• International Journal of Human Ecology
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• v.16 no.2
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• pp.33-44
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• 2015

Malaysian modern housing typologies (such as bungalows, semi-detached houses and terrace houses) are influenced by international style and constitute unique regional characteristics because they are modified in accordance with climatic conditions and unique social, ethnic housing cultures. This research identified unique characteristics and planning principles of how rooms and spaces of a house are related and organized into coherent patterns of form and space. For the analysis, we surveyed twenty-two residential precincts that identified twenty-five unit plan types for landed properties built in Ara Damansara, Malaysia. The methodology adopted in this study consisted of a document review and field surveys. It is difficult to find unique characteristics of space organization (except for the location of bathrooms) because the form of terrace houses is standardized and limited in design from the aspect of space organization. However, the organization of bedroom space and kitchen space has strong regional characteristics that have become stereotyped for semi-Ds and bungalows. General guideline for areas of unit plans are proposed based on the results of area analysis. We also found that the areas of L + D and MB increase as the total area of the house increases; however, the remaining rooms do not increase in area as long as they satisfy appropriate standards due to the addition of multi-purpose extra rooms. This study only examined limited cases in Ara Damansara and it is difficult to generalize the findings of other new towns in Malaysia. Nevertheless, it is worthwhile to collect and systematically organize data according to typologies. Finally, the authors were able to understand the unique regional design factors to be considered for landed property housing planning in Malaysia.

• Journal of Environmental Science International
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• v.30 no.7
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• pp.557-571
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• 2021

This study aimed to classify typhoons using a more objective index based on strong winds and precipitation data from 1904 to 2019 obtained from the Automated Surface Observing System. The Typhoon Type Index (TTI) was calculated by classifying wind speed and precipitation of each typhoon, thereby revealing the rate and characteristics of the wind-type and rain-type typhoons. In addition, the top 10 typhoons for property damage were analyzed by dividing them into three types according to the typhoon course. The analysis showed that typhoons of type 1, heading north to the west coast, were most clearly affected by the wind. In addition, the impact of the wind was reduced and the impact of rain increased in the order of typhoon type 2 that landed on the southern coast and type 6 that affected the Korean Peninsula through China.

• Land and Housing Review
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• v.5 no.1
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• pp.53-56
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• 2014

Hong Kong, a well-known metropolis characterized by skyscrapers on both sides of the Victoria Harbour, consists mainly of 3 parts, namely the Hong Kong Island, the Kowloon peninsula and the New Territories (N.T.) which is the land area north of Kowloon plus a number of outlying islands. Located in the N.T. are all the new towns, market towns; and in the plains and valleys lie scattered village houses of not more than 3 storeys within the confines of well-defined village. These village houses are governed by a rural housing policy that could be traced back to the very beginning of the former British administration in the N.T. By the Convention of Peking of 1898, the N.T., comprising the massive land area north of Kowloon up to Shenzhen River and 235 islands, was leased to Britain by China for 99 years from 1st July 1898. Soon after occupation, the colonial government conducted a survey of this uncharted territory from 1899 to 1903, and set up a land court to facilitate all land registration work and to resolve disputed claims. By 1905, the Block Crown Leases with Schedule of Lessees and details of the lots, each with a copy of the lot index plan (Demarcation Plan) were executed. Based on the above, Crown rent rolls were prepared for record and rent collection purposes. All grants of land thereafter are known as New Grant lots. After completion and execution of the Block Crown Lease in 1905, N.T. villagers had to purchase village house lots by means of Restricted Village Auctions; and Building Licences were issued to convert private agricultural land for building purposes but gradually replaced by Land Exchanges (i.e. to surrender agricultural land for the re-grant of building land) from the early 1960's until introduction of the current Small House Policy in October 1972. It was not until the current New Territories Small House Policy came into effect in December 1972 that the Land Authority can make direct grant of government land or approve the conversion of self-owned agricultural land to allow indigenous villagers to build houses within the village environs under concessionary terms. Such houses are currently restricted to 700 square feet in area and three storeys with a maximum height of 27 feet. An indigenous villager is a male descendent of a villager who was the resident of a recognized village already existing in 1898. Each villager is only allowed one concessionary grant in his lifetime. Upon return of Hong Kong to the People's Republic of China on July 1st, 1997, the traditional rights of indigenous villagers are protected under Article 40 of the Basic Law (a mini-constitution of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region). Also all N.T. leases have been extended for 50 years up to 2047. Owing to the escalating demand and spiral landed property prices in recent years, abuse of the N.T. Small House Policy has been reported in some areas and is a concern in some quarters. The Hong Kong Institute of Land Administration attempts to study the history that leads to the current rural housing policy in the New Territories with particular emphasis on the small house policy, hoping that some light can be shed on the "way forward" for such a controversial policy.