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The Bioclimatic Skyscraper: Kenneth Yeang’s Eco-Design Strategies
Rising over global cities, the modern skyscraper has long been a symbol of economic growth and environmental decline. For years, they have been reviled by environmentalists for being uncontrolled energy consumers. Malaysian architect Kenneth Yeang acknowledged the skyscraper as a necessity in modern cities and adopted a pragmatic approach to greening the otherwise unsustainable building typology. Yeang’s bioclimatic skyscrapers blend the economics of space with sustainability and improved living standards.
A champion of sustainable architecture in Southeast Asia, Kenneth Yeang’s work is driven by an ecology-based approach. He was a student of the Scottish landscape architect Ian McHarg who encouraged Yeang to design according to a regional microclimate. Best known for his green architecture and master plans, Yeang’s designs display a distinctive green aesthetic that performs beyond conventional rating systems. With many successful projects in his portfolio, Yeang became well-known for reimagining skyscraper design in fast-growing Southeast Asia.
Kenneth Yeang situated his practice at the intersection of theory and practice, having authored a few books on skyscraper design. In “The Skyscraper Bioclimatically Considered”, Yeang describes bioclimatic architecture as the use of passive, low-energy techniques such as building configuration, shading, component placement, material selection, solar- and wind-related orientation, natural ventilation, ‘sky courts, and vertical landscaping. “The Green Skyscraper: the Basis for Designing Sustainable Intensive Buildings” elaborates on Yeang’s justification for the focus on skyscrapers as a means of ecological improvement in growing cities.
Inspired by Ken Yeang, who states that “a bioclimatic skyscraper is a tall building whose built form is configured by design, using passive low-energy techniques to relate to the site’s climate and meteorological data, resulting in a tall building that is environmentally interactive, low-energy in embodiment and operations, and high-quality in performance”, this skyscraper is generated through the analysis of the climatic conditions of the site using parametric and algorithmic architecture.
Described as “capital with a green face”, Yeang was able to market sustainable development to clients and developers. He proved that designing with climate using passive devices resulted in a reduction of the overall energy consumption of the buildings, further reducing operational costs. Consequently, reduced electrical energy use implies reduced use of non-renewable fossil fuels, carbon dioxide emissions, air pollution, and temperature inversions. These considerations allowed development to continue within a framework of environmental sensibility – crucial to growing economies in Asia.
Yeang’s definition of bioclimatic architecture – passive techniques, environmental improvement, and regional expression – were realized through building strategies emphasized in his writing and his built work:
The Ecological Design In The Tropics Tower situated in Singapore is an example of ecological innovation in the Southeast Asian context. Kenneth Yeang’s strategy for increased airflow and reduced temperatures takes the form of an external core placed along the perimeter of the building. This opens up space inside as an expanding and contracting vertical courtyard that promotes natural ventilation and transpiration. Additionally, the external core also acts as a shield against heat gain during the hottest part of the day. The EDITT tower successfully reinterprets conventional skyscraper design where a central core within a rectangular shaft was considered immutable.
The Ecological Design In The Tropics Tower situated in Singapore is an example of ecological innovation in the Southeast Asian context. Kenneth Yeang’s strategy for increased airflow and reduced temperatures takes the form of an external core placed along the perimeter of the building. This opens up space inside as an expanding and contracting vertical courtyard that promotes natural ventilation and transpiration. Additionally, the external core also acts as a shield against heat gain during the hottest part of the day. The EDITT tower successfully reinterprets conventional skyscraper design where a central core within a rectangular shaft was considered immutable.
Kenneth Yeang’s unbuilt project designed for Tokyo, the Nara Tower, uses planting to counteract the biological imbalance caused by urban conurbation. The energy-efficient building applies concepts of vertical landscaping with eco-design to filet and clean indoor and outdoor air. Apart from serving as the lungs of the tower, the greenscape acts as a sound break between floors. The Nara Tower features a combination of changing form, continual landscaping, and embedded technologies to create a vernacular expression and aesthetic for an ‘eco-friendly skyscraper’.
With the Menara Mesiniaga tower, Yeang shifts his focus from technological advances in skyscraper design to the physiological well-being of users. The culmination of the Malaysian architect’s years of research into passive strategies for tall buildings, the tower fully realized its bioclimatic design principles. Yeang envisioned the project as a vertical interpretation of planar urban landscapes, equipping the building with vistas, public realms, civic zones, and linkages to “humanize floor slabs disconnected from the ground”. He achieved this through “sky courts” that spiral around the cylindrical facade. The sky courts not only act as a transitional space between the inside and outside of the skyscraper but also direct convective currents of cool air around and into the building.
The UMNO (United Malaysian National Organization) Tower in Penang, Malaysia highlights the eco-architect’s structural creativity. Yeang’s design turns a general disadvantage to skyscraper construction – wind load – into an opportunity. The UMNO Tower stands as a “vertical cantilever beam” positioned to take advantage of wind coming in from far-away natural features such as the South China Sea and the surrounding mountains. The structure was designed as a large “wind wing” wall angled to create an artificial pressure zone and pull wind through each office floor. The resulting natural ventilation was crucial in improving the health of the occupants, enhancing their physiological perception, and supporting energy conservation.
About his life
Born in 1948 in Penang, Malaysia, Ken Yeang grew up with his parents in an early Modernist house. He obtained his qualifications in architecture from the Architectural Association School (AA) in London. He received a PhD in ecological design and planning from Cambridge University Department of Architecture, writing his doctoral thesis, later published as Designing with Nature (1995), which became the springboard for his work on ecodesign, green architecture and ecocity masterplanning. Yeang attended courses on ecology at the Department of Environmental Biology at Cambridge University. He is a member of the British Ecological Society. Yeang’s headquarters is in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia as Hamzah & Yeang, with offices in London and Beijing.
