Building Materials

Project 1: Solid vs Void- Shaping Light & Space

Building material is any material which is used for a construction 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 considerations of material according to their properties and to finally understand how to intrinsic forms, limitations and boundaries of a material factor in a design process.

Students are required to design and build any basic shape of their choice within a volume of 12”X12”X12” on a 1” base:

Shapes (Choose ONE):

Sphere
Cylinder
Cuboid
Cone
Hexagonal prism
Triangular prism
Square-based pyramid
Triangular-based pyramid
Cube

Materials (Combination of THREE materials)

Select THREE of the following materials: 

Hard plastic sheet 
Glass 
Perspex 
Cardboard 
Box 
Any type of tiles 
Wire mesh 
Aluminium sheet 
Balsa wood 
Plywood

**Note: At least ONE transparent/ translucent material. You may use recycle materials.

The model may use fastening system (glue, nails, screw, rope etc.) at the students’ discretion. The function of the model is to define a volume within a 12”X12”X12” imaginary space. It does not need to fill or entirely engulf the volume simply define it.

Issues to consider are:

Module of material and waste 
How to work with a material 
How to turn a corner 
How to join materials 
How to express a material 
How to intrinsic forms, limitations and boundaries of a material in a design process

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Project 2: Materiality of Space- An Experimental 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.

In groups of 5, select a commercial/ residential building (a fun, creative space) which allows you to experience and explore most of the building materials covered in the module. You are required to produce:

(A) TASK A : GROUP (two A2 boards, landscape. Mood board is separate on its own).

1. Brief Introduction of the selected building & reason for selecting the space

2. Mood Board - Your mood board should include color, pattern, photographs, sketches and informative design elements to reflect the materials used and ambience of the space of your choice (without using any words or description)

3. Identification of Materials - Draw out plans, sections and elevations to indicate the materials - Explain briefly the type of materials that are used in a specific area/ space

4. Application of Materials - The physical and chemical properties of these materials - Explain the suitability of material used in context to concept, occupancy and climate. - Explain and illustrate the findings in detail in terms of suitability of materials type, application, aesthetics, maintenance etc.

(B) TASK B : INDIVIDUAL (One A2 board, landscape)

1. The Sense of Materiality (Experimential analysis of the Material & Space)

Design Intention & Concept : How that has influenced selection of materials?
Space Analysis : Experience within the space. How the material selection and its application within the space affect users’ experience? (Scale, proportion, installation)
Include diagrams to support your analysis (Sketches, photographs etc.)

Anchor 5

Anchor 6

Reflection

In contrast, building materials thought me more about the importance of building materials aand its application on buildings. This made me more aware of its functions and uses, and its significance in a building