Constructing Environments Week 8 - In Detail
Daniel Kellett 635876
Week 8 - In Detail Drawing Partners: Gabby Lewis, Kathryn Randall-Dzerdz, Matt Tibballs Building: Oval Pavilion Redevelopment Site Over the last few weeks, our groups have been observing case study buildings and analysing the structures and designs that have been implemented into their creation. This week asked us to look at specific details of our building and scaling them up to a 1:1 scale. Unfortunately out case study building, The Eastern Resource Centre, was a much larger task than time permitted, and so staff instructed us to base our details off the Oval Pavilion site that we visited in previous weeks. Of this site, our group, consisting of 4 members, was given the task to produce 4 details from sections of the building and present them. This particular detail is of the Service area roof.
Figure 1. Oval Pavilion redevelopment construction site as seen 6 weeks ago.
Figure 2. Section provided for completion of �In Detail Task� Oval Pavilion Redevelopment
01_ Detailing Decisions Offsetting the bricks on the wall with the joining grout in between, may have been done as to provide a visual effect that may enhance the aesthetic appeal of the design. This type of brick work is still being employed but also the use of rendering and flush finishes is now also becoming a popular choice.
02_ Composition (see red circles on further document) The composition of this space uses are large amount of small, complex pieces, that come together to produce the edges of the walls and roofing sections of the site. This detail includes, metal, wood, insulation, brick, grout (aggregate) and various other metals for joints and fixings.
03_ Building Process The sections that were observed in this task were of the smaller finer details of the overall site that are often looked over when discussing the construction. Although the overall site uses mass construction through the use of concrete to produce the footings and supporting walls, the majority of the above ground structure uses a framework system with the use of beams and paneling. The details looked at are constructed towards the latter end of the project and act to insulate, finalise and create aesthetic appeal to the overall structure. These details however, represent small sections of the building that are equally important as they act to protect the building from the elements.
04_ Pros and Cons Pros: 1. 2. 3. 4.
Use of strong materials such as metal and sheeting (wooden rafters, support this, however not part of actual detail) Insulation from the exterior space protects the internal environments Materials chosen are long lasting and so repair and replacement are less likely, meaning less ongoing costs and savings for the club and university Guttering located within the wall line allows for more water to be caught and possibly stored into tanks when rainfall occurs
Cons: 1. The sustainability of the materials is harmful to the environment due to the massive amounts of emissions caused in the long, complex line that must be undertaken in order to produce and construct the final product. 2. Leakages are a real threat to the space and can cost the owners large amounts of money and time (and loss of space for repairs) if continual upkeep and monitoring is undertaken.
05_ Sustainability and Environmental Analysis This section of the site does not use concrete, however there are parts of the site that do and this is one of the worst materials to use when it comes to recycling and sustainability as it is not a sustainable material, having to be dumped in waste fills. Metals used in this structure can be melted down or used elsewhere for other purposes and so they are generally good for multiple uses, however there is still a large amount of pollution made in the production process for the metal in the first place and the addition of many chemicals that treat the metal for construction. Similarly, wood can be broken down and turned into paper or garden additions and so their recyclability is very good. The issue with the environmental side, is not so much the recycability of the materials being used, but the embodied energy and emissions used and caused by the final production of these materials, in the form of transport, manufacture, collection, distribution and finally addition into a project.
06_ Economical Implications of Decisions The choices made on this detail, and that of the rest of the building are ultimately due to cost and the desires of the client. More expensive materials, such as specific woods, or finishes in internal spaces, last longer, however have a much more expensive start cost, yet do not cost as much to maintain, whereas with cheaper materials, they are cheap to construct, however they cost most to maintain over time and generally do not last as long. This ultimately means that material choices come down to the budget during construction and amount of flexibility in the project. If desire for materials is high, then there can exist periods in which construction may halt in order to generate enough income to acquire the materials. This can mean even greater costs to the client as workers must be paid, equipment hired for longer, etc.
07_ Where and Why Things Go Wrong (see green areas on following document) Gaps and holes are the biggest concern for this detail, not just for this detail, but for all buildings as they can lead to leaking and weakening of the structure, which can cause damage to the building, sometimes long lasting if not dealt with or known about early enough, or even destruction of the building, due to weakening of key structural areas. Unseen damage is worst of all, as it can remain unknown, while causing damage, for long periods of time and so when discovered, structures can sometimes be required to be deconstructed for safety reasons. This means that leaking is one of the most important issues that needs addressing in a building. Weathering, not just from water, can damage key sections of the structure, such as insulation or the paneling and joints of the structure. Continual checking of these areas must be undertaken to ensure corrosion or damage to structural elements is not endured and safety maintained.
These points are located in areas that water regularly passes through and especially the joint areas, where to separate pieces of material are joining. If damage occurs at this points, then internal complications can follow as water is not accessing the internal areas.
Metal
Insulation
Brick Wooden rafters located in background
These points are open to the elements and can act as entry points into the internal spaces of the site. They is also due to the flashing area, where water that enters is redirected back out through gaps in the bricks. Damage to this flashing can lead to internal complications.
Grout
Figure 3. Detailed drawing of the section given on the previous page - Service Area Roof, Section 5 References: Ching, F. 2008, “Moisture and Thermal Protection� in Building Constructed Illustrated, ed. F. Ching, 4th Edn, John Wiley and Sons Incorporated, Hoboken, New Jersey Vassigh, Shahin, Interactive Structures Version 2.0, Wiley & Sons, Inc., 2008 DVD-ROM and Software Compilation