Sustainable Design Policies and Regulations
Sustainable design, as the most eye-opening subject I've encountered thus far, has begun to become my number one focus when designing buildings, particularly for my studio projects. I've had the opportunity to go on a few site visits, focusing on sustainable buildings with gold to platinum green building index (GBI) ratings. Knowing this gave me hope for humanity's future, as there are attempts on to save our world through a new age of building. Aside from that, the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals were mentioned several times in this module. This has also made me more aware of the United Nations' attempts to save the planet through numerous goals that encompass not only architecture but also social and economic aspects.
Sustainability report
Individually, we were required to research a building from any architect of our choice. Then, we are required to dissect that building based on its building materials and method of build. I have chosen Casa Mila, La Pedrera from Anthony Gaudi. This is because I admire Gaudi's organic-like structures and his creative use of materials to make his imagination a reality. Casa Mila is a building that looks unconventional but beautiful and elegant at first glance.
SDG Infographic poster
In this group project, my groupmates and I were asked to convert a concrete two-story corner lot into a wood structure, which meant we had to replace the method of construction with tomber. We were required to create a sectional model of the house as well as construction plans. We were able to complete 14 pages of construction drawings, including descriptions of how each component was made. The designs featured all elevations of the building, including orthographics, as well as comprehensive drawings of the staircase, which was heavily emphasised by our lecturer and tutor, as well as door and window details.
Sketching Analysis
This project required us to conduct a research analysis process on selected architectural historical building sites using sketching practices, a literature review, and documentation, and then present appropriate sketching, chronology, and diagram analysis based on the knowledge gained during the analysis procedure. It was a lot of fun to go to each location and explore both the exterior and interior.
Tutorial Exercises
Every week, we had tutorial exercises following each lecture. It kept us on our toes and ensured that we paid attention during each lesson. The exercises mostly involved sketching and labelling ancient structures. In addition, in order to complete the activities, we had to conduct additional research on each era. This was a fun way to encourage students to do their own research.
Reflection
Lifelong
learning
