Environmental & Contextual Conditions Flashcards
What is the definition of Architectural Programming?
Refers to an important early part of the design process, where you identify and organize the architectural, functional, aesthetic, operational and budgetary needs of your client. This information is then used to guide decision making.
Name the five phases that are performed during programming:
- Gathering Data
- Establishing Goals
- Mapping Function
- Setting Priorities
- Researching Requirements
What are four items that should be considered during programming?
- Building Function
- Building Form
- Project Budget
- Project Schedule
Describe the programming process
- Discuss the goals of the project with the owner
- Organize all projects specific information
- Determine building hierarchy of spaces
- Determine priorities of the owner
- Develop problem that must be solved through building design
If done correctly, Programming should
- Clarify the Owner’s intentions.
- Set a mutually agreed upon direction
for the design. - Reduce change orders during
construction. - Minimize disputes between Owner and
Architect - Establish a basis for resolving
differences of opinion. - Minimize redundancy from wasted
spaces or poor relationships.
What is an aquifer?
An aquifer is a layer of water flowing underground, sometimes referred to as an
underground stream.
The presence of an aquifer could supply fresh water to the building, or limit the
depth of the foundations.
What is Soil Load
Bearing Capacity?
Bearing capacity refers to the maximum amount of pressure a foundation soil can bear without harmful settlement.
Name 4 soil types and
their capacities.
- Bedrock: 10,000 psf (pounds per square foot)
- Well graded gravel or sand: 3,000 – 12,000 psf
- Compacted sand or fill: 2,000 – 3,000 psf
- Silt or Clay: 1,000 – 4,000 psf
What is a ground water
table?
The layer below the surface soil when it is saturated soil. Sometimes this water table
is 2 feet below the surface, sometimes it is 200 feet below.
The depth of the water table will determine the type of foundation you can use, if you will need expensive waterproofing, or if a
basement would even be possible.
Soil types are classified
based on:
The sizes of the particles of the soil.
Name the soil types.
Gravel: well drained and able to bear loads (+2 mm)
Sand: well drained and can serve as foundation when graded (0.5 - 2 mm)
Silt: stable when dry, swells when frozen, do not use when wet (.002 - .05 mm)
Clay: must be removed, too stiff when dry and too plastic when wet (< .002 mm)
Which soil type is considered the best to build on?
Bedrock and Gravel
What is a percolation
test and when would it
be used?
A Percolation Test is used to evaluate the rate at which soil will absorb water on a site.
This test is necessary for septic draining or leach fields.
What is a proctor test?
A Proctor Test is used to calculate the maximum density that is required for the soil on a project site.
This test evaluates the native soils in both dry and wet conditions to determine the potential negative qualities of the soil.
It is performed by dropping a hammer on a sample of soil several times and then dried for a period of time.
Name the four different
levels of soil.
Level A - Topsoil, essential for growth of plants and takes a long time to develop.
Level B - Minerals, lies below the plants roots and supports life.
Level C - Weathered and fractured rock with little biological activity.
Level D - Solid bedrock.
Can soil bearing
capacity be increased?
If so, how?
Soils can increase bearing capacity by: fill, compaction, or surcharging.
Define compaction and
surcharging.
Compaction - compressing soils to release air trapped between the grains. Creates
higher bearing capacity.
Surcharging - adding soils to a site in order to increase the weight on the soils and aid in compaction. Lengthy process could take
6-12 months.
Why is the location of the frost line important?
The frost line indicates the level where soil freezes.
The top of footings should be at or below the frost line, which avoids damage to the
foundation de to moisture changes throughout the year.
Describe the angle of repose.
The Angle of Repose describes how soils form mounds when loose.
Sand and gravel are stiff soils and will have steeper angles of repose as compared to soft silts and clays.
What should you do if you discover large quantities of organic soils on a site?
This soil will likely need to be removed and replaced with an appropriate fill material.
Otherwise, foundation piles would need to extend through to solid bedrock or bearing soils.
Define safe bearing capacity.
The Safe Bearing Capacity is the ultimate bearing capacity of the soil divided by a safety factor of 2 to 4 times.
This ensures the site will not endure the full ultimate bearing capacity and helps to avoid structural failure.
Define Ecology.
Ecology is the science of the relationship between an organism or community and its environment.
The community comprises of all the living plants and animals occupying a given area.
What are 6 strategies to reduce energy use?
