For this activity my class was divided into two groups and had to distinguish the differences between each of the drawings in order to tell witch building they belonged to. My group was given six drawings of buildings, there sections,plans, and elevations. By doing this this activity I learned that some buildings and there elevations can look similar but you have to pay close attention to the details to see materials used, scales, and the design of the structure. Only then you will see that they are two completely different structures. For example, you may have two images in black and white, are the same height and shape so you can hardly tell them apart but as you look closely you can see that the scale of the windows don’t match up also to realize that the patterns are different one has designs that represent Gothic architecture and the other has more modern designs. This makes the two structures different from one another.
Category: Uncategorized (Page 3 of 5)
In class last week, for the first time as a group we were given drawings which were split up into different parts. We looked at sections, elevations, views, floor plans, and site plans. We then were asked to take all these drawings and try and see if we can correspond them to see which pieces of drawings go together. This was not an easy task. A lot of the drawing looked the same so it was important that we paid attention to details of the building as well as the lay out. For my group the technique we used was similar design, though we had difficult. By doing this exercise we are getting a better understanding on how to read drawings for when we become future architects. Details was a very important key in this exercise because it would determine which drawings would go together. I got a better understanding on what floor plans are and how to read them, as well as reading elevations, sections, and understanding the views. We discovered in depth as a class how each drawing related to one another. Overall i’m still trying to understand what each part of a drawing is and how to read them. This exercise was a great way to practice and see what we know already.
When going over the second reading, I learned that exits in a building must be capable of helping occupants successfully evacuate, especially in a fire. There are two parts in an exit: the exit access and the exit discharge. The exit access must be direct, well-lit, and must be readily available for escaping occupants. The exit discharge must lead to a public way or exit court at ground level so that the occupants avoid other dangers. I also learned that stairs are an essential part of the emergency egress system. They must have a balance of comfort and efficiency when exiting the danger. That may include ramps for occupants who cannot use the stairs, or determining the size of the stairway to accommodate the heights and sizes of different people. Egresses are made to give the occupants a safe and effective way to escape a building.
Reading 2 talks about how stairs and exits are a crucial part of constructing a building. These are the main elements that provide safety and a way to get to the safety. Without these people would get hurt and injured. In the reading, Cheng talk about building codes which specify the fire resistance rating. These codes are either materials, systems, or special odes that tell us a the rules and regulations. This is important to know because this is part of the structure of a building. Your job is to understand and learn all this information because the architect is the designer and builder of the building, therefor he/she would be responsible for any occurrences. The discussion talked about various exit types which are crucial to understand such as corridor exits, stairway-lead exits, doors, smoke proof enclosures, and ventilated rooms. This is part of lefty rules and regulations for a building. I learned about the building codes and how they apply to the stairs being designed as well. The term egress came to attention as well because is your way of safety and your way of exit. Without the understanding of egress, then there is no understanding about the structure of stairs. i learned about tread and risers which interact with one another to understand the dimensions of the stairs. That also affects the slope, the length, the width,and the design structure. Cheng also discusses that there will always be once less tread the then number of risers in any instance. Risers, and treads are required for safety and fire rules and regulations. Overall i have gotten a more deeper understanding of the text and what Cheng is was portraying.
Architecture is not a simple concept; it consists of a diverse set of many elements. Architecture has a system of orders, or regulations for each of its categories, that being space, structure, and materials. A building itself has 3 significant systems; structural, enclosure, and mechanical. The structural system allows the building to support and stand itself. The Enclosure system withstands any dangerous force from entering the building. It is the envelope of the building-regulating both the outside and inside. The last system is known as the mechanical system which, provides crucial utility to a building, such as managing the heating, electrical system, sewage, and water system. In order to bring all these building systems together, we rely on certain materials to help with maintenance as well to serve different purposes. Materials include wood, concrete, steel, and masonry. A material such as steel has different types of durability and strength. For example: stresses at the top beam resist compression, whereas at the bottom tension occurs. When talking about character, however, big sections of wood will last longer in heat, than steel, but steel can be protected by fireproofing built brick around it. Therefore different materials distribute different purposes.
