Archive for category Architecture
HSR Stations design guide | Architectural Design
Posted by BenzuJK in Architecture, Design Guide on February 22, 2012
Design of High Speed Rail Stations
India has a huge railway network. The length and spread of railway networks is amazingly vast. India ranks first in the length of railway network in Asia and second largest in the world.
Development of High Speed rail Networks is catching up a lot of speed in Europe. USA government is taking initiatives in order to develop HSR stations and enhance their public transport system.
HSR Station design by Santiago Calatrava
United States of America is now realizing the importance of the nature of railroads and the power and speed of trains. It was seen that the number of road accidents had considerably increased. It was found that the increase in the number of road accidents was directly proportional to the decreased use of railways.
Indian Railway Ministry has ambitious plans for the development of railways for the year 2020.
Being able to design Railway Station keeping in mind today’s needs is very important. This article is dedicated to the basics of design of High Speed Rail Station. This will give the readers an insight on the design of HSR/Metro Stations.
Let us first understand the importance and function of a Station.
Stations are places where passengers check in and check out of the train. Station is the first point of contact between the passengers and the railway. It is to be understood that stations should be well designed, comfortable, aesthetically appealing, functionally efficient (efficient layout and planning of station will ensure efficient circulation).
My entire purpose for writing an article on the Design of HSR Stations is to help you understand all the design considerations that are to be importantly incorporated.
We would be discussing the design considerations for the important station areas so that designing could get handy.
Important Station Areas:
- Crossing safety of passengers on the station
- Design of Platforms
- Design of Platforms doors and screens
- Design of Station entrances and Exits
- Direction of the opening of doors
- Design of Train describers or Passengers Information Display
- Design of Toilets for the station
- Design of concessions
Energy Efficiency | Sustainability
Posted by BenzuJK in Architecture, Sustainable Design on January 31, 2012
Sustainability and Design | Energy Efficient design techniques
In one of our earlier articles, we made a questionnaire on “Energy efficient Techniques”. In this article, we will discuss the answers to each of those questions.
Energy Efficiency Questionnaire
Achieving Energy Efficiency through Urban Planning
Hong Kong | Urban Planning Setup
What is Energy Efficiency? Define Energy Efficient Architecture.
Energy Efficiency implies on using less energy to required for various products and services without compromising on the need of the usage.
“Energy efficiency” and “energy conservation” are not similar.
Let us study with the help of examples:
Examples of Energy Efficiency
When the walls and roofs are insulated, the use of air conditioners and heating systems is reduced while still keeping the indoor environment comfortable.
When a refrigerator or washing machine is replaced by the same appliance that require lesser amount of energy to carry out the same function is called “energy efficiency”.
Examples of Energy Conservation
When a tube light is switched off during day time, it can be termed as energy conservation.
For what purpose is the significant amount of energy used in homes?
Energy is mainly used for cooling and heating purposes. Air conditioners and heating systems require extensive amount of energy for its functioning.
Hence, designers must design the house in such a way that the use of air conditioners and heating systems can be minimized without compromising on the comfort.
What is to be done in order to avoid the extensive use of air conditioners for cooling?
The orientation of the house/any building should be taken into consideration. Climatological aspects of the place have to be studied before designing the structure.
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Questionnaire on Energy Efficient Techniques | Sustainable Construction
Posted by BenzuJK in Architecture, Sustainable Design on January 28, 2012
Discussion on “How to achieve Energy Efficiency?” | Sustainabity and Design
- What can be done to prevent the use of extensive amount of energy for production of these materials?
The above questions will be answered in our succeeding articles… Do voice your opinions through the comment section.
Development of Architecture | Bases of Evolution
Posted by BenzuJK in Architecture on January 11, 2012
Development of Architecture
On the Concept of Life:::
Love and Hope always exist in life and are an indispensible part of life. Death is the ultimate stage of life.
The study has showed that the development of architecture took place on the basis of Life, Love, Hope and death. This might sound a little philosophical but that is how architecture has been born and developed.
