Building information modelling analysis of proposed skycourt apartment prototype and conventional affordable apartment in Malaysia

Abstract

This paper proposes 'Skycourt Apartment' as a solution for more socially sustainable high-rise residential and considerably more cost-effective in comparison with Malaysian conventional affordable apartments. The provision of skycourt is proven to be a socially sustainable and environmentally viable option for high-rise living, as numerous previous researchers have shown the potential for this green communal space. The principal contribution of this paper includes the cost feasibility validation of skycourt apartment prototype to be applied specifically in Malaysia's affordable apartment typology. The validation process is carried out by having a comparison of Bill of Quantity between the proposed prototypes of skycourt apartment with a selected conventional affordable apartment in Johor Bahru as the base comparator. Both buildings are modelled in Revit before cost simulation is employed on each of the Building Information Model as the tool to generate the Bill of Quantity. The result shows that the proposed skycourt prototype design is feasible to be applied in affordable apartment typology in Malaysia. The prototype design is potentially useful for application in the Malaysian affordable housing scheme and thus could benefit economically to the stakeholders involved.