This paper presents the architects' and landscape architects' point of views on their original design intentions in designing and planning hospital courtyard gardens (HCGs) in Malaysia. Following a field observation, a semi-structured interview with two architects and two landscape architects was conducted. Additionally, the architectural design briefs for three selected Malaysian hospitals were obtained as secondary data for this study. The results revealed that the intended common design pointed out by the architects includes: i) Daylighting strategy; ii) Ventilation strategy; iii) Access to nature; and iv) Point of orientation. Landscape architects, on the other hand, are concerned with: i) Forest-like garden concept; ii) Natural and organic form instead of aesthetic appearance; iii) An escape place for relieving stress and; iv) A hang-out space for socialisation. This paper contributes to the understanding of how designers would think and determine the architectural plan and landscape design in achieving an optimal HCG design to meet the needs of the intended users.

This study investigates the potential of Islamic Courtyard Gardens (ICGs) to enhance social interaction and spiritual wellness within modern campus environments. While Islamic gardens have historically symbolized paradise and served as spaces for reflection and community, their role in contemporary architectural and urban planning, particularly within educational institutions, remains underutilised. This research addresses the gap by exploring how well-designed ICGs can foster social integration and spiritual wellness. The study focuses on case studies of two Islamic courtyards at the Tuanku Muhriz Islamic Center (TMIC) at Universiti Sains Islam Malaysia (USIM) and Masjid Al-Azhar at Universiti Islam Selangor (UIS). The research methods include site observation and questionnaires survey. The key finding suggests that while the Al-Azhar Mosque courtyard garden better meets users' needs than TMIC, enhancing TMIC with seating, lighting, water features, and diverse vegetation could improve its appeal. While opinions on spiritual wellness are varied, there is strong agreement on the positive impact these spaces have in nurturing it. The study offers architectural and landscape insights to optimise ICGs in educational settings, advocating for their wider use to enhance social cohesion and well-being in academic communities.

Individuals’ mental health and well-being are significantly influenced by being in a natural setting and viewing nature. Hospital courtyard gardens (HCG) is a common feature found in public hospitals in Malaysia. Nevertheless, the factors influencing the visitation and non-visitation to the HCG are less understood. This study attempts to investigate factors influencing the visit and non-visitation of patients, staff and visitors to the HCGs in three Malaysian public hospitals. The research findings are instrumental to the architects and landscape architects to make necessary improvements for future HCG design and the hospital managers to enhance and retrofit the existing HCG.

This paper examines the behaviour of users of a large central courtyard in a hospital with the aim to develop an understanding of the activities and the space use patterns of patients, staff and visitors. Video-based and direct observation, as well as behaviour mapping, were employed to investigate how different types of users interact with the courtyard garden. This study reveals that significant differences existed in the way different user groups utilised the courtyard garden on a daily basis and this was found to be highly influenced by the physical environment, the hospital opening hours and the courtyard micro-climate

This paper presents a comprehensive review and proposes prospective research directions for the establishment of a patient-centered hospital in Malaysia that aligns with the principles of maqasid syariah. The integration of maqasid syariah, which encompasses the higher objectives and goals of Islamic law, with patient-centered care aims to create a healthcare environment that prioritizes the well-being and needs of patients while adhering to Islamic ethical principles. The review encompasses an analysis of the key principles of maqasid syariah, including the preservation of life, human dignity, justice, and holistic well-being. These research directions encompass various aspects, including healthcare facility design, communication strategies, equitable access to care, ethical considerations, and the integration of spirituality in healthcare. The outcomes of this research are expected to contribute to the advancement of healthcare practices in Malaysia by integrating Islamic values and patient-centered care principles in developing a framework that can be done in future. The proposed patient-centered hospital will not only provide high-quality care but also ensure the preservation of life, uphold human dignity, promote justice, and address the holistic wellbeing of patients.

