Preface ix
Part 1 Analysis 1
1 The Framework for Understanding 3
Process and knowledge 3
The initial suggestion 4
Carrying out the evaluation 4
Physical and social context 5
The basis of analysis 6
Knowledge needed for choice 7
Summary 8
2 Building Purpose and Performance 9
Activities, space and construction 9
Introduction to performance requirements 9
Environmental impact and sustainability 17
Summary 17
3 Common Forms – Specific Solutions 18
General and constructed forms 18
The emergence of general building forms 18
Uncertainty and risk 22
Summary 23
4 Construction Variables 24
The variables of construction – the outcome of choice 24
Choosing materials 25
Choosing shape 27
Choosing size 27
Spatial relationships 32
Joints and fixings 32
Summary 35
5 Defining Conditions 37
Physical and social conditions 37
Activity and construction-modifying environments 38
The dynamics of the system 38
Choice of interior elements of the building 42
Inside the construction itself 42
Summary 43
6 The Resource Base 44
Introduction 44
Materials – the primary resource 44
Knowledge and skill – the human resource 45
Production equipment – the technological resource 46
Money – the enabling resource 47
Summary 48
7 Design Concept 49
Linking design to construction choice –flows and transfers 49
Concept design – broad options 50
Physical performance and appearance –commodity, firmness and delight 50
Function of the whole, function of the parts 51
Summary 52
8 Appearance 53
Visualising attributes and response 53
Space and context 53
Physical space for the construction 55
The approach to analysis 56
Summary 56
9 Analysis of Physical Behaviour 57
Visualising conditions and response 57
Function and performance – a technical aim 57
Preventing failure – a technical objective 57
The role of observation and science in the analysis 58
The approach to analysis 59
Summary 59
10 Physical Behaviour Creating Environments 60
Aspects of environment 60
The building as a system 60
The dry environment 65
The warm environment 72
The light environment 78
The acoustic environment 82
The clean environment 86
The safe environment 88
The private environment 96
Summary 97
11 Physical Behaviour Under Load 98
Forces, external and internal 98
Basic structural members 100
Curving (and folding) structural members 104
Structural connections 105
Grid members – pin-jointed frames 107
Building structures – wind stability 108
Stress–strain and the choice of material 110
Structural analysis and design 111
Movements and structural behaviour 112
Stresses in the ground 112
The major structural forms 114
Summary 117
12 Physical Behaviour Over Time 119
Reliability: renewal, maintenance, repair and disposal 119
Basis of analysis 120
Soiling and cleaning 120
Durability of materials 121
Movements in components 124
Ground movement, settlement and subsidence 127
Movement and detailing 128
Wear of components 129
Summary 129
13 Manufacture and Assembly 130
Realisation of performance 130
Visualising stages and sequence 130
Analysis of operations, methods and resources 133
Materials and labour 135
Production equipment 136
Production options 141
Knowledge and expertise for the analysis of the process 148
Summary 149
14 Cost 150
Cost and value 150
Cost and price 151
Cost and time frames 151
Cost and cost data 152
Summary 154
15 Sustainability – Social Concern 155
Two major forces 155
Sustainability 156
Established influences and new concerns 156
Responding to the sustainability agenda 158
Buildings as systems 161
Renewable energy sources 168
Water and waste 170
Materials choice and detailing 172
Planning and design concepts 173
Emerging technologies 173
Summary 174
Part 2 Choice – House Construction 177
16 Applying the Framework to Housing 179
The need for an integrated approach 179
The basis of the case study 180
Summary 182
17 Floors 183
Upper floors 183
General forms for upper floors 183
Timber-joisted upper floors 184
Ground floors 191
Suspended ground floors 192
Ground-supported slab floors 195
Services and other elements 197
Site influences on choice of ground floors 197
Production operations for ground floors 198
The final choice 199
Summary 199
18 Roofs 201
Pitch and span 201
Other functions 201
Pitched roofs 202
Flat roofs 218
Summary 219
19 Walls 221
Wall types by function 221
General forms 221
Walls in the case study 224
Masonry cavity external walls 224
Openings in the external wall 233
Doors and windows – the components in the openings 236
The panel frame option 238
Party (separating) walls 241
Partition walls 242
Summary 243
20 Foundations 244
Basic function 244
Site investigation 246
Foundation design 247
The strip foundation 247
Foundations for poor surface conditions 250
Economics of foundations 254
Basements 254
Summary 254
21 Services 256
Introduction 256
Analysis of services systems 257
Hot and cold water 257
Heating systems 263
Drainage 267
Electrical systems 273
Summary 279
Part 3 Choice – Commercial Construction 281
22 Applying the Framework to Commercial Buildings 283
The story so far 283
The way forward 285
The technological mix 287
Summary 289
23 Common Forms and Emerging Technologies 290
Introduction 290
UK commercial building through the twentieth century 291
Summary 298
24 Interface Design 299
Introduction 299
The enclosure–services interface 300
The enclosure–structure interface 302
The structure–services interface 305
Summary 306
25 Structural Skeletal Frames 307
Materials development and structural options 307
Reinforced concrete – performance 315
In situ reinforced concrete frames –production 317
Precast concrete frames – production 329
Structural steel – performance 330
Structural steel – fabrication and construction 333
Structure choice and overall design 337
Summary 338
26 Roof Structures 340
Introduction 340
Variety of structural form 341
Broad options 342
Construction details 348
Summary 352
27 Loadbearing Structural Walls 353
Broad options 353
Multi-storey construction 354
Single-storey industrial construction 359
Summary 363
28 Structure Below Ground 364
Introduction 364
Foundation design 364
Foundation types 366
Soil improvement 372
Basements 373
Large area industrial concrete ground floors 380
Summary 384
29 External Enclosure to Structural Frames 385
Introduction 385
External walls 385
Cavity brickwork 390
Cladding panels 392
Curtain walling 396
Facing materials 397
Lightweight cladding 403
Structural glazing 404
Roof construction 406
Summary 411
30 Internal Enclosure 412
Performance 412
Applied finishes 413
Component systems 414
Summary 421
31 Services – Scope and Space 422
Introduction 422
Scope 422
Space 424
Environmental services 424
Public health services 429
Power supply 432
Security 433
Operational services 435
The need for coordination 436
Production sequence and contract time 437
Cost of services systems 438
Summary 438
32 Guide to Further Reading 440
What this book provides 440
Sources of information – authority, validity and relevance 440
Finding information 443
Using information – corroboration, confirmation and risk 444
Summary 444
Index 445