Life
Sounds interesting…! Let us open up our imagination and give it a thought. How did architecture actually develop? What was the primary reason for its development?
All of us have read History books in school where we learnt about the stone age man and his gradual evolution to becoming an intelligent creature.
In earlier times, man lived in jungles with the wild beasts. He knew that he had to protect himself from the harsh changing weather and the wild animals around him since he wanted to survive and live safely.
Initially man started looking for ready made dwellings (nature made).
Ggantija Temples | Neolithic Age --- Some of the world's oldest free standing structures
For example: Rock cut caves, dolmen etc.
Early man did not have a permanent shelter. He kept wandering from place to place for food. Wherever, the rock cut caves were not an option, he started using reeds for building huts and saplings for making tents sheathed on bark.
Gradually, the ancient cave man started advancing by trying different building materials for the construction of homes.
And today, all of us are aware of the amazing constructions happening around the world. Various mansions, palaces, skyscrapers, various types of buildings. The advancement in technology has changed the scenario of architecture.
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Manufacture of Interlocking Concrete Pavers | Building Materials
Posted by BenzuJK in Architecture on December 16, 2011
How are interlocking pavers made?
Earlier, we discussed the “History of the evolution of Interlocking pavers”. Now we will move on with the discussion how interlocking pavers are manufactured and what materials are used in it. We will also be studying the tests that are carried out to check the strength of a concrete paver.
Materials for the manufacture of Interlocking Pavers
Interlocking Pavers are made from namely four ingredients:
- Dry mix of gravel
- Cement
- Sand
- Desired color for aesthetic purpose
The ingredients are mixed together by adding very little water to it. The mixture is then moved on conveyor belts and then funnelled into the pavers mold. Pressure is applied to the mixture in the mold and the mold is vibrated. Pressure and vibrations cause the water to set which helps in binding the aggregates together. Further, the mold is removes and perfectly finished pavers are obtained.
Pavers are supposed to have zero slump. Having zero slump proves that the concrete is strong. After the concrete pavers are manufactured, they are sent to the laboratory to undergo slump test.
How is Slump test conducted?
8” tall cone is taken. Concrete is poured into the cone. The cone is turned upside down and removed. The amount the concrete slumps from the original 8” is measured.
For example: If it measures 7”, it is said to have 1” slump.
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Interlocking Concrete Pavers | Landscape Architecture
Posted by BenzuJK in Architecture, Landscape on December 15, 2011
Interlocking Concrete Pavers
Interlocking concrete Pavers are also called Segmental Pavers. This special type of of pavers have emerged in the United States over the last few decades.
Earlier, brick, clay or concrete was used for paving. These conventional materials used for paving have been replaced by the Interlocking pavers.
If we are to study history, we will see that Segmental pavers have been used since Roman times for thousands of years ago. Romans used Segmental pavers to build roads.
In the mid 1940s, pavers began to be produced out of concrete. The use of interlocking pavers happened for a reason.
Holland lies below sea level because of which the ground in Holland shifts, moves and sinks. This made it clear to the designers that they needed the roads to be made flexible which would help in preventing the cracking of roads.
Interlocking Pavers Driveway
In this case, if poured concrete was to be used, its rigid nature would not be able to take the movement of the ground and would result in cracking of the roads.
It was also noticed that the concrete pavers when laid in sand performed much better than the concrete pavers laid in concrete.
Since the evolution of concrete pavers took place in Holland, they were called as Holland Stones.
The size of the concrete pavers was 4”x8” and was shaped just like a brick.
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Landscape Architecture
Posted by BenzuJK in Architecture, Landscape on October 30, 2011
If we design a building aesthetically good and also decorate it beautifully from inside, yet if its surrounding outside area is rubbish, then the beauty of the building will be considered reduced. As such the building must have a beautiful surrounding. This is achieved by landscape development.
Landscaping is an art of planning the drives, walks, lawns, shrubs, gardens, flower-beds etc. so as to form a beautiful setting for a building. The main purpose of landscaping is to create a joyful environment round the building and give the occupants a healthy breath, good appearance and natural beauty.
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