Tamil Salvi Mari

• Doctrate of Education
• Senior Lecturer at Taylor's University

Heritage buildings have always been essential in improving the quality of the city’s life, especially for the communities living in historical settings. They play a vital part in representing historical, architectural, cultural, political, spiritual, and symbolic values that are passed down to generations. Historical buildings are often considered...

This paper examines the spatial practices of construction worker housing in construction sites. In recent years, several standards and guidelines, such as MS 2593:2015 and Act 446, were implemented to improve the living environment of workers' temporary accommodation. Despite that, there is a lack of focus on the sociality of spaces as the design o...

Increasing the retention rate of female students in Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics (STEM) fields has always been challenging in many institutions. Engineering is among the male-dominated fields in both academia and the workplace. In Malaysia, recent statistics indicate that the number of women choosing engineering as a degree is...

The use of various pedagogies is essential to aid the complex learning of architectural students, especially due to tools for visualising design becoming advanced. Accordingly, experiential learning by simulation or physical presence and case study-based learning in teaching and learning architecture are essential. Using virtual reality (VR), stude...

Healing space design can promote healing, foster a positive atmosphere, influence health-related outcomes, reduce stress, decrease healthcare expenditures and enhance well-being. However, a systematic literature review that identifies factors influencing healing space design for the enhanced well-being of occupants is lacking. The influencing facto...

3D Concrete Printing (3DCP) is a promising technology gaining rapid development in the recent past. Numerous reviews focused on 3D printing (3DP) in construction but very few reviews on nature-inspired 3DCP. Therefore, a thematic review of current trends in nature-inspired 3DCP is needed. Thematic reviews conducted manually are time-consuming and r...

The COVID-19 pandemic has emphasised the significance of healthy housing and residential environments in promoting health, comfort, and wellbeing. Previous research conducted in China revealed notable effects on students' psychological wellbeing, with increased anxiety levels attributed to the pandemic. In Malaysia, student accommodation-based inst...

In modern urbanisation, the attempt to build a transit hub is usually an afterthought in urban planning. The economics and functional aspects dictate the focus of building transit hubs in contemporary cities and act as flow facilitators. Although there are authoritative guidelines and literature on contextualising a transit hub in the planning and...

This study utilised the space syntax approach to examine the design of the physical environment in public housing in Malaysia to reduce the likelihood of crime. Two case studies, namely the People's Housing Program (PPR) Kampung Baru Air Panas and Public Housing Sri Kelantan, were selected in Kuala Lumpur for qualitative analysis. Three analytical...

Chinese traditional villages have a long history with rich material and intangible cultural heritage, which are essential objects protected by government departments. Chinese traditional villages are usually located in remote areas, and the public service facilities are relatively backward. With the rapid development of society and economy, the Chi...

The demand for homes for elderly housing has significantly increased in recent years. However, in Malaysia, the attention to the living quality of the elderly has been inadequate, leading to the prevalence of elderly care homes resembling institutional settings. Such environments contribute to social isolation and depression among elderly residents...

Studies have revealed that buildings consume a significant amount of energy, with approximately 40% of total energy consumption being attributed to them. Rural residential buildings are responsible for roughly 23% of China's overall building energy consumption. Therefore, reducing energy consumption and carbon emissions from rural residential build...

The People's Housing Program (PPR) is a low-cost and affordable housing programme introduced during the First Malaysia Plan as an initiative to address squatters' settlements and support the lower-income group in the country. While it is important to maintain realistic expectations regarding low-cost affordable residential housing, media and public...

This study aims to investigate architecture students' attitudes toward sustainability through the learning of digital simulation and their intention of integrating it into their architecture design studio project. The study employs a quantitative study using the survey design of 205 participants year two (2) undergraduate architecture students in a...

The utilisation of 3D printing technology in construction has been previously observed in countries such as China. This research examined the positive and negative impacts of integrating 3D printing technology into the Malaysian construction industry. The study encompasses an overview of construction issues specific to Malaysia, the distinct types,...

