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I'll even design the chains myself

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I went the whole road Anisa.

You wanna talk about follow through?

I've "wanted to do architecture" since I was 11 years old. It was an interest at the time, just like writing stories and drawing and singing and dancing and acting all were. Truly, that never changed. However I became hardened in an attempt to meet the demands of the world. Be solid and stable and choose something and complete it and make loads of monaaay! And get better! and bigger! and GROW! and make MORE MONEY!!!

So I chose. I knew I didn't want to dedicate my life to one profession and shimmy along this linear route that was plastered in my head as the guaranteed road to ~success~ but I had no other template. I also didn't have an inclination to go off the beaten path and up until then had lived my life rickety with fear. The requirement to make definitive and directive decisions has only increased with time. This combo was a recipe for stagnation.

But girl, I want to see the world.

I want to explore the earth and marvel at architecture and daydream about the history of cultures that built what I'm looking at. I want to learn from the sacred archives kept that tell their story. The technologies used and what purpose their functions serve.

The dream of money was only ever a bargain for safety. I want my family to be safe. I want us to not ever have to worry about meeting our basic and needs. I want us to be free to attract, create and build what we want for ourselves.

I don't need us to be rich. I need us to be at peace. My family is my home, and I am my best when my home is at peace.

I want to be rich in knowledge, wisdom and experience. I want my relationships to be rich and fruitful. I want my self expression to take form, be perceived and send waves of correlation through the human spirit.

What does that look like on a CV? Maybe a cascading list of jobs lasting a duration of 3-6 months? My heart beat darting around my brain and body are found in the peaks and valleys of my patterns. Work, sleep, play, focus, create, relax, socialise, wonder. I'm never settled. My lines are always in conflict with the stencil. (remove the effing stencil)

The pressure builds and on Thursday afternoon you might find me in the toilets at work crying out the suppression of my dreams, not sure if I'm a work in progress destined for greatness or a slow burning flop.

Not sure of anything really.

Not even sure if this company I molded my life to will survive the winter. Spoiler alert, it didn't. But I did. I have done for the past 25 years, and how many more winters will I spend waiting on myself?

Northpoint - Sharp and clear, sick tattoo

Blue, Yellow Gradient - Sharp and stark especially on CAD lines, unconventional fill and unsurprisingly a pretty accident

Birdseye 3D - Shadow, colourful, site plan lines overlaid on 3D clean but abstract and telling two different stories harmoniously

Things that snag me at work, before I ctrl+z, rotate or zoom out and scroll away.

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AAAGHHHH

I'M BACK I'M BACK I THOUGHT IT WAS GONE FOREVERRRR

THIS IS THE OG!!!

May God's grace replenish this well and unblock this river fr

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https://publicaccess.southlanarkshire.gov.uk/online-applications/files/653C9859CF4FCAE4F0CB48723ED89292/pdf/EK_14_0261-Design___Access_Statement-3805491.pdf

South Lan Roof Plan

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South Lankarshire Sustainability

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https://www.eco-home-essentials.co.uk/passive-stack-ventilation.html

Stack Ventilation

Warm air rises + External air movement = negative pressure AKA suction.

Cool air sucked in through trickle vents

Passive

Extract vents encourage a flow of air into and out of the building so that more air is drawn into the building via trickle vents and openings

*Find the D&A statement for South Lankashire Building

look at roof plan

Intelligent PSV system for academic building to mediate over ventilation

humidity sensing vents that expand and contract depending on conditions

needs to be a clear route from ground floor to roof for extract vents

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Sustainability:

Active

Micro CHP unit

Photovoltaics

rainwater harvesting

LED lighting.

All areas except the lecture theatre are naturally ventilated with opening windows.

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Green Strategy:

Issue with cold bridging pathways, air tightness, same issue with Senate extention

employed thermographic survey to minimise heat loss

Materials:

CorTen steel, /rusts into colour lol

Concrete frame, five-storey cantilever

Exposed concrete walls and ceilings, night purge ventilation to regulate internal temperatures// Reduces diurnal temperature fluctuations

Susutainability:

Dynamic thermal and energy modelling carried out at the beginning of the project (IES software)

Optimises daylighting and minimising thermal gains.

Determines U values, glazing properties and air permeability

Insulated thermal envelope minimises heating and cooling loads.

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D1 Summary of technologies adopted

- Classrooms in the N & N/E //Glare

- Solar Gain in corridor spaces S & E elevs

-Thermal Chimneys S elev // more air movement in corridor (as External temperatures get warmer)

*What is the correlation?

-Stack Vents pulls air from classrooms

-Materials provided by suppliers with ISO 14001 or better environmental management process.

-Daylight and movement sensors.

