Category: Class Learning Reflections (Page 3 of 4)

For our first plan drawing , we changed the scale and began drawing the floor plan of Federal Hall. It has made me realize how much more precise and attention to detail you will have to incorporate throughout the process. If you’re off by an inch, the entire plan can be ruin. I also was able to learn that you must start every drawing with the outer shell and make sure to center it. You must always include outer lines so your grid lines are not uneven.  With every floor plan drawing, showing all measurements and your scale is key.  Small tricks as in how to twist the pencil when creating a line or grid line is handy information that I’ve learned. How to properly place the tracing paper on the table was an eye opener. Just the small steps to take before you start your drawing will be new habits I pick up. I am eager to finalize the drawing and fully understand what goes into creating a perfect floor plan that contains all details necessary.

During our last class we were introduced to the reading drawings in an unusual and fun way. For the first time we had an opportunity to work in groups. By doing the first assignment in which we needed to organize and match drawings that belonged to different buildings, we have learned how the different drawings correspond to each other. It was a challenging task as some of the buildings were similar to the other and we needed to pay attention to all the details, even the small ones. From this exercise we have learned how the different drawings relate to each other. These drawings were most of the time the same scale so when you are looking at the floor plan and the elevation you can easily see that the windows and doors are the same size so you can infer that these belong to the same building. 

In the other exercise, we were asked to read a set of drawings in 5 minutes, and try to take as much information as possible. By this exercise we practiced hierarchize the information from the drawings.we only had 5 minutes for this exercise so we looked at the drawings as site plan, floor plans, elevations and sections as these were the most important drawings to understand how the building will look like. With the limited amount of time we had, we ignored other drawings as general notes, door/window schedules, and details as these drawings did not give us as much important information to understand what the building looks like as the other drawings.

On class Friday, we were given floor plans, sections, and elevations to pair together. I have never put plans like that together for the simple fact that every time I was presented with that information, it was already put together. So for me, it was an eye opener. I was able to distinguish each individual drawing with the next through trail and error. Gained appreciation for the details each of the drawings has. Looking at the floor plans, and being able to see the bigger picture of a plan is something I look forward to accomplishing and mastering. Abbreviations is also something I would want to accomplish. It amazes me how each word, each line, abbreviation, page, etc, that completes a  plan, holds value. You must be super precise with all the work you put into a plan. Because one mistake can ruin the entire design. You must also hold everything inside the structure accountable. From floors, ceilings, types of wood, light fixtures, faucets, doorknobs, windows, doors, the list goes on. Fridays activity opened my eyes, and made me very curious to learn more about what goes into a plan.

This reading focuses mainly on the structures of stairs and safety precautions such as egress stairs. When designing a building the main focus should be safety, making sure there’s a direct passage way to an exit (exit access), a safe public space and a fire rated staircase (exit discharge). It’s important to pay attention to proportions of the riser and tread when designing stairs, because this will determine the comfort level of steps also add to the safety factor. Proper guardrails and handrails can also ensure safety. Same concept also applies for ramps, because there’s a maximum slope they can have and they also must have handrails on both sides just like stairs.

Reading 1 started off by discussing building elements, such as different structural systems and the defining qualities of a building. Reading 1 also talked about different materials and pros of cons of each of them. 

 Considering the fact that a building is made up of many integrated systems, understanding systems such as the enclosure and mechanical system is very important. The enclosure system is considered to be the “shell” or “envelope” of a building. Exterior walls, the roof, windows and doors are considered to be a part of this system. The Mechanical system on the other hand is the functions of a building, the water supply, sewage disposal, HVAC, electrical, vertical transportation and fire fighting systems are all a part of this. 

The different building materials used in construction can help optimize the durability, functionality and the looks of a building. Concrete is one of the materials discussed in the reading, it is made up of 3 other individual “ingredients” cement, water and aggregate ( sand and gravel). There is 5 different types of concrete, each with its own strengths and weaknesses. Concrete is found in another building material known as C.M.U. which comes in many shapes. There’s also multiple types (and grades) of brick. Brick is made up of clay that’s been fired in a kiln or sun dried. Steel is another material that comes in many shapes, although it is considerably good at handling stress, steel can not handle high temperatures. Stone and wood are the last 2 materials the reading explains. Stones have different geological origins, it could be igneous, sedimentary, or metamorphic rock. Wood can either be soft or hard (not in a literal sense).  The soft wood refers to wood from trees such as pine, fir, or spruce. The hard wood on the other hand comes from trees such as cherry, maple or oak. Even the way a wood is cut can have an impact on its strength.

