Dialectics of Low Energy Design, Accessibility, and Materiality in Tropical Urban Crisis
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.32832/astonjadro.v14i4.21183Keywords:
tropical design trilemma, universal design, phase-change materials, architectural dialectics, urban crisis.Abstract
This research examines the development of tropical buildings that address the challenges of climate change and population growth by integrating accessibility for all and designing buildings that consume less energy. This research aims to assess the social and technical conflicts between accessibility and energy efficiency, and to develop an evaluation framework based on optimization algorithms that finds a balance between the two. Testing phase change materials (PCMs), energy modelling using Energy Plus, and critical policy analysis employing Critical Discourse Analysis (CDA) are all integral components of the mixed-methods approach. The primary result is that PCMs can help maintain more stable temperatures without requiring significant insulation; however, issues with regulations and design persist. Standard designs may exceed energy limits, but generally make it more challenging to achieve places. Research indicates that to create inclusive and sustainable tropical architecture, it is essential to establish integrated criteria and employ a transdisciplinary approach.
References
Yenneti, K., Ding, L., Prasad, D., Ulpiani, G., Paolini, R., Haddad, S., & Santamouris, M. (2020). Urban overheating and cooling potential in australia: An evidence-based review. Climate, 8(11), 1–22. https://doi.org/10.3390/cli8110126
Khairunnisak, Wulandari, E., & Taqiuddin, Z. (2021). Kajian Aksesibilitas bagi Difabel pada Taman Bustanussalatin sebagai Ruang Publik Kota di Banda Aceh. Jurnal Arsitektur Zonasi, 4, 499–510. http://ejournal.upi.edu/index.php/jaz-
Steinfeld, E., & Maisel, J. T. A.-T. T.-. (2012). Universal design : creating inclusive environments (NV-1 onl). John Wiley & Sons, Inc. https://doi.org/LK - https://worldcat.org/title/787849904
Hastuti, Dewi, R. K., Pramana, R. P., & Sadaly, H. (2020). Kendala mewujudkan pembangunan inklusif. https://smeru.or.id/sites/default/files/publication/wp_disabilitas_in_0.pdf
PU, K. (2006). Peraturan Menteri Pekerjaan Umum Nomor: 30/PRT/M/2006. 44(2), 8–10.
Faraj, K., Khaled, M., Faraj, J., Hachem, F., & Castelain, C. (2021). A review on phase change materials for thermal energy storage in buildings: Heating and hybrid applications. In Journal Of Energy Storage (Vol. 33). https://doi.org/10.1016/j.est.2020.101913
Jiang, Z., Palacios, A., Zou, B., Zhao, Y., Deng, W., Zhang, X., & Ding, Y. (2022). A review on the fabrication methods for structurally stabilised composite phase change materials and their impacts on the properties of materials. In Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews (Vol. 159). Elsevier Ltd. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.rser.2022.112134
Zhan, H., Mahyuddin, N., Sulaiman, R., & Khayatian, F. (2023). Phase change material (PCM) integrations into buildings in hot climates with simulation access for energy performance and thermal comfort: A review. In Construction and Building Materials (Vol. 397). https://doi.org/10.1016/j.conbuildmat.2023.132312
Iwaro, J., & Mwasha, A. (2013). The impact of sustainable building envelope design on building sustainability using Integrated Performance Model. International Journal of Sustainable Built Environment, 2(2), 153–171. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ijsbe.2014.03.002
WHO Team. (2022). Global report on health equity for persons with disabilities. In World Health Organization . https://www.who.int/publications/i/item/9789240063600
Saraswati. (2021). Report Disability Data In Indonesia. United Nations Indonesia, 1–42. https://disability.un.or.id/
Latour, B. (2005). Reassembling the Social: An Introduction to Actor-Network-Theory. Oxford University Press. https://doi.org/10.1093/oso/9780199256044.001.0001
Undang-undang RI. 2016. No. 8 dari UU No4 tahun 1997 Disabilitas
Abdalla, J. A., Hawileh, R. A., Bahurudeen, A., Jyothsna, G., Sofi, A., Shanmugam, V., & Thomas, B. S. (2023). A comprehensive review on the use of natural fibers in cement/geopolymer concrete: A step towards sustainability. Case Studies in Construction Materials, 19(June), e02244. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.cscm.2023.e02244
McGrath, T. E., Cox, S., Soutsos, M., Kong, D., Mee, L. P., & Alengaram, J. U. J. (2018). Life cycle assessment of geopolymer concrete: A Malaysian context. IOP Conference Series: Materials Science and Engineering, 431(9). https://doi.org/10.1088/1757-899X/431/9/092001
ASHRAE Standard 55-2020 (2020).
Permen PUPR No.14/2017, 5 Kemen.PUPR 1 (2017).
