Research Fellowship
Yale University’s Robert C. Bates Summer Research Fellowship + The Council on Southeast Asia Studies Grant
Independent Research | Singapore + Indonesia + Malaysia | June - August 2014
YaleNUS is a collaboration between Yale University and the National University of Singapore
Overview
Vernacular architecture as a case study for green architecture
Sponsored by two competitive Yale fellowships, I spent a summer in Southeast Asia carrying out an individual research project in partnership with YaleNUS.
Researched the intersection of vernacular and sustainable architecture in the region, with a focus on how three specific case studies (Mesiniaga Tower in KL, YaleNUS campus in Singapore, and the Green School in Bali) embodied the concept of biophilia and responsive design.
Main research methodologies included:
Engaging with local community members, including Balinese craftsmen, to gain a deeper understanding of the local construction industry
Interviewing pioneers in the field of green architecture, such as Malaysian architect Ken Yeang
Taking courses in Bamboo joinery and model making at PT Bamboo Pure, the Green Village’s Bamboo Factory in Bali
Recording impressions of various site visits in the form of physical sketches and photographs
Exploring PT Bamboo’s storage facility, with different types of bamboo at various stages of the drying process.
Open warehouse where new shapes can be prototyped and tested.
Selection of pages from the travel journal I kept throughout the trip. Sketches capture some key areas of the Green School in Bali, as well as specific construction and ventilation techniques
Balinese craftsmen teaching bamboo joinery at PT Bamboo
Bamboo radial columns holding tall structures in place
Example of repurposed materials: a car’s windshield has been painted white and used as a whiteboard
Bamboo being utilised in more conventional construction as a local replacement for traditional timber framing
Juxtaposition of temple construction with bamboo scaffolding
Want to learn more?
You can read the original fellowship report written upon returning to Yale’s New Haven campus here.