NEEDS ANALYSIS
Our Considerations
THERMAL COMFORT AT PARK PLACE RESIDENCES AT PLQ
Lendlease wanted to create community spaces with optimal thermal comfort – that is, spaces with an ideal balance of ambient temperature, humidity and air movement. Staying true to its culture of sustainability, it sought to do this in an environmentally responsible way. Lendlease’s specific needs for Park Place Residences at PLQ were as follows:
- Design for natural ventilation or improve on ventilation so dwelling units can achieve thermal comfort without air-conditioning which can reduce residents’ utility costs, and is friendlier to the environment
- To meet to homeowners’ preferences for aesthetically pleasing and high-quality fittings
First, the M&E team carried out a wind performance study using a simulation software to measure the thermal comfort in the units. It realised that air that came into the unit would remain still inside, resulting in a lack of airflow, which affects thermal comfort.
The team explored several options to promote the circulation of fresh air which included tweaking the layout of the units and corridors. However, such major design changes were deemed unfeasible for that advanced stage of the building project. Amidst these challenges, the team came up with a simple solution – ceiling fans.
IDEA CONCEPTUALISATION
Powering Ideas
THERMAL COMFORT AT PARK PLACE RESIDENCES AT PLQ
Lendlease, its appointed mechanical and electrical engineering (M&E) consultant from Meinhardt Singapore and architects from DP Architects explored various possibilities of enhancing thermal comfort at Park Place Residences at PLQ.
DEVELOPMENT
All in Good Speed
THERMAL COMFORT AT PARK PLACE RESIDENCES AT PLQ
Hear from Meinhardt on what it did after it received approval to use fans to enhance natural airflow.
Our next step was to better understand the physics of windflow within the unit, so that we could find the prime spot to install the fan. If the fan is not placed strategically there might be a short-circuited patch of wind movement in that area. So, we simulated various scenarios to find the right spot that would promise the best air movement within each unit.
