Materials Diary Alexia Garcia
My designs are inspired by wabi-sabi and of minimalist Scandinavian style. I’m all about using natural materials and colours for design and for decorations, It gives such a clean and minimal sense of style and feel.
Table Of Contents Building Design Factors & Services Main Materials Floor & Wall Systems Wall Finishes Floor Finishes Doors, Windows & Stairs Construction, Ceiling Doors Windows Ceiling Concrete Steel Hospitality Store Museum School
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Building Design Factors And Services Building Design A service based on the designing or constructing of buildings, houses, rooms, etc. Considering Architectural, technical, and engineering, accomplished by Architects, Engineers, Interior Designers, and Contractors.
-Location Consider if the space or building is suitable for client or the construction itself. Consider the design, where it fits.
-Land Research on what you are building on, consider what can harm and not.
-Build By the Code and Laws of Land -Loading Must be designed to resist gravitational and lateral forces.
-Strength & Stability
-Size & Layout Plan efficiently the size and layout of the building and it’s space. Consider how many people will be in it, the height needed, etc.
-Partition & wall structure
Must be designed to resist fall and deconstruction of space or built.
Required partition wall depth is 10 cm, and was structure is 25 cm.
-Running Costs
-Wall Fixture & Finish
Consider the amount and budget you’ll be needing and using. Decide what can benefit.
What wall is best for the building, what can hold the structure, how to build it, consider weather, etc.
- Floor Design & Finish What floor finish is best and suitable, consider weather that may affect on, etc.
-Electrical Consider the wire/cable that is used, and where the electrical circuit will be coming from, what is suitable. Where it’ll be installed, hidden and applied.
-Lighting What lighting is used, where it is positioned, how many, installation, etc.
-Weather change -Sustainability -Maintenance -Comfortability -Disability
-Air Ventilation Consider where the air is traveling from, installation, vents windows, and such.
-Plumbing -Fire Protection -Water Circuit Consider where the water is installed, where it’ll be coming from, etc.
M A T E R I A L S
Marble is very elegant and precious, but it is very expensive to buy. Marble is one of my favourite materials because of how clean and chic it looks. Marble is basically stone that is recrystallises due to high temperature and pressure. There are still plenty and cheaper alternatives to marble, such as porcelain.
Wood is the most common and a natural material to use. It gives an airy and refreshing interior feel. It is very versatile and can be used almost everywhere and every product/material. There are different types and kinds of wood from different various of trees, but the wood that I like to use the most is plywood because it is the most sustainable.
Carpets are a common interior decoration and finish for flooring. Plus, It is sustainable. Carpets come in various of colours, patterns, sizes that would match your personality and style. It gives comfort to homes and can be used for safety and insulations as well. The great part of a carpet is the feel and soft touch of it, which I love.
Faux brick walls are made with thin wall tiles or panels. I also love using white bricks for walls because it gives a retro chic interior which matches well with a Scandinavian feeling. It can be used in other purposes as well, such as putting it as a backsplash for the kitchen. Another way to incorporate a faux brick wall is by wallpaper.
Wallpaper is basically made of coloured decorative made paper, and it comes in different designs and style. Wallpaper is most used in residential areas rather than commercial since it is more personal rather than public. Wallpaper should be handled properly, since it is paper it may cause for it to rip apart.
Paint is the most used wall finish in both commercial and residential buildings. Paint is the easiest and cheapest material to be used in interiors and also exteriors. It comes in all colours of the colour scheme. It is easy to handle and take care of, it can re-used if ever existing paint ,may have worn of.
W A L L F I N I S H
F L O O F R I N I S H
Porcelain is a ceramic material made by heating materials, it is very delicate and dense. It is a hard and more texture material. It is more durable than ceramics. It is more commonly used for public spaces where the tile would be much easier and strong enough to handle the pressure.
Terrazzo is composite material used both for flooring and wall finish. It has a very distinct design to it and very decorative, which consists of chips of marble, quartz, granite, glass and such materials. It gives a space more characteristics and life because of it’s aesthetics. It is very durable and non-porous which requires minimal cleaning.
