that this building is similar
to a living breathing structure which can sustain with a minimum usage of power such
as electricity. The feeling of just standing around the ground floor is able to sense the
cooling effect without the presents of air-condition or fan. It is all based on the air
ventilation designed by the architects. The lighting effect was excellent because even
though there are lots of shading effect, the amount of lighting was just nice and
everything is based solely on natural lighting during daytime. We are hoping that all
the buildings these days are able to provide the same effects as Solaris instead of only
the design or layout. The green and eco-friendly design for a building should be
concern the most in these days as these green designs not only prevent earth from
destruction but also saving cost.

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Reference List

1. GuideMeSingapore. (n.d.). GuideMeSingapore. Retrieved April 27, 2014, from

http://www.guidemesingapore.com/relocation/introduction/climate-in-singapore

2. Local Climatology. (n.d.). Local Climatology. Retrieved April 27, 2014, from
http://app2.nea.gov.sg/weather-climate/climate- information

3. SINGAPORE. (n.d.). Singapore Map / Geography of Singapore / Map of

Singapore. Retrieved April 27, 2014, from
http://www.worldatlas.com/webimage/countrys/asia/sg.htm

4. Robert Pratt, January 2013, Council on Tall Building and Urban Habitat, Solaris,
Singapore, (6 May 2014) Retrieved From
http://www.ctbuh.org/TallBuildings/FeaturedTallBuildings/FeaturedTallBuildingArch
ive2012/SolarisSingapore/tabid/3854/language/en-GB/Default.aspx

5. SoilBuild Group Holding LTD, N.D. Solaris, Solaris, (6 May 2014) Retrieved
From
http://www.soilbuild.com/showroom_Solaris.html

6. Ken Yeang, 2 April 2012, U*Reka, IN DETAIL: SOLARIS @ONE-NORTH, (6

May 2014) Retrieved From
http://blog.cpgcorp.com.sg/?p=2118

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