From the second assigned reading I have learned that egress is a very important element for fire safety of the building. There are many elements about which architects need to think before the construction of building. The egress requirements are highly dependent on the building occupancy and use. It a wise idea to design multiple exits for the buildings that many people are using such as schools or hospitals. In addition exit route should have illuminated marking in case the power is down during the fire so it can be easily found by the people that are evacuating from the building. As well the emergency lighting should have a separate battery in case the power is down during the fire. As the time is critical during the fire, Exit doors should be clearly marked so people that are escaping from the fire do not confuse the other doors with the exit. The exit doors should always open towards direction of egress. In addition the egress route and stairwells should be fire rated so these won’t catch the fire immediately so, it gives time for the evacuation. The exit also should discharge into a safe space such as a street or alley.

Another aspect that I learned from the second reading was stair design which are very important element of egress. Stairs should be designed in a way that each thread and each riser has uniform dimensions so people can move comfortably between floors. Stairwells should be also fire rated and air pressurized so the smoke and fire does not enter them quickly. The stairwell enclosure should be at least 2hr fire rated for the public buildings. When designing the stairs it is also very important to think about the dimensions of handrails to prevent falling hazard. In addition the width of a landing should be at least the same size as the width of a stair to allow the comfortable passage during the fire evacuation. 

In reading #2, we’ve discussed stairs and Egress. In egress the focus was on the safety of the people inside and how they are able to exit the building in a clear and orderly fashion. Ching talks about three purposes of an exit, such as exit access, exits and exit discharge. Exit access is a simple way to get from one room to the nearest exit without any in its way like doors. Exits give accessibility and keep people safe when they are on there way to the exit this is commonly known as stairways. Stair ways are supposed to keep the people safe by having fire resistant walls and enough space for people to go down the stairs. Finally Exit Discharge is a safe exit for the people when they get out usually leading to a very public place outdoors.

Stairs is also a big part of keeping people safe and leading them to the exit. The stairs are made based on the proportion of the human body and are distinguished by tread and rise. Another thing is that these stairs need to have handrails and guardrails to make it safer for people not to fall.

Our first reading has though me a great value of thing when it comes to building elements and materials. It is very important that a building has contractual systems so that architectural  ideas come to life. A structure system is important because it helps us make a strong building that can hold the weight and the pressure from gravity, like beams , columns. An enclosure system helps us build the shell of the building like the exterior walls, windows and  door , like regulating the relationship from the exterior to interior. And a mechanical system helps us create the services for the building like , power source, water supply, heating & cooling systems. With these building elements we also have to choose the right material that can create sustainable and strong structures. Every material has its purpose when it comes to using it to build a structure. Columns often uses concrete with steel wires inside so that it can hold the compression of the building and also has tension in the even of the building shifting. Also in the same way of a column a beam a beam can be made out of thick wood to hold the floors compression but is use with W shape steel so that it can hold up the tension, also because steel can be light and strong but high temperatures are its weakness but mixing materials in the right way can benefit a structure.  Common bricks are often use to be a facing wall that gives texture and some type of color to the building, As well stone can be use to create a strong facing wall. Knowing all of this can help create beautiful but yet strong structure that can last a very long time.

From reading 1, I now have a wider understanding of materials needed for the creation of a structure. Before learning about all the different elements a material has, my understanding was limited.  I thought it was either one material or another, when constructing  a structure. Fire safety, flow and rhythm, mechanical, structural systems, systems of order, never crossed my mind. Reading thoroughly and fully understanding the wider qualities of materials, excites me to learn more. When it comes to masonry, it amazes me how much tedious work has to be put into the design to create a suitable exterior and interior.  Makes you appreciate the little things that create a big impact.

From our first assigned reading I have gained knowledge about different system in the building that need to be designed before construction of the building. These systems work together as a whole so the building can function properly. Structural system is required for the building so it can stand still, while enclosure system is needed to protect the interior from the outside weather such as wind and rain. Enclosure elements consist of exterior wall, doors which provide access, windows which provide light and air. Mechanical systems consist of elements such as plumbing system which provide water for sanitation and consumption; electrical system which provides light and electricity; HVAC system which provide environmental comfort for the interior; etc. Reading #1 also gave me an understanding of different materials used in building construction and their advantages and weak points. While steel is great in both tension and compression, it loses it properties in high temperatures, and it can corrode so it must be protected against it. On the other hand, wood can decay so it needs to be well seasoned. Some of the construction materials are natural such as stone and wood while others are fabricated such as brick and steel. In my opinion it is very important to learn about each of the building construction materials as much as we can, so we know which is the best material, or which combination of materials is best to use for our designs.