Designing for comfort
a computational design framework
S.G. Masah (TU Delft - Architecture and the Built Environment)
S.H. Verkuijlen – Mentor (TU Delft - Building Design & Technology)
A.B.J. van Deudekom – Mentor (TU Delft - Teachers of Practice / AE+T)
F.Y.J. Alsaggaf – Mentor (TU Delft - Digital Technologies)
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Abstract
This paper presents a computational design framework for evaluating and optimizing passive thermal comfort strategies in tropical residential buildings, with a focus on Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia. Through a synthesis of climate data, building performance literature, and simulation-based analysis, a structured set of design principles is developed across three scales: macro (urban context), meso (building form), and micro (material and detail). Nineteen performance metrics drawn from Malaysian building standards and academic research guide design decisions at each scale, covering indicators such as the Urban Heat Island effect, Predicted Mean Vote, wind speed, and Energy Use Intensity. The framework adopts a static thermal comfort model and a performative design approach, enabling architects to test passive strategies including natural ventilation, solar shading, and material selection before construction. Results indicate that early-stage computational simulation can significantly reduce reliance on mechanical cooling while improving indoor and outdoor thermal comfort. Although developed for a Malaysian context, the framework offers transferable principles for other hot and humid climates, and lays groundwork for future integration of adaptive comfort modeling and AI-driven optimization.