Improving architectural panel programming for increasing user satisfaction in industrialized housing in Malaysia

Abstract

The aim of this research is to investigate using both quantitative and qualitative methods, how adaptability are acquired and what factors are important to programme the architectural panel in order to enhance adaptability of industrialized housing in Malaysia. The previous studies show the gap between design standard and user‟s need for industrialized housing in Malaysia is still exists. The problems identified are related to the architectural design and its adaptability as well as modification over the life-cycle of the house. Thus the research focuses on the concept of support and infill to increase design quality and users‟ satisfaction in the house. Adaptability in a broader sense includes innovative participatory process for a better means of personalization of the home. However, renovation and extension works are currently limited in industrialized housing. The preliminary study shows that the adaptable design depends on the varying factors such as form and function of architectural panel and attitude of the users. The method used in this study was based on the assumption that the degree of quality of industrialized housing in Malaysia could be improved by architectural programming towards adaptability as Japan had done in their experimental housing of NEXT21 in Osaka. Therefore, the case study on adaptability was carried out at Japan to identify the criteria of adaptability to be applied into industrialized housing in Malaysia. Consequently, the case study on industrialized housing was carried out in Malaysia to identify the Performance Index of Satisfaction (PIS) of the users. Data for case study were retrieved from a review of documents as well as information of the projects, questionnaires survey, and observation. Nowadays in Malaysia, there are many building systems which providing a large variety of architectural precast panel component. The findings confirmed that the architectural panel could contribute for the improvement of adaptability by formulating Architectural Programming. The programming is supports by Adaptability Model from quantitative analysis (user‟s satisfaction for internal spaces), and qualitative analysis (form and function of architectural panel) of that space. Finally, the innovative solution of programming for architectural panel in industrialized housing and other recommendations for architects regarding adaptability complete the thesis.