The reproduction suitability of urban birds reflects the health status and service level of urban ecosystems. Therefore, studying the relationship between the nest density of urban birds and environmental factors has certain reference significance for guiding green space management. In this study, 67 green spaces of Liupanshui city in the Wumeng Mo...

The application range of small UAVs for civil purposes such as aerial imaging, agricultural pest control and, corps management as well as drone delivery has been increasing throughout recent years. Promising results are observed from recent studies which support the effectiveness of the bio-inspired approach in improving the aerodynamic efficiency...

The magnitude, speed, direction, and distribution of the wind are known to have a negative impact on high-rise buildings, particularly when the building is extremely tall. As the height of the building increases, the effect of the wind increases significantly. This results in a high wind pressure exerted on the building which causes the wind loads...

The stress and mental health risks associated with living and working in cities have increased the importance of designing urban spaces. It is, therefore, crucial to prioritize the mental wellbeing of city residents. Research indicates that people's perception of their wellbeing is influenced by various factors, such as their environment and the pe...

The use of mobile apps for learning is not common in learning of technical modules in architecture, but studies have been advocated to learn its potential two decades ago. E-learning has supplemented traditional learning in Malaysian Universities since 2004. The Covid-19 pandemic forced education to be conducted virtually. Lecturers with knowledge...

This research examines architecture graduates' perceptions of their proficiency in 21st-century skills. A quantitative methodology was employed for this study. The data was obtained through a structured questionnaire, which 141 architecture graduates completed. The online survey assessed the graduates' 21st-century skills. The collected data was an...

Glue-laminated timber (GLT) and closely related cross-laminated timber (CLT) represent a technological shift that has brought about new possibilities for architects to employ as part of their design toolkits. In temperate climate zones and industrial countries, GLT and CLT have seen a recent surge in their application. Its popularity has increased...

The purpose of this chapter is to investigate the architecture graduate's viewpoint on their 21st century skills. The study used a quantitative approach. Data was collected using a structured questionnaire from the graduates. A total of 141 graduates completed the online survey measuring the graduates' 21st century skills. The collected data was an...

Considering the prevailing pandemic, the coronavirus has successfully boosted awareness of human activities in the natural environment. This would be timely. Increasingly, customers in the COVID-19 era demand healthy, eco-friendly goods while constructing a secure and healthy interior environment for themselves. Sustainable interior design in the 2...

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...

Shengtang village of Weizhou Island is a traditional Chinese village protected by the government. It is famous for large numbers of unique traditional coral stone buildings (TCSB). More than 150 years ago, village ancestors used coral stones as building materials for coastal area construction to resist corrosion. That the amazing properties of the...

The study investigated the effectiveness of verandas as social spaces in multistorey residential buildings in Malaysia. The study uses a mixed-method approach (quantitative and qualitative). Data were collected using a survey questionnaire and interviews and analysed using SPSS. Qualitative data was collected to assess the personal experiences of o...

In the Malaysian context, IBS refers to the prefabrication of building components and off-site construction operations. Its goal is to develop a better building for the client. The Malaysian government has made tremendous efforts to introduce and practise these standards among all building professionals. Although some construction industry members...

The residential sector in Malaysia consumes 6% of the overall energy consumption. Energy retrofit of the existing residential buildings contributes as a significant carbon reduction measure in response to the overall sustainable development. The energy retrofit of the existing residential buildings is not considered under the existing GBI rating to...

This study aims to investigate the occupant's perception and satisfaction level of the internal courtyard in terms of design, comfort, function, and usage of the internal courtyard in an urban terrace housing in Melaka. The study was done using a quantitative survey in Google Form with a 5-point Likert scale and open-ended questions. The survey was...

