BUILDING DESIGN SYSTEM

CE 409
BUILDING DESIGN SYSTEM
LECTURE 8: BUILDING MATERIALS AND ASSEMBLIES
BUILDING MATERIALS
The term "materials" refers to all the physical substances that
are assembled to create the interior and exterior of a building.
Today most buildings are constructed from a multitude of
materials, each with very specific functional demands and
complex assembly requirements. For instance, an exterior wall
assembly contains materials that keep the rain and wind out,
thermally insulate the inhabitants from exterior temperatures,
structurally support the building and the associated enclosure
system, and provide desired interior and exterior finishes.
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In addition, windows, doors, vents, and other apertures
connect to the interior and exterior of the building. The list
could go on, but this example should serve to illustrate the
complexity and importance of the material selection process in
building design. These decisions should be based on a number
of carefully considered issues as described below, including
symbolism, appropriateness, physical properties, and
technique.
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DESCRIPTION
A. Symbolism
Particular materials carry specific
connotations within cultures and regions.
Terms such as natural or artificial, eternal or
ephemeral, austere or opulent, describe a
few such associations. We often refer to the
enduring qualities of stone, or the
ephemeral nature of glass or paper. In some
cases, the material associated with a desired
symbolic expression is not available or too
costly, and another material is substituted to
replicate that material and achieve the
desired effect.
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B. Appropriateness
There arethree primary areas that must be evaluated in selecting
appropriate materials and assemblies.
MATERIAL COMPATIBILITY WITH CLIMATIC, CULTURAL, AND
AESTHETIC CONDITIONS
Climate is one of the most important factors to consider in material and
assembly selection. Too often we see buildings that have not taken local
environmental conditions into consideration, or by designing a building for a
specific site that ignores climatic issues. The result is a building that performs
poorly—failing to keep inhabitants comfortable without excessive energy
expenditures and near complete reliance on mechanical systems to rectify poor
construction decisions. Materials also must be compatible with specific regional
and local cultural and aesthetic conditions.
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B. Appropriateness
There are three primary areas that must be evaluated in selecting appropriate
materials and assemblies.
APPLICABILITY OF MATERIAL TO OCCUPANCY AND SIZE OF
BUILDING, INCLUDING DURABILITY, STRUCTURAL, AND FIRE
PROTECTION REQUIREMENTS
Material choices are often legally limited by the building type and size, in order to
protect public health, safety, and welfare. For instance, a detached single-family
house has far fewer limitations than a high-rise office building, from
which
hundreds of inhabitantsmust be evacuated in case of emergency. In
general,
buildings with large occupancy numbers (especially assembly occupancy such as
theaters, lecture halls, andrestaurants) andgreater enclosed square footage
require more fire-resistant construction andmore complex fire protection
systems. Another concern is the added wear and tear on a densely inhabited and
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B. Appropriateness
There are three primary areas that must be evaluated in selecting appropriate
materials and assemblies.
• ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACT OF OBTAINING RAW MATERIALS, PROCESSING
AND FABRICATING BUILDING MATERIALS, TRANSPORTATION IMPACT,
AND RECYCLING ISSUES
In addition to the easily quantifiable issues above, the long-term ecological footprint of
material production is equally important and must be analyzed holistically. For example, a
number of questions must be raised and answered.
Where did this material come from? Ideally materials should be obtained from renewable
sources, such as wood harvested from sustainably managed old growth forests.
How was it processed or fabricated? The energy and resources expended in
material preparation, sometimes termed "embodied energy," must be taken into account.
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B.
Appropriateness
There are three primary areas that must be evaluated in selecting appropriate
assemblies.
materials and
ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACT OF OBTAINING RAW MATERIALS,
FABRICATING
PROCESSING BUILDING
AND MATERIALS, TRANSPORTATION IMPACT, AND
ISSUES
RECYCLING
How did it arrive on-site? Transportation impacts and expenses should be minimized, with locally
available materials often making a better choice than those imported from
afar.
How long will it last? How will it eventually be disposed of? Materials should be selected with
durability and life span in mind. Recycled materials should be chosen when possible. Consider
designing easily dissembled buildings that may be reused and recycled in the future.
How will this material impact the environment while in place? For example, many paints, carpets,
acoustic ceiling tile, vinyl flooring and wall coverings, and adhesives contain volatile
compounds
organic (VOC's). Avoid using materials embodying VOC's, and select low
materials to avoid off-gassing after construction completion.
toxicity building
Howcan the use of a particular material minimize construction waste? Choose
materials that don't have a lot of by-products. For instance, building with reusable formwork for
construction
cast-in-place concrete construction avoids plywood and wood formwork waste on-site.
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C. Physical Properties
A number of physical properties must be taken into account in the
material selection process. While certain properties are inherent to the
material and unchangeable, other qualities can be determined in the
fabrication or finishing process. The following outline lists only primary
considerations, since each material possesses a unique combination of
properties.
STRENGTH
Material strength quantifies resistance to compression, tension, and other
types of loading on a given material. For instance, masonry performs most
effectively as a load-bearing or compressive material, while steel is a
more suitable choice for greater spanning and tensile requirements.
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MASS AND THICKNESS

