Week 3 logbook

Page 1

W03 - STUDIO REPORT CAMPUS LAB This week we went through and analysed a variety of buildings across campus. The aim was to consider what kind of structural system was used, the structural elements involved, the materials which were used and any further importance of structural joints etc.

The first site that we looked at was ‘Lot 6’ a cafe behind 757 Swanston St. One of the most striking features concerning Lot 6 is its obvious contrast of the materiality and design of its surrounding buildings. These buildings seem to consist of a classic ‘mass construction’ style architecture and are elaborately adorned with various decorative features such as arches and

stylised columns yet the style of Lot 6 is far more modern being quite geometric and cube-like in design. Another way in which this building varies from its surroundings is that it seems to be built on a skeletal or frame based structural system. Whilst the building does use concrete, a feature common in mass production, this is mainly as slabs or beams and on the outer facade. The buildings structural system was reasonably easy to figure out as the building has quite an expressive structure. Indeed various portions of the building’s framework are used for visual and aesthetic effect as well as function. The building consists of 3 levels; one basement and two storeys above ground level. Dividing the upper two levels is a ring beam running around the building, there is also a large steel beam that helps support the floor of the top level and runs through the building and then protrudes from the facade having distributed its load where is acts only as a visual feature. Outside the steel beam is supported by a brick wall, this has been

constructed using a stack bond. The stack bond is considered one of the weakest forms of brick laying and so is a testament to how little load must be carried through to the extruding section of the beam. Inside the building the beam supports a large concrete slab which supports the floor of the upper storey; this is supported by the beam and an interior brick column.

Another material used commonly across the building is glass, these panes of glass are another indicator of the framework used as they are unable to bear any significant load, thus they are divided and supported by various beams which also prevent and load being placed on the windows.


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