- Install solar panels
- Increase the amount of insulation in the walls
- Use insulated windows
- Orient building to sun to control heat gain
- Install light colored roof
- Use efficient light bulbs
What are 5 strategies to
reduce water use?
- Use drip irrigation system for landscaping
- Use low-flow or waterless toilets
- Use native species and drought tolerant plants
- Collect graywater from showers and laundry and reuse to water yard or flush toilets
- Collect rainwater for reuse
Describe how to determine the grade or slope of a site.
g = V/H(100) g = the grade of slope V = the rise or vertical distance H = the run or horizontal distance Multiply by 100 to convert into a percentage.
Name 4 general rules of
thumb for site grading
and what they are best
used for.
Less than 4% slope is considered flat and
suitable for all activities.
4% - 10% is moderate and requires some effort to climb or descend.
10% - 50% is steep and suitable only for limited activity.
50%+ is considered very steep and is subject to soil erosion or collapse.
What is the maximum
slope allowed for an
accessible ramp?
Handicapped ramp slopes must be a 1:12 slope (1’ rise for every 12’ run).
1/12 (100) = 8.3% slope
45 degrees translates to
what percentage of
slope?
100% slope as rise over run is 1 to 1 or 1/1
Why is solar orientation
important when laying
out a site design?
The more perpendicular the sun’s rays are to the site, the greater the amount of solar
radiation received.
It is important to note the amount of solar radiation received in order to design a
building that maintains a consistent internal temperature.
What factors of sun radiation should be taken into consideration when designing a site?
Time of Day - how much sun in received on site in the morning compared to the afternoon.
Azimuth - the angle between the sun and the horizon. Summer sun has a larger azimuth than Winter sun.
Duration of Sun Exposure - sites in the Northern Hemisphere have more hours of sunlight in the summer than in the winter.
Slope of Site - ground slope affects the amount of solar energy the site receives.
Describe the five basic fundamentals of physics that take advantage of solar siting that affect internal building comfort.
Hot air rises - Placing vents or windows in the correct location can help create cooling breezes.
High summer sun - Well positioned overhangs can shade the home and keep it cooler in the summer.
Low winter sun - The sunlight passes under any overhangs to reach into the home and keep it warm.
Thermal mass - Heavy mass materials (such as concrete, stone, brick or even water) store heat and cold. When the temperature changes, these materials release the stored temperature back into the air.
Insulation - A well insulated building is required in order to hold in the interior temperature and keep out the outside one.
How does the level of the water table on the site affect the design of the foundation?
If the water table is located less than 6’ below the surface, this is considered high and will limit foundation design.
A mat slab or pile foundation may be necessary in order to evenly distribute the loads of the building on site.
What conditions could occur if a high water table is found in a cold climate?
High water tables in cold climates are especially problematic since water expands as it freezes.
The wrong type of foundation could crack
or settle if the water table freezes and pushes it upward.
Define indigenous materials.
Most sites contain materials and resources that could potentially be used in the building.
Such locally found materials are called indigenous materials and don’t require transportation or import.
What considerations
should be given for exterior building materials?
Materials used on the exterior of a building must withstand the elements.
Durable materials should be selected to extend the useful life of the materials.
The local conditions should help determine the appropriate materials.
What is R-Value?
Insulation is measured in R-Value. The higher the R-Value, the more insulation
value the material has.
Since materials like wood and siding have a small R-value, we typically add high Rvalue insulating material into the walls.
The thicker the walls, the more insulation it can hold, and therefore the more R-value the wall has.
How does R-Value differ from U-Value?
The insulating value of windows is measured in U-value, which is actually just
1/R-value.
Since it is the inverse of R-value, the lower the U-value, the more insulation value it has.
Describe thermal mass and its importance to building design.
The ability of a material to store temperature is referred to as thermal mass.
If insulation is how a material is able to hold in temperature, thermal mass is the ability of a material to absorb and store
temperature.
Since these materials take a long time to heat up and cool down, we can use high
thermal mass materials to help keep the building a consistent and regular
temperature.
Define Microclimate.
A Microclimate refers to the specific local conditions of the site.
It’s affected by the vegetation, elevation, slope, water, wind, solar exposure and any man-made structures.
What climatic considerations should be evaluated during site design?
Temperature - comfort zone ranges between 63-71 degrees in winter and 66-75 degrees in the summer.
Humidity - comfort zone ranges between 30-60% relative humidity.
Solar Radiation - lack of natural lighting in winter can cause depression.
Air Movement - breezes promote evaporation thus maintaining consistent humidity levels.
