Biophilic Design Implementation in Communal Space of Office Building in Malaysia. Case Study: D7 Sentul East

Abstract

Biophilic design is one of the sustainable design strategies in a building that can be categorized in the indoor environmental quality approach. Therefore, it is a fitting approach that can be used in designing spaces of a building, especially in a workplace setting. Biophilic design is one possible approach that considers the local environmental context in creating these conducive spaces. Today, the use of biophilic design may be seen in a variety of environments. It is the goal of this study to examine how biophilic design elements and attributes can be implemented in communal spaces of an office building in Malaysia’s tropical climate and to observe how the occupants of the building perceive the effects of biophilic design on them as well as the possible identification of a preferred biophilic design in Malaysia’s tropical climate context. This study will focus on the D7 Sentul East office building in Kuala Lumpur with known biophilic design implementation in its design. There is a clear preference for the visual connection with nature, but in Malaysia, there is also a preference for access to thermal and airflow as well as the prospect, which may be related to the local climatic setting highlighted in the results. Aside from the biophilic design advantages, the design may also assist sustainability challenges by exceptional design execution, leveraging the climatic and environmental context of the building’s site, as discussed in the results.