here are some interesting things to read

wow, i just realised that i have been recieving articles and emails from both Architecture week and BBC architecture.

i thought id post a few of the article links and a little summery of what i thought.

CHARGING UP THE STAIRS.

The link below is a great article about research being undertaken about the potential to generate energy from the footsteps and the vibrations in various high traffic area. It seems like a great concept for a sustainable energy form, especially in areas like a train station, sports stadium.

http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/uk_news/magazine/5009358.stm

LIQUID STONE

this isnt an article but is a great website about the potentials of concrete in design, be it as basic structural members to even the potential to have TRANSLUCENT concretes.

Have a browse

http://nbm.org/liquid_stone/home.html

WALLS STILL GROWING

this article goes through the development of wall types from solid masonry, to steel to curtain walls. it gives some good information about the advantages and disadvantages of each system.

http://www.architectureweek.com/2006/0510/building_1-1.html

METAL STUD PRE-CAST

This article is about the development and application of a new lighter weight composite concrete construction.

http://www.architectureweek.com/2006/0712/building_1-1.html

PRIMARY PREFAB

Nowadays when we speak about construction and design systems we have to look at the cost be that in terms of money or in terms of time. this semester we have looked at a few pre-fabricated systems using concrete, however this article is a case study about a primary school in england, where a prefabricated timber system was used, allowing the building to be built in a matter of weeks.

The system is called the FinnForest Merk system, which works with a layered laminated softwood which can be cut into various wall profiles like pre cast concrete panels and erected, speeding up the construction process dramatically.

http://www.archweek.com/2006/0906/building_1-1.html

SoCAL CONCRETE

This article is interesting, it goes into detail about the home of Ed Rice. He is an engineer (i think) who has been developing the potential of conrete in ALL elements of a building, adn making the structural concrete a real feature of the house.

http://www.archweek.com/2006/0906/building_1-1.html

THANKS

i thought i should make a post to say thanks Jeremy, unofficially on behalf of the second year archis, who im sure all appreciated the extra time, allowing us to complete the assignment to a much higher level than if it were due last wednesday,

so THANKS

Final Posters

after the extensive research over the last month or so, the final model was built using microstation and the design was resolved (to the best of my ability)

ill post some of the microstation images since i cant resolve my posting problem

overall

Major assignment - my design

My Design

looking at the forms she used i decided to try and mimic her style (to the best of my ability) and design a warehouse that would span the 40mtrs required.

here are my initial sketches and design resolution:

In order to understand the construction details of my design, I spoke to Magmillan projects in Geelong who made my design seem quite simple to build, and on there advice it seemed that a truss designed roof would be most suited to the large span.

In order to create the continuation effect Zaha aimed for, I required cladding on either side of the steel structure. Going off the images below, it appeared that Zaha used standard steel construction with sheet steel for the outside. So it was simply a girt and cleat connection of a smooth zincalume on either side.

the fact that my building was slanted meant that it would need to be specially designed by an engineer to resist the lateral loads.

so all in all the design seemed pretty standard as well as the construction details so the information passed on in tutes have been most applicable

MAJOR ASSIGNMENT

Hey guys,

i think its noticable i am very bad at being consistent in updating my blog.

but i thought id run through the major assignment we handed in today.

My Architect was Zaha Hadid, and one that prooved very difficult to research plenty of information about her and her style, however none what so ever on her construction detailing (it seemed that construction details are only published if the Architect is DEAD).

i decided that i should try and broaden my research, so i emailed 'Zaha Hadid Architects'- but it was a call on deaf ears, (but then again im sure they have MUCH better things then to do then to reply to a 2nd year architecture student).

the best option now was to research her and her style, then apply the construction details that we had been researching in the tutorials.

Profile

Born in Bagdad, Zaha Zadid studied Architecture at the Architectural Association in England where her artistic talents flourished.

She was seen to push the boundries of architecture, moving materials out of there comfort zone in true deconstructivist style. Hadid added movement to her architcture, changing a seemingly static form to a form full of action through the use of angles. (the pictures below are of the temporary structure Hadid designed> interbuild blueprint pavilion)

She aims for continuation in her architecture where all elements tend to link, and seem as though they were created from one block

PROBLEM

Hi guys

i just realised that when i post images they all dont seem to be able to enlarge when clicked on. im very confused ive tried multiple things and still no luck. if anybody has a suggestion can you please leave a comment.

thanks

Funny Comic

hi thought this was pretty funny:

SITE VISIT 3

Walking around in Hawthorn i walked into a hardware store 'Tait Home Hardware' which dedicated much of the space to timber storage.

