THE UIA/PHG 2013 ANNUAL HEALTHCARE FORUM + GUPHA MEETING AT IIDEX CANADA, TORONTO, CANADA, 24-28 TH SEPTEMBER 2013 HOSPITAL DESIGNS IN TROPICAL MALAYSIA - TOWARDS A GREEN AGENDA Norwina Mohd Nawawi, Abdul Razak Sapian, Noor Hanita Abdul Majid, Srazali Aripin International Islamic University Malaysia norwina19@gmail.com, arazaks@iium.edu.my, hanita@iium.edu.my, srazali@iium.edu.my Abstract ‘Sustainability’ as a terminology, is a broad concept and a requirement in building designs with a tendency of being abuse through trendy and over commercialisation. In the arena of hospital design, new is usually associated to being modern and therefore, green. In the quest of getting to know the “tree” from “the forest” from among the hundreds of existing hospitals , ranged from colonial, early independence to the new hospital designs, a yardstick, to measure those that is actually “green” and “sustainable” need to be set. This study intends to provide a qualitative definition and provide recommended criteria of a green hospital designs in the context of tropical climate of Malaysia and its people. A qualitative method of approach through case studies of hospital designs from pre-colonial to the present were made. Aspects studied include the physical architecture that significantly affect health i.e. the building configuration, form, space quality, material use and culture. Findings indicated that there is a variety of degree and factors to the implementation of the green qualities in all the designs. The range includes intuitive and regulatory approach to green considerations in the design. Conditions of the site, cost, construction time, planning time, expertise, experience and procurement methods are among the constraints where compromises had to be made as a priority. Significance of the findings will contribute to the qualitative criteria for healthcare building Green requirement especially for tropical climate of Malaysia. Keywords: Tropical, Hospital, Design, Green INTRODUCTION The meaning of sustainability, may provide a variety of understandings and perspectives, depending on the context it is used. Buildings, as physical entities of the built environment, do have its share of connotations in which many literatures translated the meaning of sustainability to mean building in the context of its physical environment,that deals with climate, and stipulated human comfort. Architecture, on the other hand, embedded extra dimensions to the meaning of sustainability that encompasses reading the “building” in time, place, with its people and the aesthetic influence of the culture. Sustainability in architecture, thus go beyond the physical elements of walls, floors and facades. It has a spiritual significance and meaning which derive from the architecture of the place for continuity to the overall built heritage. For healthcare buildings and design, the main priority for sustainability is in its ability to function, support operation, and serve the users-i.e. patients, staffs, relatives, visitors and equipment around the clock, efficiently. The building, as a shelter and a structure, must be so designed with fundamental precaution to the underlying principle of ability to be kept and stay clean from the onslaught of various diseases and microbes