What are his major works?
An interesting project is Yeang’s own home, the so-called Roof Roof House (1985), whose distinctive dual-roof design filters the tropical Malaysian sun and provides shade. Among his major projects there are: Menara Mesiniaga Tower (1992, Selangor, Malaysia), a climate responsive tower that exemplifies Yeang’s key principles; Kowloon Waterfront Masterplan (1998, Hong Kong), a green masterplan where he developed the green ecoinfrastructure concept and the novel use of ecocells; National Library (2005, Singapore), a green library tower with large sky courts;
How can we identify Yeang’s style?
He focused his career on designing sustainable structures that were one with nature. He created the bioclimatic skyscraper that has shaped the way architects design skyscrapers around the world. Essentially, he uses the surrounding environment and vegetation to drive design instead of competing with it. His buildings are designed to use natural sunlight to provide both heat and light, to collect precipitation for use in cooling systems, and to use wind patterns to maximize ventilation through unique structural innovations. Ken Yeang also believes that structures must have beauty or they face rejection.
Born in Penang, Malaysia, he attended Penang Free School (1961-1962) and entered Cheltenham College (Gloucestershire,1962-1967).
He qualified in architecture from the AA (Architectural Association) School of Architecture (London) where he did freelance illustrations and graphic work for the AD, AAQ magazines and for the AA. His dissertation at Cambridge University, “A Theoretical Framework for Incorporating Ecological Considerations in the Design and Planning of the Built Environment” earned him a PhD, published as ‘Designing With Nature’ (McGraw-Hill, 1995) and as ‘Proyectar Con La Naturaleza’ (Gustavo Gili, SA, 1999). Academically, he holds the Distinguished Plym Professor chair (University of Illinois, USA, 2005). His honorary degrees include D.Litt.(Hon.) (Sheffield University, UK 2004), PhD (Hon.) (University of Malaya, 2013), D. Arch (Hon.) (Universidad Ricardo Palma, Peru 2016), D.Sc (Hon..) (Taylors University, Malaysia 2017).
Yeang attended courses on ecology (Department of Environmental Biology at Cambridge University), partial attendance in ecological landuse planning (Department of Landscape Architecture, University Pennsylvania, under Ian McHarg). These provided the ecological basis for Yeang’s work and work on his biodiversity and ecomimicry approach to ecological architecture and masterplanning, joining the British Ecological Society in 1975. Other courses attended includes business management at the Malaysian Institute of Management, the Singapore Institute of Management and a short course at Harvard Business School.
He is registered as an architect with ARB (Architects Registration Board) (UK, 1972), RIBA (Royal Institute of Architects) (UK), PAM (Pertubuhan Arkitek Malaysia), and Singapore Institute of Architects (SIA). He is a Fellow of the SIA, Fellow (Hon.) of the AIA (American institute of Architects), Fellow (Hon.) of the Royal Incorporation of Architects in Scotland, and Fellow (Hon.) Wolfson College, Cambridge University.
Yeang interned at S.T.S. Leong (Singapore, 1969–70), worked at Louis de Soisson Partnership (1969), Akitek Bersekutu (Kuala Lumpur,1974) and joined fellow AA alumni, Tengku Datuk Robert Hamzah as T. R. Hamzah & Rakan-Rakan) (1975) which became T. R . Hamzah & Yeang Sdn. Bhd. (1976). Yeang also served as Design Director and Chairman for Llewelyn Davies Ken Yeang (UK, 2005) until it was dissolved in 2012 .
Yeang has completed over 12 bioclimatic eco high-rise buildings, several thousand dwellings (terraced houses), over two million sq. ft. interior design space, numerous eco-master plans and eco-city designs.
Yeang lectures extensively at conferences and schools of architecture (over 30 countries worldwide). He currently holds the Distinguished Plym Professorship chair (University of Illinois). He has been Professor of Practice (Texas A & M University0, Graham Willis Professor (University of Sheffield), Provost’s Distinguished Visiting Scholar (University of Southern California), Visiting Eminent Scholar (Florida Atlantic University), Advisory Professor (Tongji University, Shanghai), Honorary Professor (University of Hong Kong), misc. Adjunct Professorships (Royal Melbourne Institute of Technology, University of Hawaii, University of New South Wales, Curtin University, University of Malaya, Deakin University),
Yeang served as board member of public listed MBf Property Unit Trust, the Malaysian Institute of Architects Education Fund, Advisory Board of the Government of Malaysia’s Genovasi (2013), President of the Malaysian Institute of Architects, Chairman ARCASIA (Asian Council of Architects), Vice-President Commonwealth Association of Architects and Council Member RIBA (Royal Institute of British Architects).
His key built work include the Roof-Roof House (Malaysia), Menara Mesiniaga (IBM franchise) (Malaysia), National Library Singapore (Singapore), Solaris (with CPG Consult, Singapore), Spire Edge Tower (with Abraxas Architects, India), DiGi Data Centre (Malaysia), Great Ormond Street Children’s Hospital Extension (under Llewelyn Davies Yeang, UK), the Genome Research Building (Hong Kong with ALKF & Associates), Suasana Putrajaya (Putrajaya, 2017).
source : archdaily _ evolo _ idesign _ wikipedia
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