And what better way to store large spanning timber then in a large spanning warehouse, a PORTAL FRAME. However it seems like they cut costs and used what they sold, it was a portal frame made from timber.

However it is evident that laminated timber being a natural material has various problems and weaknesses compared to the consistency of steel. here is a picture of a failing beam :

CONCRETE CONSTRUCTION

Pre Cast concrete

Just browsing the internet found the website of the National precast concrete association of Australia (NPCAA) which outlines a lot of information about precast including its designs, its cleaning and various applications it can be used for.

http://www.npcaa.com.au/

It also has a publication on GRC (glass reinforced concrete), which outlines the addition of glass fibres creating a composite material increasing the buildings flexural, tensile and impact strength.

http://www.npcaa.com.au/html/Publications/PDF/GRC.pdf

Tilt Up Construction

After finding the website above I thought id look for something similar to it but for tilt-up but couldn’t find an Australian one.

http://www.tilt-up.org/

I did find a document however Guide to Tilt-up Design and Construction but it requires payment or a password to access something I don’t have or willing to buy at the present time, but ill put the link for whoever is.

http://www.concrete.net.au/search.php?category=Safety&menu=1

The NPCAA also had an article bout the differences between precast and tilt up
http://www.npcaa.com.au/html/Walling/PDF/PC_TU.pdf

Gutter systems

Following the portal framing exercises, the tutes went through some guttering and draining systems used in portal frames.
Here are some sketches which i did during the classes:

PORTAL FRAME tute exercises

PORTAL FRAMES- STEEL CONSTRUCTION

I decided to draw the details of the portal frames on AutoCAD as it’s easier to edit if I made mistakes. I decided to research actual sizes for the steel members and come across the one steel and blue scope websites which had numerous publications which are of great help here are the links:

http://www.onesteel.com/publications.asp?category=238&cname=Structural%20Sections

http://www.bluescopesteel.com.au/go/tools-and-resources/downloads

I also found a great website about steel products, especially gutter systems which provides cad details along with various other resources.

http://www.steelselect.com/

All the drawings above, are drawn from the sketches i drew during lectures and tutes


DETAIL 1

Base Pin

Rigid base

DETAIL 2

DETAIL- including office

SITE VISIT 2

ok, sure its not a portal frame, but it does show how steel is used and many of the connections we have discussed.

It is a commercial shopping strip in Bundoora. its using mainly steel construction which is covered with what seems to be a glavenised metal sheet.

Hi ALL,

Firstly I'd like to apologise to everybody who has browsed my blog and saw it very empty. i have been continuosly going to the tuts adn doing the work, it was simply the posting part of the blog which i couldnt get around to (hmmmm ive got a feeling thats a key part of it............). BUT no use dwelling over lost time, i have decided to post everything from where i last left including some site visits, the portal frame drawings, some cool articles and websites that can be used as references and anything i think was worth posting..

so please enjoy and forgive me for the delay

Hi Everybody,

Heres week 2's task, drawing the components of a portal frame. Im sure im missing something or have something in the wrong place, but i guess thats the point of the task (too learn).

Enjoy,

Marcel

And the BLOG begins

Greetings all,

The Construction and Structures Blog has began, with the first tut exercise: at least 3 photos of a commercial construction site.

The site I visited is a local shopping centre (Epping Plaza (think the Epping train line and you'll have an idea of where it is)) under its stage 2 construction.

this photo shows the overall stage the building is at, nearly completed on the outside however the front entrance area still showing its 'skeleton' of mainly steel framing.

This photo is the other side of the building, being a shopping centre it is yet another entrance, however unlike the previous side the aesthetic part is completed. Note the timber trusses used in the adjacent areas (i know its hard to see hence then next picture). possible a cost cutting element seeing that timber could easily cater for the not so large span.

close up of the timber trusses used

this photo demonstrates the variation between a store construction and the internal walkway of the centre. the shop has columns scattered around helping carry the roof load while also seperating the space, while the walkway is an open space which would have used long spanning steel.

that concludes the 1st post, be on the watch for a possible update on this buildings process in the weeks to come.