PUPR, K. (2017). PERATURAN MENTERI PEKERJAAN UMUM DAN PERUMAHAN RAKYAT REPUBLIK INDONESIA Nomor: 14/PRT/M/2017. 11.
Norman Fairclough. (2013). Critical Discourse Analysis: The Critical Study of Language. In Longman Publishing (Vol. 26, Issue 5). Taylor & Francis. https://doi.org/10.1016/0378-2166(96)89194-6
SNI 03 1725-2000
Fikri, M. A., Suraparaju, S. K., Samykano, M., Pandey, A. K., & Rajamony, R. K. (2023). Enhanced Thermal Properties of Phase Change Materials through Surfactant-Functionalized Graphene Nanoplatelets for Sustainable Energy Storage. MDPI.
Standard, A. A., Issn, I., Aynsley, R. M., Hartman, T. B., Humphreys, M. A., Ill, D. I., Khalil, E. E., Rice, D. J., Smith, A. R., Burkhead, R. B., & Humble, J. (2020). Thermal Environmental. 2020.
Kean, T. H., & Sidik, N. A. C. (2019). Thermal performance analysis of nanoparticles enhanced phase change material (NEPCM) in cold thermal energy storage (CTES). CFD Letters, 11(4), 79–91.
Valan Arasu, A., Sasmito, A. P., & Mujumdar, A. S. (2011). Thermal performance enhancement of paraffin wax with AL2O3 and CuO nanoparticles - A numerical study. Frontiers in Heat and Mass Transfer, 2(4), 1–7. https://doi.org/10.5098/hmt.v2.4.3005
Fadhila, N. S., Alkadri, M. F., & Dewi, O. C. (2024). Bio-cooling façade in tropical climate. Sustinere: Journal of Environment and Sustainability, 8(2), 166–181. https://doi.org/10.22515/sustinere.jes.v8i2.400
Gupta, V., & Deb, C. (2023). Envelope design for low-energy buildings in the tropics: A review. Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, 186(November 2022), 113650. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.rser.2023.113650
Husodo, M. K., Fauzi, M. R., Hasan, M. I., & Widiastuti, R. (2025). Sustainable Architecture Research Trends: a Bibliometric Analysis Focusing on Building Façade Design With the Influence of Thermal Comfort. Journal of Architecture&ENVIRONMENT, 24(1), 79. https://doi.org/10.12962/j2355262x.v24i1.a22738
Austin, M. C., Araúz, J., & Mora, D. (2022). Numerical assessment of different phase change materials as a passive strategy to reduce energy consumption in buildings under tropical climates. In Buildings. mdpi.com. https://www.mdpi.com/2075-5309/12/7/906
Liu, L., Hammami, N., Bigot, D., Malet-Damour, B., & Habas, J. P. (2024). Multi-Scale Study of a Phase Change Material on a Tropical Island for Evaluating Its Impact on Human Comfort in the Building Sector. Materials, 17(13). https://doi.org/10.3390/ma17133241
Mettrick, A. J., & Ma, Z. (2024). Integrating phase change materials in buildings for heating and cooling demand reduction – A global study. Case Studies in Thermal Engineering, 63(October), 105337. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.csite.2024.105337
Nastasi, B., Markovska, N., Puksec, T., Duić, N., & Foley, A. (2024). Ready solutions for today and tomorrow - Renewable and sustainable energy systems. Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, 196(March). https://doi.org/10.1016/j.rser.2024.114341
Pujiyanti, I., & Ikaputra, I. (2025). Universal Design is “not only” a Design for People with Disabilities. Journal of Architectural Research and Design Studies, 9(1). https://doi.org/10.20885/jars.vol9.iss1.art5
Zamawi, Z. A., Kamarudin, H., Khalid, M. K. A., & Narotama, M. R. (2024). Accessibility and Universal Design in the Built Environment: a Bibliometric Analysis. Malaysian Journal of Sustainable Environment, 11(3), 145–164. https://doi.org/10.24191/myse.v11i3.3914
Hakim, I. I., Edriawan, R., & Putra, N. (2024). Thermal performance and properties analysis of a building envelope integrated with phase change material for energy conservation in a tropical climate region. AIP Conference Proceedings, 2836(1), 80003. https://doi.org/10.1063/5.0188417
Papadakis, N., & Katsaprakakis, D. Al. (2023). A Review of Energy Efficiency Interventions in Public Buildings. Energies, 16(17). https://doi.org/10.3390/en16176329
SNI 03-6575-2021.
Downloads
Published
How to Cite
Issue
Section
License
Copyright (c) 2025 ASTONJADRO

This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International License.
Paper submitted to ASTONJADRO is the sole property of the Astonjadro Journal. Unless the author withdraws the paper because he does not want to be published in this journal. The publication rights are in the journal Astonjadro.ASTONJADRO
LICENSE
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International License.
Based on a work at http://ejournal.uika-bogor.ac.id/index.php/ASTONJADRO