-BMS

-Photovoltaic panels

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WORKING DRAWINGS:

Working drawings are a series of detailed drawings to be submitted with a planning application and for visual communication with parties involved with the development process such as the client and engineers etc. These should include floorplans, sections, elevations which can all traditionally be produced on the software AutoCAD. Many things are to be considered when producing drawings.

o   An OS site plan can be downloaded from digimaps onto AutoCAD  and edited to create a clear representation of the site that will be developed on.

o   Model Space: while paperspace indicates how your drawing will export in print view and allows you to correct your scale and adjust the necessary elements for each page, model space is your infinite construction playground, allowing you to create floorplans using the various tools such as line, polyline, squares, circle etc. useful tools include the trim tool with which you can clean up unwanted lines to make for a seamless  product. Mirroring is useful for symettrical design and shortcut. 

o   construction lines: these are used to provide a consistency in measurements, and insuring linear elements remain as such, useful guidelines for producing multiple drawings on the same page for things like first angle projection. 

o  Pen types, linewights are essential for giving depth and definition to a drawing by using  different sizes for different things structural elements should typically be thicker  internal objects thinner, aid the percpective of elevations with thicker lines for closer lines

o  Titleblock: should be created inclusive of priorities such as revisions, date, logo, company name, adding vital reference information to the drawing.    

o   Paper sizes: The best paper sizes to use for working drawings are A3 and A1 as this includes all the necessary detailing and is clear and easy to read.

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Planning Process

Before beginning site development, it is required to submit a planning application However, it is possible to undergo works without this, under permitted development rights. The “outline planning application” which is typically followed by a “reserved matters application” is a preliminary submission regarding proposed plans for the site. The process involves a meeting with local authorities to discuss permission for planning. Ultimately, this can save time and money by allowing plans and designs to be appropriately altered based on the informed review. Alternatively, there is the option of the “detailed planning application” which is an all-in-one planning submission for an entire proposal. There are no stages or intervention of local authorities.

 There are several matters to clarify within the outline planning application. For example the current and proposed uses of site, as well as the specific amounts of floor space used within the building. The layout of the site should also be indicated, including the relevant information about surrounding buildings such as uses, boundaries and heights. Another core aspect to highlight are the vehicular and pedestrian access points, vital factors for circulation, safety, accessibility and transportation. A design and access statement is also required, although only for buildings larger than 1000 sqm. For the outline application, details may be brief, to be expanded later on in the process.

 In short, the design and access statement is a detailed account of the planners’ considerations of qualities such as design principles, concept and context relevant to its surroundings as well as local planning policies. The reserved matters application needs to  be submitted within three years of the outline otherwise the latter expires. This should include all necessary revisions taking into account the conditions highlighted in the previous process.  

While the detailed application takes into account the same qualities as the outlined application it also requires further depth into the matter of listed buildings, proposed structural alterations and demolition and notably, factors affecting planning.

https://www.planningportal.co.uk/applications 

https://www.designingbuildings.co.uk/wiki/Detailed_planning_application 

https://www.mylawyer.co.uk/factors-affecting-planning-permission-a-A76052D76394/ 

https://www.planningportal.co.uk/info/200126/applications/60/consent_types/6 

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Site Constraints

Site constraints are a core detail within development as it essentially dictates the direction of development. There are several factors to consider:

 Flood Zones

Due to obvious risks, proposing development in a flood zone requires adequate proof that this will not enhance future problems with flooding by affecting the local water table. Buildings may disrupt the water table as they affect the absorbing level of the ground, leading to issues such as overflow and increased surface runoff. Planners are required to prove methods of flood prevention and resilience.

 Site Access

The consideration of site access is important for both the preconstruction and post construction phases. Safe and accessible site circulation is vital for both vehicles and pedestrians with clearly highlighted entry and exit points. Site access should be designed in such a way that avoids the creation of or addition to traffic, and should be able to be smoothly navigated.

 Soil types

 The type of soil on a site determines the kind of foundation to be used, in terms of both materials and types. With softer soils like clay, deeply driven piling is necessary to ensure stability (at least 1m below ground). Wide strip foundation could also be used, in order to distribute the load. If a site is sloped it would require a step foundation, again to promote stability and prevent building movement.

    Party Wall Issues

When development of a building affects adjoining neighbours via shared boundary, neighbours must be notified under the Party Wall Act, clarifying what work will be done as well as the possible impacts andaffectations,under the pary wall act notifying them on the work that will be done. The boundary should be clearly determined for the owner, minimising interference and possible conflict.

 Environmental and climate constraints

To compromise the environmental degradation that construction causes, green design is an increasingly important factor to be considered and implemented in development. Operation of machinery, material extraction, transportation and waste of materials all deepen this impact. For this reason, consideration of energy consumption and carbon footprints are important not only for the development and construction phase but also for the operation of the building. Developers are increasingly following the guidance of BREEAM to monitor energy efficiency and environmental footprint.

  Legal Constraints            

Planning permission and building regulations are the core of legal constraints in development.  

o   Listed buildings are legally protected and require permission for development

o   Conservation areas are another form of protected land and can be a greensite or an area of scientific interest. Local planning authority is responsible of taking care of matters concerning these areas.

o   Planning permission is required for the demolition of any building.

o   Tree preservation orders protect the destruction of certain trees. It is illegal to remove or damage a tree with this order, however applications can be made to change this.

o   Approved Documents clarify, support and give direction for complying building regulations.