After an initial material selection is made, the dimensional

thickness of each material must be based on requirements
for durability, strength, and aesthetic considerations.
PHYSICAL AND VISUAL DENSITY
Often a particular tactile density is desired, ranging from
heaviness to lightness in degrees of opacity, translucency, or
transparency. See Figures 2 and 3.
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TEXTURE
Many materials may be finished to different
textures, either during off-site production or
while finishing materials on-site. Smooth to
rough, soft to hard, and a range of surface
finishes—matte, satin, polished, and so on—
are possible. See Figure 4.
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TYPES OF CONCRETE FINISHES
1. Troweled Finish
Trowel finish is the most common and popular finish of concrete
used for major types of applications. After the concrete is laid in the
formwork and leveled, the trowel is used to smooth and fine-level
the surface of concrete.
Trowels are available in both manual and mechanical types. A
manual trowel consists of a flat steel blade with an attached handle
that is pushed and pulled across the concrete surface.
A mechanized trowel is used for large commercial projects which
resemble large fans with the blades sitting directly against the
concrete.
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TYPES OF CONCRETE FINISHES
2. Broom Finish
The broom finish of the concrete is rough textured finished
obtained by dragging a broom on the trowelled surface of the
concrete while the concrete is still fresh.
Dragging of broom on the fresh concrete surfaces creates small
ridges that provide for traction control and slip-resistant.
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TYPES OF CONCRETE FINISHES
3. Stamped Concrete Finish
The stamped concrete finish is obtained by pressing the
required patterns on the freshly levelled concrete. This type of
concrete finish after completion of their construction looks
similar to stones such as slates or flagstones, brick, tile or with
proper skill they can look similar to wood.
Stamped concrete finish is a very intelligent and innovative
innovation in concrete widely applied for floor in patios, car
porch, driveways and sidewalks.
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•TYPES OF CONCRETE FINISHES
•4. Salt Finish
•The salt finish concrete surface is obtained by inserting coarse rock salt crystals
using rollers on the freshly placed concrete surface and washing it off with
streams of water after the concrete is set.
•This finish gives a decorative, rough subtle texture and skid resistance to plain
or colored concrete. It is mainly used for swimming pools or other wet areas.
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•TYPES OF CONCRETE FINISHES
•5. Exposed Aggregate Finish

