Shalinn Tan Jiawen 

Semester 3

Building Construction II

[BLD60803]

Project 1:

Skeletal Construction “A Shelter For One”

In Architecture, architects not only design but also need to know the foundations of construction system. We first need knowledge in Skeletal Constuction. In this project, we formed a group of 6 members and were required to build a shelter for one.

 

The aim was so that we will know how to apply construction system in design. First of all, we have to recognize the implication of construction systems in design by analysing the issues of strength, stiffness and stability of structures including modes of structural systems, forces, stress and strain and laws of static.

 

This project was rather challenging as we had to construct a shelter for one by hand in the dimension of 150 x 75 x 75 cm, while abiding to the requirements of demonstrating the knowledge of skeletal frames and its joints, while elevating the structure by at least 5 inches from the ground. Besides that, the shelter should be light and portable, resistant to outdoor weather, and have an easy access in and out from the shelter. Therefore the shelter cannot be overly designed.

 

Throughout this project, I had a lot of fun learning basic carpentry work as our structure is made of timber. Our idea was also to have a transformable and workable roof that allows for movement so as to optimise the limited dimensions of the shelter. I was able to recognise the complications beforehand and to solve them before we go too far into the construction. In the end, this project taught me a lot about skeletal construction.

 

Project 2:

Understanding Forces in Building Construction

In Project 2, we had to analyse a precedent studies, the Mannheim Multihalle, and try to recreate the gridshell lattice as closely and detailed as possible. The objective was to create an understanding of building components used and its assembly, to demonstrate good drawing skills in building details and how it reacts under loading and force and to be able to manipulate the selection of materials used and ensure its buildability. 

 

This was an extremely tough one as we had to build a model so realistic to the real model and me and my group mate stayed up for 4 nights to complete the model itself. We painstakingly pinned Dressmaker pins into each laths to represent the pin joints of the gridshell lattice. Many injuries resulted. 

 

However, at the end of this project, we learnt almost wholly, the accurate construction of a gridshell lattice. We were able to identify the basic structural systems in construction, differentiate in terms of loads and forces acting on structural elements, recognize and apply the implications of construction system in design and analyse the issues of strength, stiffness and stability of structures including modes of structural systems, forces, stress and strain and laws of static.