Elective - Sustainable Housing Development

This module provides students with the opportunity to apply their understanding of global environmental issues and the principles of ecologically sustainable development to a large-scale housing development. Emphasis is placed on independent research, self-developed project plan and the application of existing and new knowledge and skills.

Topics Covered:

1. Delivering sustainable homes and communities: key concepts and key policies
2. The residential development process in Malaysia: an overview
3. Sustainable construction and design: standards, policy and technology
4. User participation in design and development: self-build, co-ops and cohousing
5. Eco towns and villages: the low impact development challenge
6. Sustainable behaviours: individual responses to sustainable design
7. Fuel poverty: critical perspectives on the sustainability of Malaysia housing development.

Assignments done:

Assignment 1 was an individual assignment where we had to do a journal review. We had to choose our own journal. I chose "PROJECT MANAGEMENT SUCCESS FACTORS FOR SUSTAINABLE HOUSING: A FRAMEWORK" by Abu Hassan Abu Bakar, Arman Abd Razak, Shardy Abdullah and Aidah Awang of Universiti Sains Malaysia, Pulau Pinang, Malaysia.

Cover of my SHD assignment 1

Assignment 2 was a group assignment consisting of 5 students. We had to propose a sustainable house to be built in Malaysia. We proposed a middle-income sustainable house to be built in Shah-Alam. We had to prepare a report of the proposed idea. We also had to prepare a multi media presentation showing our Digital 3D model of the proposed house. Below is the introduction of our media presentation with our names. This is just a very little part of our media presentation.

Reflection

This module has helped me learn about the evolving environmental debate as it applies to housing development. I have also learned about the legislative requirements for undertaking sustainable housing development. Furthermore I can now apply the implications of sustainability principles in construction projects.