Week 10 journal

Constructing Environment Week 10 Studio Journal Jianpeng Deng, 657598

The E-­‐learning for this week mainly focuses on the detailing, which is decisions need to be made about how materials are put together in any constructed object from a bridge to a coffee pot. Dozens of examples are given, as there are many different kinds of it. For example, large-­‐scale detailing like structure movement which can be caused by temperature changes, chemical changes, structural deflections or creep and foundation settlement, could cause serious problems.

On the other hand, tiny detailing like off-­‐the-­‐shelf-­‐items, which tend to be cheaper than one-­‐off items, are also important to be considered. The second part talks about the Building Information Modeling (BIM), which is a 3D software that facilitates processes of modeling buildings, is much better than hand-­‐drawing design in every aspect, such as saving time and costs. Besides, it is good to know that BIM is able to share knowledge resources to support decision-­‐making and therefore, it makes the program become so contributive. The last part is about the house that is designed by a famous architect – Frank Gehry; there are four interesting keys about the house, they are everyday material, wrapping, collisions and fragments, under construction. It says that the house is meant to be under construction so that it leaves many possibilities to complete, and it is also said that the house’s inspired many architects.

The first activity is to discuss the 3D drawings that are assigned in the previous studio. Pictures of two drawings are shown below.

Picture 1

Picture 2

Explanations and correction are given clearly during studio, for example, in the Picture 1, the insulation for that section specifically refer to the bulk insulation instead of a reflective one, such as glass fibre and rockwool. And in the Picture 2, for example, there may be a sliding door in this section judging by the layers of materials rather than just a regular door.

The second activity is to visit the Oval Pavilion where the structure frame has already been built. The picture of which is shown below.

Picture 3

In Picture 4, we can see that the stairs in front of the main building are made of reinforced concrete that lots of iron bar are seen in the construction site; those plywood board behind may indicate that they are used for the concrete

Picture 4

formwork, so the concrete stairs are casted in site instead of pre-­‐casted.

These timbers are quite different from the regular ones, as they are hardwood and treated to last long, such as water could not leak inside to rot the woods; some are laminated which are even better than others, as they are hard due to layers of wood, therefore, they can bear more weight.

Picture 5

In Picture 6, we see masonries as bricks are used to build walls; also, a specific

equipment

is

required to make sure the walls are in the same

Picture 6

horizon.

In Picture 7, the very main frame of it is actually

the

steel,

a

large

however,

number of timbers are used, as well. Timbers are seen in between the steels, seems like to make the openings

Picture 7

smaller and fill them up with windows and doors. The roof is designed interesting, it looks it is a flat roof, but on the very right side, another roof like a skylight is built upon.

From the Picture 8 as shown below, we could see the insulation that is used on the very right hand side is reflective insulation, judging by the silver foils.

Picture 8

In Picture 9, we observe the

building

in

a

different side. The black wooden ‘wall’ is built with the pieces of wood that slide each other. It is

demonstrated

in

Picture 9

Picture 10.

Picture 10

The Laminated Veneer Lumbers (LVL) are used as the columns in the building, are shown in Picture 11. We are told that there are not much difference in terms of the strength between the steel and themselves, they are put there because they look better.

Picture 11

In Picture 12, the electrical pipes are already seen hanging in the Z-­‐shape purlin beneath the roof.

Picture 12

In Picture 13 and 14, for some reasons, a large number of timbers are used in this area. We could see a lateral bracing between two columns made of steel reinforced by

Picture 13

timbers, it is said to prevent the columns and the walls to slide on a side. In Picture 14, we

see

bolts

in

the

connection of the purlins.

Picture 14

The last one we are introduced

is

this

temporary wooden wall that is supported by the diagonal rakers. It will be removed once the work on the other side is done.

Water is directed away through the downpipe underground.

Picture 15