•The construction of exposed concrete finish is to have leveled concrete floor

surface, distribute aggregate evenly, and keep air voids to as minimum as
possible.
•Power Floater or Diamond Polisher is used to polish the top surface of the
partially cured concrete. The equipment removes a concrete layer whose
thickness does not exceed a few millimeters at the top of the concrete. A fine
grade protection layer is applied to provide the favored polished finish.
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TYPES OF CONCRETE FINISHES
6. Swirl Finish
Swirl finish is one of the most exceptional types of concrete
finish that is generated by smearing the concrete surface in a
uniformly overlapping circular pattern.
It provides an aesthetically pleasing appearance to the concrete
surface which is favored for outdoor applications because not
only does it add beauty to the surface, but it also provides a
safer walk and stand in comparison with smooth surface finish,
specifically during the wet season.
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TYPES OF CONCRETE FINISHES
7. Polished Finish
The polished finish on a concrete surface is achieved by a
mechanical process of grinding and polishing with the help of a
penetrant chemical to provide different texture with the help of
specialized tools and equipment.
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TYPES OF CONCRETE FINISHES
8. Colored Finish
The colored finish of the concrete is accomplished through
added
mix- pigments or post-cure staining to provide a pleasing look to
match the surrounding environment.
The colored finish on a concrete surface can be carried out by either
pigment or strains. The pigmented colored concrete can be
accomplished by adding the pigments directly to the concrete
prior
mix to pouring.
The strained colored concrete can be obtained by applying stains to
concrete of any age to obtaina more vibrant colored finish.
application
The of stain is typically followed up with the installation of a
seal over the concrete to protect the
surface.
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TYPES OF CONCRETE FINISHES
The other finishes of the concrete are listed
below: Color chips Finish
Dyed Finish
Engraved
Finish
Etched Finish
Flashed Finish
Marbleized Finish
Micro Topping or Over Lay
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TYPEOF FINISH PREFERRED FOR DIFFERENT
CONSTRUCTION APPLICATIONS
1. Roof Slab - Trowel Finish
2. Swimming pools - Salt Finish
3. Commercial and Industrial flooring - Trowel Finish
4. Porticos, driveways, and sidewalks- Stamped Finish
5. Museums, Auditorium, and Galleries - Polished Finish
6. Parks and Play areas - Colored Finish
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COLOR
Selection of a building color
palette must consider the
surrounding context, as well
exterior and interior light qualities
under which the colors will be
viewed. Colors may be light
absorptive or light reflective,
warm or cool, while the palette
may be monochromatic or
polychromatic. See Figures 5 and
6.
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TEMPERATURE
The tactile qualities of architecture are of utmost importance,
especially those surfaces that building inhabitants touch on a
regular basis, such as door hardware, work surfaces, and floor
materials. Metal surfaces quickly register temperature change,
while stone more slowly absorbs ambient temperatures and
retains temperature much longer. Thus, material thermal
conductivity is an important consideration in the comfort of
occupants.
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PATTERN

Material patterning must be designed at two scales: the individual

elements themselves, such as bricks or glass panes, and the composition
of these elements into larger assemblies. For example, at the individual
element scale the inherent patterning of wood grain or stone marbling
must be considered. The creation of larger patterns occurs when the
material is assembled into building facades. See Figures 7 and 8.
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D. TECHNIQUE
The methods of material fabrication and assembly are
a complex aspect of the construction process.
Technique includes the fabrication process, the
detailing of how materials and systems are joined and
erected, and the craft employed to execute the work.
FABRICATION
Fabrication refers to how a material was created,
processed, and assembled. Fabrication techniques
range from handcrafted to mass produced to
prefabricated. Materials carry traces of their making
and assembly that can be used to create surface
modulation and richness. See Figure 9.
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DETAIL
Construction details determine how individual
material elements or systems are joined. Common
methods of joinery include various types of
mechanical fastening (nails, bolts, rivets...),
Welding, adhering, and so on. Construction details
should relate to the overall architectural
intentions of a building. Attention to detail is
evident in a well-resolved and finely executed
building, such as the elegant assemblage of wood
and concrete systems in Figure 10.
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CRAFT
The quality of design and construction
workmanship is crucial to the success
longevity
and of a project. The employment of well-
trained and experienced tradespeople is
best
the way to assure a high level of
craft. See figure 11.
building
WEATHERING
The passing of time has an immense impact on
the appearance and lifespan of building
materials. Thus, future weathering must be
carefully considered during material
building detailing, and construction. See figure
selection,
12.