Access Floor is most commonly used for commercial spaces such as offices, since it is a series of raised floor tiles that can be opened to hide away electrical circuits and wires. It is very handy and a great material when it comes to this situations, it gives an area a more clean and free space without the wires and circuits.
Flush Door is one of the most common used modern and interior door because of it’s simplicity, made of only a solid block wood. It may seem a little plain but it depends on the interior as well, if the interior has so much going on already, it can stay minimal on the doors. It can also be just used for bathroom doors and rooms which is less used.
Glass Doors is basically made of glass and a frame either metal or wood. Glass doors are best used for spaces connecting a garden, a balcony, or just the outdoor. It is used in these parts, because it allows sunlight and heat to go through, it gives a view to the clients. Glass doors may be tricky as well, since you never can tell if it’s open or not.
Panel Door, aka rail and stile, is also a common used door for interiors because of it’s design and construction of the wood. Much like a flush door but with depth and texture. It gives more characteristics on the door and to the room. It is made by woodworking technique, and it comes in different variations and design.
D O O R S
W I N D O W S
Fixed Window is one of the most common used window for both residential and commercial spaces, especially in the city. Since it is fixed, it is more safe to use because it doesn’t open. It can cover most parts of the space or less. With limited use, it only allows light to enter.
Casement Window is also the most common used window, it is basically the opposite of fixed window. It can be opened and close, it is side-hung that swings. It allows air to enter, as well as sunlight. It is also not that safe, since it can be opened until almost 90 degrees, which may cause something or someone to fall.
Awning Window is like a casement window but the is hung horizontally or top hung. It opens outward and be combined with a type of window, it is typically placed above because of it’s outward opening. It is most commonly used for spaces that require air ventilation such as the kitchen and toilet.
Straight Stairs are one of the most common used form of stairs. Just as it’s name the flight of stairs only goes upward to the 2nd floor, and it doesn’t change directions. This is commonly used because it is easier to design, it requires enough space. It is commonly placed beside or between walls because it it’s space and structure.
Half Stairs, also known as U-shaped stairs, are also commonly used for interiors. It goes back to a 180 degree direction from a wider landing than a straight stairs. This stairs require more space, and is installed in between wall panels. It is commonly constructed on houses or emergency exits because of the flow of the stairs.
Spiral Stairs are most commonly used for commercial spaces such as a hotel or a much larger space. The direction and flow to it is very elegant, and it sometimes winds up around a central pole or is either the stairs and handrails are positioned screw-symmetrically.
S T A I R S
C E I L I N G
Wood Ceiling is basically a ceiling where wood panels are installed or constructed on it or are made of it. These gives a much airy feel to the space because of the insulation of the wood. It gives more texture to the ceiling and structure to the surface. It would be nice to look at a ceiling and see that it’s of wood.
Industrial ceiling is a ceiling where all pipes, steels, and lights are exposed and preserved from the existing building itself. It is very common for the city area such as here in Hong Kong, you’ll often see ceilings with it’s exposed installation and such. It’s like a mixing of old and new, the play with contrast and material.
Drywall & Tray Ceiling is one of the most common ceilings used for interior, it is basically a ceiling finished with drywall. A tray ceiling is like an inverted tray when look above, there are four rows surrounding the ailing suspended from above. This to hold the structure of the building more and make it stronger.
Concrete is a composite material of aggregate of rocks bonded together with cement that hardens throughout the process. It is commonly used to create or construct the base or the main part of a space or building, such as columns, flooring, walls, and such. It gives such a rustic feel but when used or matched with other materials properly, it’s beautiful.
C O N C R E T E
S T E E L
Steel is an alloy of iron and other elements. Steel is commonly used for stairs, door frames, wall panels, such as for kitchens, elevators, furnitures, etc. Mainly, it is used ass the skeleton body of the building or structure that holds everything together. It has great formability, durability, and a good thermal conductivity.
H O S P I T A L I T Y
M U S E U M
S T O R E
S C H O O L
~joie de vivre~