Air Pollution - natural weather patterns can magnify the effects of man-made pollution.
Define Macroclimate.
A Macroclimate refers to the general climate of the overall region
What are four site conditions that can affect the microclimate of a site?
Site Latitude - areas closer to the Equator are warmer than those further away.
Site Elevation - the height above sea level affects,
rain and snow fall as well as temperature.
Prevailing Winds - depending on the location,
winds on a site can impact air temperature.
Proximity to Water - bodies of water provide
humidity and can help maintain site temperature.
Proximity to Mountains - mountains direct
prevailing winds to rise, which cools them and
forms clouds.
Topography - steep sloping sites can increase wind
velocity thus decreasing site temperature.
Describe the four different climatic zones found in the US.
- Cool Zone - areas of the Northern states.
- Temperate Zone - areas of the West Coast.
- Arid Zone - areas of Midwestern and desert states.
- Tropical Zone - areas of Southern states, particularly near the Gulf.
What is the difference
between a macroclimate and a microclimate?
A Macroclimate refers to the climate of a region, like a county or area like Southern California.
A Microclimate refers to the climate on a particular site.
Microclimate is affected by bodies of water present on the site, ground slope (mountains often have more wind than flat
areas) and solar radiation (north facing sites have less sun than south facing in the
Northern Hemisphere).
What site elements can be studied to determine the effect of the microclimate on the site?
- Location of plants and bodies of water.
- Amount and location of sun exposure.
- Prevailing wind patterns.
- Ground surface coverage.
Define Albedo.
Albedo is a measure of the reflectivity of a material.
Snow has a high albedo (blinding light) while grass has a low albedo.
Define Conductivity.
Conductivity refers to a material’s ability to absorb light.
Describe albedo and
conductivity in relation
to site elements.
Albedo: the radiant energy that is reflected by a surface where 0 is a flat black surface that absorbs heat and 1 is a mirror.
Conductivity: the rate at which heat passes through a material. Metals have high conductivity, and soils/sand have a low one.
What is the best way to
provide internal comfort in a building during a hot, summer day?
Use large overhangs to shade the house from the southern and western sun for most of the day. Inside, use a thick concrete wall to absorb heat.
How is a space heated at night during the winter if it contains thick concrete walls and floors and has large windows facing South?
The low winter sun warms the south side of the house all day. A stone or concrete floor stores up the heat. Hot air is allowed to build up by the ceiling.
Stored heat in the floor and walls is released during the night, to keep the house comfortable.
How does proper
building siting affect
the views for a project?
Buildings can also be sited to create an axis to draw your eyes toward the view and enclose the outdoor space.
Undesirable views can be avoided by locating service or utility spaces to face or block them.
What are the three
primary reasons for
landscape design?
- Recreation
- Circulation
- Comfort
How does “smart
landscaping” help act
as a natural heat buffer
on a site?
Trees can help screen and direct winds on the site.
Trees and vegetation absorb sunlight and add humidity to the air.
Planted areas are cooler during hot summer days.
Name 5 ways you can
mitigate disturbance to
local flora and fauna
when designing a site.
Designate no disturbance zones.
Re-plant disturbed areas to other parts of the site.
Minimize disturbance to natural site water supplies.
Minimize night site lighting to not disturb fauna.
Maintain wildlife use corridors throughout the site.
Name four ways
programming information can be gathered.
In-person interviews with the Owner or their staff
Visiting similar types of facilities
Direct observation of your Client
Research of case studies of similar projects
List some of the best ways to research unfamiliar projects?
Researching case studies Visiting existing projects Paying for research (Dodge Reports, for example) Hiring special cost estimating consultants
What specific information are you looking for in aerial
photos of a proposed site?
Visual characteristics
Vegetation character
Potential problem areas during construction: silt, erosion, etc.
In regards to the topography of a proposed site why is the quality and
absorption of soil of concern?
Drainage
Which site opportunity will be most impactful when considering septic system capacity?
Geo Technical
In site assessment what
are two considerations
specific to fire protection?
Local Fire Services
Fire risk of area
List three potential consequences of overlooking environmental
regulations.
Disruption from construction
Increased project cost
Scheduling delays
Describe two best case
scenarios regarding rain
drainage on site.
Falls onto the site and run downhill around
the building
A building shape that doesn’t allow runoff
to be directed back against the building.
Name the three major
geo technical
considerations.
- Runoff
- Ground Water Table
- Aquifer
Name two things that
soil type effects.
Foundation
Flow of water into the ground