Informal settlements exist for the impoverished, and many problems are associated with them. One such case of an informal settlement in Malaysia is Kampung Sembulan which is historic, dense, and exhibits the urban issues of social, environmental, and economic degradation. The 'half-house' concept presented by Aravena in 2016 was proposed in this st...

The study aimed to investigate the preferences of urban residents to use interstitial housing spaces to encourage urban farming to reconnect people with nature while providing a healthier living. A quantitative approach using a survey questionnaire was used to investigate the preferences of urban residents in high-rise and terraced residential area...

This chapter reviews students' online learning experiences in an architecture module: designing a game as the learning outcome. This game design approach uses constructionism theory to analyze the learning process acquired by the students. The study employs a quantitative method. An online survey was used to collect data from a batch of undergradua...

Purpose The study aims to explore factors affecting stilt construction and the possibilities of using innovative materials and construction methods to re-establish the traditional stilt structures. Design/methodology/approach The study employs a qualitative research method using an in-depth interview with selected architects to document experience...

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...

This paper reports on a study exploring the perspective of employers on architecture graduates’ employability skills during their employment. The study employed a survey research methodological approach. A total of 85 employers completed the survey. The findings of the study revealed that among the four employability skills dimensions measured, the...

Successful student-faculty partnerships should evidence the presence of the three guiding principles: respect, reciprocity, and shared responsibility. Therefore, the study focusing on the three guiding principles of partnership respect, reciprocity and responsibility have sought to investigate how students experience student–faculty partnership in...

Architectural design study is subjective. In order to aid a new pedagogy that welcomes the diversity of design approaches, the research project funded by Taylor's University incorporates teacher-learner partnerships in curriculum design. Engaging students as partners (SaP) in teaching and learning is an emerging yet contested topic in higher educat...

Architectural design is subjective. The generic structure and content of studio-based learning are so rigid and could be boring for a creative and original learner. The research aims to offer clarity for a design studio pedagogy on various subjectivities on design thinking. First, the research explores theoretical discourses formulating a thematic...

This study discusses the obvious gap in the Life Cycle Energy Assessment literature. Much of it only focuses on initial embodied energy and pays little or no attention to recurring embodied energy. This paper presents a study on embodied energy analysis considering both the initial and recurring embodied energy in typical linked double-storey terra...

Project-based learning offers an engaging instructional method to make learners active constructors of knowledge. This study aims to investigate the effectiveness of learning in two project-based learning of construction through model making in architecture using a case study and by designing. Model making is an innovative and time-consuming approa...

The study investigates and compares the experience and expectation of employers and graduates on architecture graduate work readiness in relation to employability skills using a quantitative method. A total of 141 graduates and 85 employers completed a set of survey measuring the same variables but from different perspectives. The collected data wa...

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)...

The research aims to offer critical discourse on various perspectives on design studio teaching pedagogy. The paper begins by exploring the generic literature that focuses on a range of instruments, approaches and actions; the tools that the designers deploy in order to steer specific thought process in design. By keeping the learners at the core,...

In hot and humid tropics, excess solar gain in buildings results in high cooling load. Shading is a common strategy used to protect the building’s skin from excessive solar exposure. Vegetation shading is often used minimize the incident solar radiation and cool the building and affect the building’s energy performance. Thus, the study present find...

The research paper is to investigate the implementation of green building materials by construction industry stakeholders in Johor Bahru. Several features and the main types of green building material used in construction industry in Johor Bahru is determined. Barriers and solutions is identified in adopting the green building materials and questio...

The study intend to investigate sustainability knowledge using "AKASA" model. This model comprises all the literacy level which is the awareness, knowledge, attitude, skills and action. 234 students from 5 selected private universities were surveyed using questionnaires. Students were specifically selected from year 2 and year 3 from private univer...

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, tak...

Necessity is the mother of invention'…this proverb is very true with all great inventions that contribute to sustainable development. High density and steep land value have driven people to maximise liveable and productive spaces in urban settings. This include the reinvention of roofs' functions extending from merely a protection from the elements...