Assignment 1b: Energy Efficient Green Building Site Visit
TASK
For this project, we had to form a group of 6 to conduct a site visit to a few recognized energy efficient green buildings. We can choose to visit a publicly accessible site in Malaysia. We must plan the structure, content, script etc. for a good Vlog. We must also work as a team taking turns to play the role of director, videographer and narrator, with everyone appearing in the Vlog for different sections.
OUTCOME VIDEO
REFLECTION
For Project 1(b), we continued working with the same group of six members from Project 1(a). Based on our tutor’s suggestion, we decided to contact Architect Wooi and ask whether we could study one of his projects for this assignment. With the help of one of our group members’ parents, we successfully arranged a visit with him. The building we visited was his own residence, Wooi Residence.
On the day of the visit, we arrived at his house at around 10:00 a.m. He personally guided us around the residence and introduced us to the different spaces and design features. During the visit, we recorded videos and took many photographs so that we could include them in our final project. After the house tour, we sat down with him and each group member asked several questions that we had prepared a few days earlier. Through the interview, we gained a lot of new knowledge about sustainable design, architectural ideas, and the functional considerations behind the house.
I was particularly impressed by the environmental qualities of the residence. Although the house is located in an urban area, the many openings throughout the building allow natural ventilation to move through the spaces, making the interior feel cool and comfortable. These openings also create a strong connection between the indoor spaces and the surrounding natural environment. We also explored the outdoor areas of the house, where we saw a bamboo garden and a swimming pool.
Apart from the overall sustainable design strategies, I also learned a lot from the smaller architectural details within the house. One of the elements that impressed me the most was the unique staircase. Its distinctive design made it one of the most memorable architectural features of the residence and helped me realise how smaller design details can contribute to the overall character of a building.
After collecting enough video footage, photographs, and interview content, we took a group photo with Architect Wooi before leaving. Afterwards, we started reviewing and selecting the most important information to be included in the final video. The video editing was mainly handled by my group member, Wing Yan, and I was very grateful to have such a reliable teammate. Two other group members also helped by preparing subtitles for each person’s interview section, which made the editing process more organised and efficient.
Through this project, I gained a better understanding of sustainable residential design and also experienced how a real architectural site visit and interview can provide knowledge that cannot be gained from research alone. Seeing the house in person allowed me to better understand how natural ventilation, landscape, functionality, sustainability, and architectural details can work together within a real building. This project also strengthened my understanding of teamwork, communication, preparation, and cooperation in completing a group assignment successfully.
COMMUNICATION SKILLS
This project improved my communication skills through teamwork and the interview with Architect Wooi. I learned to ask questions clearly, listen carefully, and communicate professionally with both my teammates and the architect.
THINKING AND PROBLEM SOLVING SKILLS
This project also developed my thinking and problem-solving skills. After collecting a large amount of information, we had to select and organise the most relevant content for the final video. This helped me learn how to evaluate information and solve problems more effectively.