NG JER VAIN
BUILDING MATERIALS
This module intends to inform the student of the relevant visual and physical properties of a wide range of building materials. It also encompass the broad environmental debate by including energy saving and recycled materials. For each material the module describes the manufacturing process, salient properties and typical uses of these materials, with the aim of ensuring their appropriate application within the awareness of the suitability of the physical and chemical properties as well as its ecological impact. Students will undergo a series of continuous assessments such as project and tests to ascertain the objective and outcome of the module is achieved.
PROJECT 1: Classification of Building Materials
Building materials are any type of materials that are used for construction purposes. This project is designed as an introduction to building materials that are commonly used in the construction industry. In this project, we are divided into groups of three. We are required to choose our choice of architects and our buildings that utilize the listed materials.
Objectives :
The exercise aims in helping the students to explore and understand the materials in terms of its characters, properties and impacts it give to building designs and its environment. The task of this project is to select an architect and their building that utilizes several types of building materials, namely stones, concrete, brick and glass. The students are required to analyze the materials that are used by the Architect for the building that is chosen and produce a presentation board that explains the characters of the building materials and how these materials relate with the surrounding context.
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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.
The assignment was in two parts, individual and group. For group, we have to 2 A2 boards identifying the materials and dicuss their application, as well as one mood board with photos taken in the building. As for individual work, each of us have to pick a space in the building and do an experimental analysis on the sense of the materiality in that particular space.
Objectives :
1. To introduce various types of building materials which are being used in the construction practices.
2. To create an understanding of the choices designers make in choosing the building materials based on the properties.
3. To further understand the physical and chemical properties of the building materials being used in existing buildings/ spaces.
4. To expose students to standard construction names and terminologies for materials in a building/ space.
Reflection:
From the first project, I have learnt to differentiate the materials used for the building and their properties as well as the pros and cons of using them as one of the material. This was also our first group project, communication between group members are important in order to complete the task on time. As for the second project, I have understood the role of each material and how they can affect the atmosphere of the space. We went site visiting and tried our best to analyse the materials used based on what we have learnt in the lectures.
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