Purpose: This study aims to identify the optimal configuration to enhance the environmental conditions of a terrace house courtyard space in a hot and humid climate. The use of the courtyard has declined in new housing developments although it is an effective element to bring in light and wind to promote passive ventilation to occupants. To achieve the comfort level, the courtyard needs to be open, but some occupants modify it with enclosures, such as polycarbonate, to increase the useable and shaded area. This affects bringing in daylight but deters the passive ventilation from happening. Thus, this research is important to create a courtyard that brings in daylight and wind as well as shades from the harsh sun of the tropics and to educate the occupants on the role of the courtyard as a passive ventilation system.Design/methodology/approach: The research method employed is a simulation study. A terrace house with a courtyard design in Penang was chosen as a case study of the baseline model. The courtyard configurations of the case study were evaluated, and 4 settings based on the literature review were established for simulation. The effects of the courtyard configurations were tested through daylight and CFD simulations. Daylight and ventilation requirements from Malaysia Standard were used to evaluate and compare the effectiveness of the proposed settings.Findings: The results suggested that the semi-enclosed courtyard feature with a shading device could provide the optimal environmental conditions of the courtyard space in a terrace house in a hot-humid climate. This paper will benefit the architectural community in which it is intended to implement courtyard design in modern terrace houses and will also contribute to the discovery of the most suitable courtyard typology in a hot-humid climate.Research limitations/implications: The study does not include studies on thermal comfort, energy performance, or use behavior of occupants in this courtyard. The study only focuses on the influence of different courtyard configurations in improving the courtyard space's daylight availability and indoor air movement.Practical implications: The data from this study reveal that alteration of courtyard design needs to suit comfort level that should not alter the functions of the courtyard as a passive design. The simulation method offers data for microclimatic conditions according to the changes in design. This study attempts to design influence on multiple parameters of shading, daylighting and ventilation to optimize the use of tropical climatic conditions.Social implications: The terrace house with courtyard would create a passive design strategy that would naturally ventilate, provide daylight, and will save on energy usage. The courtyard then with its enhanced comfort for the user will be able to function as a useable space to foster family relationships.Originality/value: The study on courtyard design using the simulation method mostly have been conducted using a single parameter. This study highlights the analysis and process of identifying the optimal configuration for the architectural feature of a courtyard to provide a comfort level for occupants in hot and humid climates using the simulation method using data from two pieces of software.

Purpose: There is an urgent need to develop a systematic tool for urban design in the cities of the Klang Valley, Malaysia. Sustainable Development Goal 11 (SDG11) proposes ideas to make cities and human settlements inclusive, safe, resilient and sustainable. This paper approaches this goal through land use, integrated into an effective connectivity network. It offers a scientific and systematic approach. The research employs Space Syntax of the University College London as a tool for urban analysis and the principles of Sustainable Street Networks developed by the Congress of New Urbanism to respond to connectivity issues.Design/methodology/approach: The paper employs empirical research through case studies. A systematic literature review is conducted on the diversified applications of the Space Syntax correlations, which steered the fundamental analysis of the elements of deconstruction to structure and land use. Space Syntax and Sustainable Street Network characteristics were the essential research methods. It is important to note that these data a new finding on the Syntactic Maps of the two case study cities.Findings: The paper summarises a set of results on (1) international comparison of spatial intelligence, (2) patterns from the Eastern cases and (3) theoretical guidelines for spatial intelligence through the Syntax by offering key characteristics of the New Urbanism principles, which could be considered, while revitalising the cities in the Klang Valley, Malaysia.Research limitations/implications: The findings are specific and applicable to the oriental contexts. However, such results have been further compared to the Western context.Practical implications: The study develops a toolkit for urban planners and designers and architects in Klang Valley, Malaysia.Social implications: The research has focused and will add value for SDG11: Sustainable Cities and Communities. Theoretically, the paper offers insights to urban design readers.Originality/value: It is important to note that the data itself is a new finding on Syntactic Maps of the two case study cities. The investigated setting is unique, and the first attempt in generating a Space Syntax map to the cities of Klang Valley, and the findings, therefore, offer a new set of knowledge-base to the city planners, urban designers, researchers and architects.

The use of the Internet for social networking is very popular amongst the youth. Collaborative technology leads to instant online community that enables fast and convenient communication. Adoption of Social Media has been researched on many contexts. However, little research has paid close attention to the student’s acceptance of Social Media (SM) as e-learning in higher educational teaching, especially in architectural education. This study aims to investigate factors that affect acceptance and behaviour of architecture undergraduate students towards the usage of SM. A quantitative method was used and qualitative responses of 33 architecture students using social media in their elective module, Community Service Initiative (CSI), was analyzed using the Technology Acceptance Model (TAM). TAM model for this study focused on social norm (SN) as an external factor, the two user beliefs, perceived usefulness (PU) and perceived ease of use (PEU) and behavioural intention to use (BI). Factor Analysis and Pearson Correlation showed significant relationship between social norm, perceived ease of use, perceived usefulness, and behavioural intention to use. The results of this study provided evidence for the potential use of social media as e-learning in similar modules.

The physical environment of the Malaysian schools has remained unchanged for decades, thus not providing a conducive learning environment that promotes the well-being of students. Several studies on biophilic designs have been shown to enhance occupant well-being in living and working environments. Therefore, the study attempts to investigate the possibility of integrating biophilic design in Malaysian primary schools to improve students' well-being. This study determines the biophilic elements that contribute to the development of the students' well-being and investigate the students' preferences for the biophilic environment in their schools. The study employs a quantitative approach using a set survey questionnaire. The findings show to what extent biophilic design elements are currently integrated into primary school designs. Findings would assist designers and authorities in their efforts for the future development of school environment design considering student wellbeing.

University students' well-being has become an increasing concern in higher education. The COVID-19 lockdown situation has brought this vulnerable population into renewed focus. The study aims to assess the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic lockdown on the well-being of university students. To address the nature of the research question, a survey instrument was used. The questionnaire design was adopted from the depression patient health questionnaire (PHQ-9) and generalized anxiety disorder (GAD-7). It consists predominantly of Likert scale questions and several open-ended questions. The instrument was administered online using Google forms. A total of 142 students participated in the study by completing the survey voluntarily. The results of this study demonstrated that students who are staying with family have a higher percentage of moderate to severe anxiety and depression, as compared to participating students who are staying on their own.

Objective - E-learning has been an integrated teaching and learning approach in higher educational institutions and considered as a way forward in creating lifelong learners. In Architectural studies, where design is a major component, software's are vastly used as designing tools. Recent years saw an increasing awareness of green architecture, taking into account the sustainability where the absence of or efficient technology in a building playing a major role in creating sustainable architecture. In an attempt to enhance the design through technical module a traditional case study project has been converted into a simulation project to create a dynamic learning much needed by Architecture students. This paper examines the value of using simulation to study the effectiveness of shading device and its effect on student's learning. Methodology - The investigation is conducted by evaluating the learning outcome of architecture students in a private institute of higher education in Malaysia by using a questionnaire to collect data from a group of 30 volunteers from 105 architectural students whom have completed the module. Findings - Architecture Design Studio based learning in a Technical Study module, students were able to enhance their critical thinking skills based on the scientific approach. Overall, it allowed for the development of the student's discipline-specific knowledge, gaining new knowledge and skills to simulate using digital tool and enhance their analytical skills. Novelty – The paper emphasises the dynamic learning as an integrated approach to designing and an effective way to intensify lifelong learning by instilling e-learning methods as a way forward in teaching and learning architecture students. Type of Paper - Empirical Keywords: E-learning; Architecture; sun-shading;simulation; sustainability