01_Xinyu Shi

WEEK 1 STUDIO JOURNAL

Xinyu Shi （585924）

In the week 1 studio, we were told to build a tower and make it as high as possible. We were given plenty of wood bricks and few mud bricks in order to complete our task. One opening was required to ensure an elephant toy will be able to enter and stay in the tower built.

All the group members came up with different ideas. I wanted to build a triangular structure and then build it as high as we can. However, our group members thought it might cause no enough space for the elephant. So after discussion, we decide to build a base as shown below.

Then we will place 4 beams and build up the roof as picture shown below.

First of all, we tried to build the base of the tower. We used rubber band to bind some of the wood bricks and then use the band to connect the joining ends of base. As we thought that the base might be more stable by doing so. Then we put the mud bricks on the woods, however we were worried that the forces are different then it would make the building unstable. Then we continued with building up the base of the tower.

Rubber band used to connect these two joining parts.

After completing the base of the tower, we started to build up the roof. We tried to apply the trusses structure, as it can save the materials and resist stresses. However, we failed to do so, as we had troubles with connecting the bricks together. We all found the roof is difficult to build as we had limited materials. We were not given any glue; also we were not able to drill holes on the bricks.

There was such a long span between the walls. The rubber bands were used to bind the bricks together and formed several rectangular bars.

We placed the wood bricks as picture shown on the left.

However, one of the members suggested that this might be unstable as the bars are not long enough to carry the force.

However, as the rubber bands were not strong enough to bind more bricks. We decided to change our plan, and build the roof part as shown below.

However, I thought it might be unstable as the weight of the roof was put on only one side of the building. It might be fall easily; the weight should be shared equally, so that the force could be equal.

I think our tower was not successful. It was not tall and got collapsed very easily. As shake the table, the top of the tower collapsed and then right wall fell. The wall was easily collapsing around the roof area and the mud bricks area. There were a lot of materials used but the tower was not stable, the materials were not used efficiently.

I am major in Property. I have learnt that to evaluating property, it is important for us to look as the constructing system, structures and forms used within the property, as well as what kind of materials used. I used to have a misunderstanding that the more materials used, the stronger it would be. This may cause the waste of material and constructing cost and time. Appropriate structures and materials are much more important than using a lot of materials.