SCHOOL OF ARCHITECTURE, BUILDING & DESIGN

Centre for Modern Architecture Studies in Southeast Asia (MASSA)

Bachelor of Science (Honours) (Architecture)

BUILDING MATERIALS (ARC 1512)

Project 1
Marks
Duration
Submission Date

: Solid vs Void Shaping Light & Space

: 30% (Individual)
: 4 weeks
: 5 October 2015 (Monday 2pm)

Introduction
Building material is any material which is used for a construction purpose. This project is designed as an introduction
to building materials that are commonly used in the local construction industry. Students are required to construct
their choice of shapes using the listed materials to explore and understand building making in relation to the
materials, design considerations of material according to their properties and to finally understand how to intrinsic
forms, limitations and boundaries of a material factor in a design process.
Objectives of Project
The task of this project is to design and build any basic shape of your choice in an imaginary volume of 12X12X12
space using solid and transparent materials.

Learning Outcomes of this Project

Upon completion of this assignment, students will be able to:
1. Recognize how intrinsic forms, limitations and boundaries of a material become factors in design process.
2. Effectively work with a material in line with design requirements.
3. Be able to express a material within its contextual application.
Tasks - Methodology
Students are required to design and build any basic shape of their choice within a volume of 300mm X 300mm X
300mm and on a 30mm base:
Shapes (Choose ONE)

Materials (Combination of THREE materials)

Select THREE of the following materials:
Hard plastic sheet
Glass
Perspex
Cardboard
Box
Any type of tiles
Wire mesh
Aluminium sheet
Balsa wood
Plywood
**Note:
At least ONE transparent/ translucent material.
You are encouraged to use recycle materials.

The model may use fastening system (glue, nails, screw, rope etc.) at the students discretion.
The function of the model is to define a volume within a 300mm X 300mm X 300mm imaginary space by having at
least two (2) sides of the object extended to its imaginary boundary. The object does not have to engulf into the
volume entirely.
Issues to consider are:

Module of material and waste

How to work with a material
How to turn a corner
How to join materials
How to express a material
How to intrinsic forms, limitations and boundaries of a material in a design process

Reviews
There will be a review for the model (mock-up) and the working analytic A2 board before submission of Project 1,
containing:

Plan 1:2.5
Section 1:2.5
Elevation 1:2.5
Draft Storyline (80 words)

Date : 21 September 2015 (Week 5) - PROJECT REVIEW

2

Submission Requirement
1. Final 1:1 scale model exquisitely fabricated and an A2 analytic board containing:

Plan 1:2.5
Section 1:2.5
Elevation 1:2.5
Storyline (80 words)

Plan, section and elevation are to be manually drawn according to the scale given.
2. A CD marked with the project and student name and ID containing a .pdf of the boards and 3 High res.
cleaned up photos of the final cube and one photo of the process cube(s)
Assessment criteria
Quality of work shall be assessed on the following criteria:

Craft & Workmanship

Modularity
Adherence to dimensions
Design and Ingenuity
Model
A2 Board

20%
20%
20%
25%
15%

(Total 100% will be converted to 30%)

Suggested References
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7.

Lyons, Arthurs, Materials for Architect and Builders, 2nd Edition, Butterworth Heinemann 2004.
Neveille, AM Properties of Concrete, Addition Wesley, Longman, 1995.
Everett, Alan, Materials, 5th Edition, Longman Scientific & Technical, 1994.
Robbin, Tony. 1996. Engineering A New Architecture. Yale University Press.
Mohamed Abdul Kader Ismail.et.al 2008. Introduction to Civil Engineering Materials. McGraw-Hill
Jackson, Neil 1996. Civil Engineering Materials, 5th Edition, Palgrave.
Illston, J.M(ed). (2001). Construction materials :their nature & behaviour (3rd ed). London. Spon Press