There is lingering misconception about Islamic architecture that it is rarely used, or only used to portray Islamic aesthethics. Most buildings in USIM campus are lacking the elements of Islamic building principles, despite its statement that the development of the campus in USIM are driven by the philosophy of “Hablu Min Allah wa hablu Min al-Nās” which is portrayed through physical aspect of Islamic architecture. Thus, it is the focus of this study to address this misconception and vagueness. The aim of this study is; a) to identify the Islamic building principles (IBP) that shape the built environment, and b) to analyze how a student-centred campus building (SCCB) can be integrated with Islamic building principles. The main method of this study, which is quantitative method is used through a questionnaire survey distributed to frequent users of academic buildings in USIM including undergraduate students, postgraduate students and staffs regarding their spatial experience there and selected variables. The first objective of the study discovered that the definition of Islamic architecture for respondents are built environment that facilitates, fosters and stimulates Muslims’ ibadah (worship) activities and portrays actual realization of Islamic message, as well as integrates Islamic values into the built environment which represents Islamic culture and civilization. The second objective of the study highlights the importance of IBP, specifically the integration of; a) Fina, b) Interdependence, c) Privacy and d) Avoid harm in the design of a student centred campus building. Keywords: Islamic building principles, Islamic architecture, student-centred, campus building.

The living performance in sustainable development outline contributing factors towards efficiency, such as ecological, economic, health, and social integration. The performance of facade design must be emphasised to describe resilient living and access to mitigate the design of post-coronavirus disease (COVID-19) housing. The spread of the pandemic underlines the importance of providing quality of life and wellbeing in the building environment, hence highlighting a crucial need to improve indoor air quality and passive building performance to minimise the transmission of COVID-19 and indoor airborne diseases as a result of poor ventilation. The passive building performance and facade complement the energy demand and reduce heat gain. Currently, passive design and health are emphasised to link the environmental design approach and architecture and highlight the quality-of-life post-pandemic. The study aims to provide important healthy indoor strategies and passive building performance for open-plan home-office design, to investigate the open-plan home design with optimum thermal performance based on the passive indoor environment, and to examine the bioclimatic response and energy efficiency of home-office design during the pandemic. The responsiveness of bioclimatic and modular construction incorporated with the new home-office design aim to save energy through sustainable material. The Integrated Environmental Solutions Virtual Environment (IESVE) computer software was utilised using simulations involving ranges of illuminance levels in daylight and revealed the acceptable levels of between 300 lux to 500 lux for the home office area. The results demonstrated that the optimum range of solar heat gain coefficient (SHGC) of 0.46 and a U-value of 0.04 W/m2 K reduced the indoor temperature by 5 degrees Celsius during peak time and maintained the air-condition at 28 degrees Celsius, which was within thermal comfort level.

Malaysia is one of the rising countries with the highest energy consumption rate, which is attributable to strong economic development in the residential and commercial sectors that consume approximately half of the total electricity generated. Several criteria have been implemented in Malaysia to develop efficient building design, such as the Green Building Index (GBI) and Passive Daylighting Strategies. The study aims to investigate passive daylighting solutions for different building orientations and facade materials to measure energy efficiency through building designs. Buildings are a variable that contributes to growing energy consumption resulting from population increase and climate change. The building facade is a factor that could control the indoor environment, which affects the energy consumption in buildings. A case study determined the elements that maintain building efficiency and electric savings by examining two buildings certified by the Green Building Platinum and the Ministry of Finance (MoF). Low consideration of Passive Daylighting Strategies in building designs allows direct sunshine and increases the use of air conditioning to maintain the room at a comfortable temperature.

During the 1970s, different types of hospital courtyard design (HCG) were implemented in the planning of Malaysian public hospitals. Consequently, various hospitals of different scales and design concepts were built to provide a better healthcare delivery system for local communities. However, the different typologies of HCG designs are yet to be systematically evaluated. Furthermore, designers and hospital managers are not aware of how different types of HCG perform. Face-to-face interview surveys and field measurements were employed in this study to develop an understanding of users' perceptions, experiences and satisfaction levels with the quality of HCG in a Malaysian public hospital.

Since the 1970s, courtyard gardens with diverse scales and design configurations have been introduced in the planning of Malaysian public hospitals to enhance users’ experiences. However, these have never been systematically evaluated to understand of how they perform and what improvements can be made to them to increase their responsiveness to users’ needs and inform the practice of both hospital designers and managers. This paper presents the results of fieldwork conducted in a large central courtyard in a Malaysian public hospital. Interview surveys and field measurements were conducted to provide a new understanding of users’ perceptions of the various physical and environmental attributes and their satisfaction levels with them.