fall 2005
ARC 335:
Construction V. Architectural Detailing and Materials
Purpose
As a conclusion to the construction class series, this course's main objective is to crystallize all the accumulated knowledge through architectural detailing. You will also learn how a Construction Set of drawings and Specifications is produced and how to do product research. Construction details will be approached as a critical component of the holistic process that constitutes the design of any building, rather than as isolated problems.
All students in this class must have completed all other construction classes (Construction I through IV) and Sound Building Studio.
Text Books
The text books for the class are The New American House II. Innovations in Residential Design and Construction, 30 Case Studies, by Oscar Riera Ojeda and The Professional Practice of Architectural Detailing, by Osamu Wakita and Richard Linde. The first book offers a superb survey of recent residential work by leading architects in the United States, with a wide range of house settings and design solutions. The special emphasis on construction methods, details and material selections, makes this book specially suited for this class. In addition to excellent photographs and the typical presentation drawings, the editors included numerous drawings produced by the architects, from conceptual sketches to construction documents. The second book is a very complete reference book that covers all aspects of Architectural Detailing. It will serve as a perfect companion when developing details throughout the semester.
Class Structure
- Tuesdays
Tuesdays will be devoted to lectures pertaining to specific materials and detailing problems, such as wood, concrete, masonry, foundations, windows, roofing, cabinets, curtain walls, etc. The goal of this presentations is to offer numerous examples of drawings and built work, showing how architects have resolved design / detailing problems similar to the ones you will be facing during the semester. The detail is the last phase of the design process, prior to construction, and we will see how good detailing and material selection are a critical part of every successful project.
As a complement to the lectures there are several construction site visits planned. Site visits are extremely beneficial tools to learn about construction and you are expected to attend all of them. After each site visit you will write a one-page field report, describing what you have seen, focusing on what has interested you the most. See enclosed calendar for lectures and site visits.
- Thursdays
Thursdays will be devoted to review your assignments. We will do it at Goldsmith Hall Main review Room. Please bring pins to be able to pin-up your work.
- First Assignment: "My Window"
Draw a free hand section through the window of your room at 1 1/2"=1'-0". See hand out.
- Second Assignment. Construction Set.
This is an on-going assignment and constitutes the core of the class. The assignment will last 9 weeks and will be reviewed on Thursdays. The class will be divided in teams. Each team will select one house from the book The New American House 2, and will develop during the semester what will amount to a small set of construction documents, including foundation plan, structural/framing plans, wall sections, roof details, window details, stair details, etc. The type of details may vary from house to house. The logistics of the groups will be defined during the first day of class.
You are expected to bring your drawings every Thursday. You will pin them up on the wall and they will be reviewed. Everybody in the class is expected to participate in all the reviews.
- Third Assignment. Studio Work
You will select an area (stair, facade system, trellis, etc.) of one of your studio projects that you will like to develop. You will produce, individually, details of that area. This exercise will last three weeks.
Materials Lab
Located in the West Mall Building, the Materials Lab is a great resource for this class. It is open from 9am to 6pm every day and it contains a superb collection of materials samples and manufacturer literature. You can also use its website (web.austin.utexas.edu/matlab/) to find links to vendors and manufacturers.
Attendance
Regular attendance is essential. Students with three unexcused absences during the entire term, or two consecutive unexcused absences, may be dropped from the course without further notice. The minimum penalty for three absences is a full grade letter drop in final grade. Arriving late to class repeatedly will also be penalized.
The University of Texas at Austin provides upon request appropriate academic accommodations for qualified students with disabilities. For more information contact the Office of the Dean of Students at 471 6259.
Grading
The individual components of this course have the following value:
- First Assignment: 3%
- Second Assignment: 60%
- Third Assignment: 15%
- Field Reports and Class Participation: 17%
Each assignment will be graded by the following breakdown:
- Quality and Integrity of Pursuit: 1/3
- Quality and Integrity of Product: 1/3
- Quality and Integrity of Grasp: 1/3
Office Hours
By appointment. My office is located at GOL. 4.116, my telephone is 471 0182 and my e-mail address is jmiro@mail.utexas.edu.
Bibliography
Allen, Edward. Architectural Detailing. (John Wiley & Sons, Inc. 1993.)
Allen, Edward. Fundamentals of Building Construction Materials and Methods.
Architecture Graphic Standards
Ballast, David K. Architect's Handbook of Construction Detailing. (BNI Publications, 2000)
Ford, Edward R. The Details of Modern Architecture. Third printing (MIT Press, 1990).
Frampton, Kenneth. Studies in Tectonic Culture. (MIT Press, 1996)
Wakita & Linde. The Professional Practice of Architectural Working Drawings
Weston, Richard. Materials, Form and Architecture