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01 - KEY CONCEPTS

05.02.2020
ARC 404 - ADVANCED BUILDING TECHNOLOGY
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1. THE 3 ATRIBUTES OF ARCHITECTURE

According to Vitruvius, architecture is an imitation of nature. As birds

and bees built their nests, so humans constructed housing from
natural materials, that gave them shelter against the elements.
In De Architectura, Vitruvius (1st c. BC) believed that an architect
should focus on three central themes when preparing a design for
a building: firmitas (strength), utilitas (functionality), and venustas
(beauty).
“Commodity, firmness, and delight”
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1. THE 3 ATRIBUTES OF ARCHITECTURE

They are three pillars of the same thing. And one should not exist
without the other.
A good project of architecture should be able to successfully fulfill
them.
As many may suspect, the knowledge of Building Technology does
not just apply to the Firmitas or to the Utilitas, but makes an esential
part of the whole project ideation or composition.
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1. THE 3 ATRIBUTES OF ARCHITECTURE

Firmitas, Utilitas and Venustas

are in many occasions different
characteristics of the same solution.
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2. THE BUILDING AS A PROTECTIVE SHELL

From the origins of Architecture, we

can understand buildings (shelters)
as method for humans to protect
themselves from the harsh weather
conditions.
Thus, such conditions (the context)
will influence the characteristics of
our building’s shell.
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2. THE BUILDING AS A PROTECTIVE SHELL

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2. THE BUILDING AS A PROTECTIVE SHELL

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2. THE BUILDING AS A PROTECTIVE SHELL

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2. THE BUILDING AS A PROTECTIVE SHELL

Therefore, when we design our buildings, we should think of....

RAIN
SUN (radiation)
LIGHT (sunlight)
HUMIDITY (moisture transmision)
WIND
and
BUILDABILITY
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2. THE BUILDING AS A PROTECTIVE SHELL

RAIN
Waterproofing
Big overhangs
Consider a minimum of 45º angle for
the rain (wind driven-rain)
Drip edge (avoid run-off water down
the facades)
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2. THE BUILDING AS A PROTECTIVE SHELL

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2. THE BUILDING AS A PROTECTIVE SHELL

SUN (radiation)
Insulation (ALWAYS OUTSIDE)
- air chamber
- low conductivity layer (e.g. clay, wood, polyurethane, thatch...)
Sunshading: overhangs, cantilevers, brise-soleil, ownings, pergolas...
Orientation: general shape of building, size/type of openings
Building’s mass
Passive solar gain, for cold climates (e.g. trombe wall, greenhouse...)
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2. THE BUILDING AS A PROTECTIVE SHELL

LIGHT (sunlight)
Orientation and size of openings (morning light vs mid-say light)
Understanding of the climate and weather (diffuse light vs direct
light)
Provision of flexible solutions
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2. THE BUILDING AS A PROTECTIVE SHELL

HUMIDITY
(moisture transmission)
Sources are mostly from the ground,
but potentially also from roofs/walls
if not properly waterproofed / sealed
Solutions
- Vapor Barrier (DPM)
- Air chamber (drying chamber)
- Both
Typically, membranes are laid
underneath the slab and at the
bottom of walls, but also in between
layers of the walls or at permeable
and flat roofs.
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2. THE BUILDING AS A PROTECTIVE SHELL

WIND

Beware of uplifting wind (roofs and

elements protruding from buildings
Beware of the quality and type of
cladding and roofing (e.g. curtain
wall attachments, clay tiles...they
can end up flying
Provide good anchoring solutions
and protection (e.g. vegetation, solid
wall fences)
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2. THE BUILDING AS A PROTECTIVE SHELL

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2. THE BUILDING AS A PROTECTIVE SHELL

BUILDABILITY
It is crucial to understand the process
of construction; put yourself in the
shoes of the builder (e.g. understand
hand dimensions, arm twisting,
size of fingers, weight of pieces,
machinery required, timeframe...
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3. THE PROCESS OF CONSTRUCTION

MAIN STAGES OF CONSTRUCTION

1. (DESIGN) 3.1. SITE CLEARANCE

2. TENDER 3.2. CIVIL WORKS / EXCAVATIONS
3. PROCUREMENT OF MATERIALS 3.3. FOUNDATIONS
3. CONSTRUCTION 3.4. STRUCTURAL FRAME
4. HAND OVER 3.5. WALLING/INFILL
3.6. SERVICES (elect/plumb)
3.7. FINISHES
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3. THE PROCESS OF CONSTRUCTION

KEY ROLE PLAYERS

ARCHITECT / DESIGNERS / ENGINEERS DESIGN / QUALITY CONTROL

CONTRACTOR / SUB-CONSULTANTS ACHIEVE QUALITY / USE SUPPLIERS

MANUFACTURERS / SUPPLIERS SUPPLY AND ADAPT TO DEMAND

Although their roles and position can vary during the process, and
many times they’ll be in opposite sides of the table, it is important
that all these players are well coordinated and aware of each others’
demands and necessities.
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4. NEW TECHNOLOGIES AND PRE-FABRICATION

As the demand for new and Higher Quality buildings increases, the
construction industry is also evolving to produce faster and more
efficient solutions to reduce costs and progress towards more
sustainable solutions.
As a consequence, the future of construction is to go for a less labour
intensive and more mechanical productions. The jobs of the future
will be more specialised and less intense.
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4. NEW TECHNOLOGIES AND PRE-FABRICATION

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4. NEW TECHNOLOGIES AND PRE-FABRICATION

Pre-fabrication and digital fabrication will have a big role in the immediate
future of Design and Construction.

Prefabrication is the practice of assembling components of a structure

in a factory, and transporting complete assemblies or sub-assemblies
to the construction site where the structure will to be located.

It is almost as old as architecture. Some of the oldest prefabrication

methods date from 3800 BC.
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4. NEW TECHNOLOGIES AND PRE-FABRICATION
PROS AND CONS OF PREFABRICATION
PROS
- Reduced costs (?)
- Speed in construction
- Material savings
- High quality control
- Specialised labour required
- Higher costs of transport
CONS
- Higher cost (?)
- Slower construction
- Less control over quality
- More flexibility
- Reduced costs of transport
- Regular labour
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Q/A