After reading chapter 2, I am almost convinced there are more elements that go into the making of a building than of a human. The author explains that there is a “conceptual system of order” that goes into the creation of a building. An idea behind the purpose and use of a building. Buildings are made up of structural, mechanical, and enclosure systems. The structural system serves as a skeleton of sorts. It holds the building up, with the use of columns, beams, and load bearing walls. The mechanical system can be compared to the “organs” of the building. This system consists of all plumbing, electrical systems, vertical transportation, and fire fighting systems. The last element is called the enclosure system and this serves as a protective layer, like the skin on a human. It regulates what comes in and out of the building as well as protects the mechanical and structural systems.
Doors, windows and exterior/interior walls are all a part of the enclosure system. The enclosure system allows us to egress a building. This action is critical to a building or any structure; as the placement of exits and openings help the flow of traffic in and out of the building. Another important, special structure is stairs. Stairs allow access to other floors in a building. I never knew the complexities of such a mundane structure. Elements of stairs include treads, risers, width, landing, handrails, guardrails, and nosings. The specifications and dimensions for the riser and tread I thought were interesting, as I have walked up uncomfortably steep and shallow stairs. There are a few different types of stair runs; six to be exact: straight, quarter turn, half turn, winding, circular and spiral. I agree with the author, in that winder stairs are the most hazardous. The tread on the interior of the turn are far too narrow.
Concerning the first reading, I learned that the materials used to construct a building have specific systems. The mechanical system promotes sanitation, protection, and transportation of individuals, the enclosure system promotes shelter and regulation of atmosphere for the occupants, and the structural system is focused on load-bearing and balance. Understanding how these systems work will help in the integration of constructing a safe building with effective materials. Factors such as hardness, durability, stability, and density are important to note. There are many materials that can be apart of a building: Wood is a simple material that is easy to harvest, but must be maintained. Concrete is a brittle material, but can be reinforced with steel. Steel has strength and elasticity, durable in compression, but loses strength when reacting to high temperatures. Finally, stone is durable and can withstand tension. Understanding how these forces effect the building are important to building a safe and efficient space.
Today, in class we went over the importance of stairs and egress. There are a lot of factors that go into the design of stairs and the egress system. Some major components are the exit access, which are passages that lead to the exit. Another is the exit. The exit is not just a doorway leading to the outside, but rather an enclosed and protected means of evacuation. These areas are fire rated. Lastly, the exit discharge, which is a safe place of refuge, outside of the building.
Steps are a required element in all buildings, as they are a part of the fire safety requirements and egress. Stairs have specifications for all their minute details, including height and width of the riser and tread, dimensions for the height and diameter of the handrail, and even the overall angle of the steps
Understanding safety and comfort of stairs is important in building construction because humans use stairways in their everyday activities. When building, there are different dimensions made for the human body to comfortably preform in. Not only are stairs for transportation but they are also seen as ports of safety, access, and exit. To list a few of the many different stairs, we have straight – run, quarter – turn, winding, circular, and spiral stairs. Any kind of stairs made must be conventional so that other architects can clearly read your section cuts and plan. in addition your stair design must be consistent. For example the with of your stairs should be the same width of your platform so that everyone can fit comfortably at a constant rate. Without this consistency people will get squished and the passage ways can get backed up making it hard for individuals to exit.
I learned today how important means of egress, and stairs are, and how the dimensions of different elements of stairs affect on comfort, efficiency, and safety of the egress. I also have a new found appreciation for fire escapes because I learned that they serve an important function to keep people safe, while also efficiently moving people out of the building. It’s also very easy to miss out on the details when designing exits, but it is important to think about when designing buildings to provide means of safety for people.
