Building materials

Project 1: Solid vs Void - 'Shaping Light & Space'

Building materials is any material which is used for a constuction purpose. This project is designed as an introduction to building materials that are commonly used in the local construction industry. Students are required to construct their choice of shapes using the listed materials to explore and understand building making in relation to the materials, design considerationof material according to their properties and to finally understand how to intrinsic forms,limitations and boundaries of a material factor in a design process.

Objectives & Learning Outcomes

The task of this project is to design and build any basic shape of your choice in an imaginary volume of 12''x12''x12'' space using solid and transparent materials.

Upon completion if this assignment, students will be able to:

Recognize how instrinsic forms,limitations and boundaries of a material become factors in design process.
Effectively work with a material in line with design requirements.
Be able to express a material within its contectual application.

Project 2 :

“Materiality of SPACE - An Experiential Exploration”

Building material is just about every type of available material that has been used at one time or another for creating various human homes, structures, and technologies. Many naturally occurring substances, such as clay, sand, wood, rocks and etc. have been used to construct buildings. Apart from naturally occurring materials, many man-made products in various compositions are actively used in construction. This assignment is designed to introduce building materials that are commonly used in the construction industry. The spaces or building selected to study will allow one to understand the reasoning behind choices made by designers in terms of concepts, function use, environmental response, environmental profile, structural requirement, availability of resources and etc. when selecting or proposing building materials. It is also essential for students to see the transition from vernacular point of perspective to the current application in built environment.

Objectives & Learning Outcomes

The objectives of this assignment are as follows:

To introduce various types of building materials which are being used in the construction practices.
To create an understanding of the choices designers make in choosing the building materials based on the properties.
To further understand the physical and chemical properties of the building materials being used in existing buildings/ spaces.
To expose students to standard construction names and terminologies for materials in a building/ space.

Upon completion of this assignment, students will be able to:

Produce a complete documentation and analysis of materials in respect to physical and chemical properties.
Identify the various types of building materials (finishes and structural).
Understand the effects of building materials on aesthetics and structural qualities of a space or building.
Understand the appropriateness of material used in context of several factors such as occupancy, concept and climate.
Acquire analytical skill in understanding selection of building materials for a building/ design.
Understand the application/ installation of material as finishes and structural materials (simple construction).

Thinking and problem solving skills

Lifelong learning

DIscipline specific knowledge

Citizenship and global pespectives