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Brikoole: Malaysia’s James Dyson Award Winner from APU Redefines Sustainable Cooling System with a ‘Breathable Brick’
The James Dyson Award, an international design award, today announces its national winner: Brikoole, a groundbreaking invention which aims to combat increasing energy consumption and demand for electricity. It is a passive cooling system designed to be integrated within a building's structure.
Wayne Chong Chee Kin (left) and Nixon Ng Kah Zun are the creators of Brikoole – a sustainable cooling system featuring the ‘breathable brick’ they are holding. (Photo credited to James Dyson Award)
With climate change being a key concern for the winning team – Wayne Chong Chee Kin, 23, and Nixon Ng Kah Zun, 22, graduating students of the Asia Pacific University of Technology and Innovation (APU), used controlled airflow and evaporative cooling methods to reduce indoor temperatures without external energy sources.
Globally, buildings consume up to 40% of the world’s total energy and by 2030, it is expected to increase to 50%. 1 Malaysia ranks third in the world in terms of carbon emissions, with an average annual rate of 4.7%. 2
Nixon Ng Kah Zun (left), an industrial design graduating student, worked closely with Wayne Chong Chee Kin, a mechatronic engineering graduating student, in creating Brikoole, which exemplifies how the integration of engineering principles with design creativity can lead to innovative solutions. (Photo credited to James Dyson Award)
Chong, a new graduate with a Bachelor of Mechatronic Engineering with Honours degree, and Ng, a final year student studying a Bachelor of Arts (Honours) in Industrial Design degree, are the brains behind Brikoole.
“The main motivation behind Brikoole came from observing the increasing energy consumption and environmental impact of traditional air conditioning systems in tropical climates. Someone that I care a lot about recently had a spike in their electricity bill to an amount that is severely affecting their family’s financial status, which led me to dive deep into this problem,” Nixon shared.
Brikoole's intricate internal structure is prototyped using a 3D-printed mesh made from wood PLA, with the advanced 3D printer located in the 3D modelling lab on APU's campus. (Photo credited to James Dyson Award)
Taking cues from ancient wisdom, Brikoole is inspired by natural ventilation systems like termite mounds, wind catchers, and Salsabil fountains. The Brikoole employs a multi-layered approach to achieve its cooling effect. The exterior of the brick features strategically placed ventilation holes that allow air to enter. This air then passes through an intricate internal structure – currently, a 3D-printed mesh made of wood PLA, with plans to transition to ceramic in the final design. This mesh is kept consistently moist via an integrated water distribution system. As air traverses this humid environment, evaporation occurs, effectively cooling the air. This cooled air is channelled into the building's interior, creating a refreshing and comfortable atmosphere.
Brikoole is inspired by natural ventilation systems like termite mounds, wind catchers, and Salsabil fountains. The Brikoole employs a multi-layered approach to achieve its cooling effect. (Photo credited to James Dyson Award)
“It took us two months to research, test and develop the prototype. From our tests, we learned that using the right geometry pattern was important in achieving optimum results” Chong shared. The duo was mentored by Mr Eekang Ooi, CIDe, Lecturer at the School of Media, Arts and Design (SoMAD).
In tropical climates like Malaysia, Brikoole can reduce temperatures by up to 6.2 degrees Celsius, achieving a comfortable 31 degrees Celsius compared to 37 degrees Celsius. Therefore, it decreases the reliance on active cooling, such as air conditioners. With time, electricity consumption and carbon emissions associated with fossil fuel generation are reduced significantly.
The Brikoole distinguishes itself in sustainable architecture by uniquely incorporating evaporative cooling directly into the building material. Unlike conventional passive cooling methods, which often need separate systems or extensive architectural changes, their solution is naturally modular and scalable. Brikoole can be effortlessly integrated into a wide range of building designs and styles, making sustainable cooling more versatile and accessible.
After winning the National James Dyson Award, the two APU winners are committed to conducting comprehensive real-world testing. They aim to refine the prototype by replacing the current wood PLA mesh with a more efficient 3D-printed ceramic internal structure. (Photo credited to James Dyson Award)
The James Dyson Award is an international design competition that celebrates and inspires the next generation of problem solvers. It encourages young engineers to develop solutions that address real-world challenges. As the national winner, Brikoole takes home RM29,300 to support its next steps in development and commercialisation, including refining the prototype’s material from the current wood PLA mesh to a more efficient 3D-printed ceramic internal structure. They are also committed to conducting comprehensive real-world testing in the tropics and exploring potential design variations to cater to specific building types and regional climate challenges.
At APU, the Industrial Design programme is uniquely run with a balanced approach between artistic design and fundamental engineering knowledge. (Photo credited to James Dyson Award)
"APU’s achievement exemplifies how the integration of engineering principles with design creativity can lead to innovative solutions. At APU, the Industrial Design programme is uniquely run with a balanced approach between artistic design and fundamental engineering knowledge. This method allows students to not only address complex challenges but also transform creative ideas into tangible, functional products. Brikoole stands as a perfect example of this teaching philosophy in action,” remarked Mr Eekang Ooi, the mentor.
Ms Debbie Liew Pooi Kuan, Head of SoMAD chimed in, “This victory underscores APU's continuous commitment to nurturing innovation and excellence in our students. Having secured the National Runner-Up position in 2022 and being named National Champions in both 2021 and 2020, this latest success with Brikoole reaffirms our place as a leader in creative engineering and design. It is a testament to the dedication of our students and faculty, and the collaborative spirit that drives our programmes to develop forward-thinking solutions for real-world challenges.”
A conceptual illustration showing the application of Brikoole in households, apartments, or high-rise buildings.
Sharon Yap, Head of Technology Development at Dyson, highlighted that "Brikoole is a wonderful example of how our young local engineers can bring a fresh perspective to age-old problems. Global warming continues to have a huge impact on Malaysia, and I am glad that our future generations are creating sustainable solutions to this problem. The James Dyson Award will provide a great platform for the team to further their invention, and I am hopeful that Brikoole will help to protect our planet from further degradation."
The Brikoole will progress to the next stage of the James Dyson Award. The international Top 20 shortlist, selected by Dyson engineers, will be announced on 16 October, and the global winners will be chosen by James Dyson on 13 November.
For more details on Brikoole, you can click on this video link, or this website which are credited to the James Dyson Award.
1 https://www.mdpi.com/2071-1050/13/16/9244
2 https://khub.utp.edu.my/scholars/16887/