Refs

http://constructionblog.practicallaw.com/introduction-to-party-wall-issues/

https://www.designingbuildings.co.uk/wiki/Constraints_on_construction_projects#Environmental_constraints

https://www.homebuilding.co.uk/foundation-systems-and-soil-types/ https://www.gov.uk/government/collections/approved-documents

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RIBA Plan of Works

RIBA:

1.        The Royal Institute of British Architecture is council of professional architects who operate globally to support the advancement of architecture most notably through the plan of works. This is a published schedule of priorities used to direct the process of creating a building from beginning to end.

 o   Client Brief: The beginning of the design process stems from what the client wants. Here the core purpose and priorities for the project are established. Depending on factors like project scale or budget, a client brief can range from a series of vague unpolished ideas with ample room for designer interpretation to solid, defined requirements for the designer to follow.

Our project was Midsummer Meadows; the development of a multiuse building on an active greenfield site in Northampton. This larger scale project held a few core requirements, and was very open to freedom of interpretation.

o   Inception: After clarifying the client brief, planning for the project is initiated. The inception phase approaches the prospect of cost, stakeholders, the timeline and lifespan of the project and a refined vision of what is to be accomplished.

Due to the openness of this project we were not necessarily confined to issues of budget, and the timeline had been decided so the design brief I curated upon inception centred mostly on the priorities I developed and interpreted on the client brief.  

 o   Feasibility: Deals with how realistic the brief expectations and requirements will be to implement. This aspect requires the consideration of functionality and design to determine how the building would work in practice. Ultimately, this stage clarifies the extent to which the client’s brief can be met and potentially what aspects would have to be compromised.

This is where we begin to stumble upon constraints and mitigation strategies. Site investigation subsequently inspired my feasibility study as it challenged my initial ideas in context. For example the consideration of neighbouring buildings in my design, making sure it’s not too overbearing and doesn’t disrupt the spatial free flow of the public park. In a professional context feasibility is a lot less broad, a factor which also stems from the openness of the brief.

 o   Concept Design: Is the embodiment of how vision and priority come into play. Objectively this includes the proposal of internal and external layouts, structural design and circulation within and around the building, always reviewing cost and strategy. Taking into account the preliminary considerations, this is also the stage where creativity and grand design envelop the project. Basically, the fun part.

My concept design for midsummer meadows played with relationships of shape, space, circulation and the integration of these with the environment.

 o   Technical Design: The root of the buildings functionality lies in the technical design. Specifically this requires detailing of building services, systems and all technological considerations as well as the prospect of long-term maintenance and operation. This is key as it provides communication with other important players such as engineers and contractors, through detailed drawings and material/ product specifications.

An example of my design specification for a product intended for use in my project.

o   Risk Assessment: An intricate review of the potential dangers faced during on site during construction and risks that the building itself may impose. Usually this comes in the form of a checklist or spreadsheet, highlighting as many possible dangers as one can pinpoint.  

 o   Construction Design and Management Regulations (2015) (CDM): An implementation of requirements to adhere to by those working in construction. These rules consider the risks and dangers incurred by this environment, and work to legally ensure health and safety is being actively considered. http://www.hse.gov.uk/construction/cdm/2015/index.htm

  o   Health and Safety at Work Act (1974) (HASAWA): On similar grounds to CDM regulations the Health and Safety act is targeted predominantly at employers in this field to ensure they are applying all measures  to protect workers in this environment. As a result of this building codes highlight the necessity of certain measures to be taken operating onsite. These are promoted with unmissable signs around construction sites.

 https://worksmart.org.uk/health-advice/health-and-safety/employer-duties/what-health-and-safety-work-act

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A Lady I know took me to an Architecture Exhibition at Westminster University and The Bartlett, and I was so Intrigued by all of the work! This is only a small section of them (a mixture of Graduate, Post-grad and Under-grad work) but some of them were quite inspiring.  You can really see the amount of concentration and dedication it takes to study this. 

Full credits to all of the Creators! I couldn't get all of the names down but I wish I had.

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holzer kobler complete the reflective palaon research center

opening this july, the ‘palaon research and experience center by zurich and berlin-based practice holzer kobler architekturen embodies a site where 300,000 year-old spears -the oldest man-made hunting weapons found to date- were found in shoningen, germany. the faceted structure features a reflective skin marked by the various cuts and seams that delineate the facade panels and mirror the hilly landscape. the experience of the exhibition is no doubt at the heart of the structure. the three-story foyer serves as a routing point for views and circulation, offering glimpses of the research facilities and exhibition spaces on the first floor and the distant coal mines. visiting the restaurant, shops, and educational areas leads one on a sequential journey through the layered building until reaching the top floors where current excavations and research can be witnessed in the laboratories integrated into the exhibition- turning the building into a real-time experience.

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