Experience Area B Flashcards
Generate a design concept that can be realised as a building in response to the design brief, user requirements, the physical location and the wider urban or rural context.
How was this achieved with Teal?
The design brief was based on a previous concept by another architect which set the bulk and location frame work for the project.
A sanity check was completed on the previous concept which showed the design was sound.
Key things to consider where orientation with regard solar and views. Provide limited to no south facing units for instance.
Interactions with surrounding neighbours - was the project in the correct scale - (yes for RC we completed bulk drawings showing the outline of the existing building vs the outline of Teal apartments - this demonstrate the building did not overly increase in height from what was existing).
Initial bulk did not have a lot of articulation, but this was developed later.
The design concept and its development demonstrates the exercise of critical choice, aesthetic judgement, creative imagination and demonstrates a clear and coherent design approach.
How was this achieved with Teal?
There is a collation of inspiration that happens across many weeks/months or years.
In a lot of ways architectural design can feel a lot more accessible through social media like instagram and pinterest. But how you curate your collections is very important because things can become quickly become homogenous through the way the algorithm works. This ongoing collection of inspiration through various media is important for how your design practice develops over time. - It’s hard to exercise critical choice if your not thinking critically about design in general day to day practice.
In Teal I was inspired by two or three things about the location which really led the bulk development. Firstly the Orakei Boat Sheds and secondly the water glinting off the basin and how both of these create a similar type of rhythm.
Sometimes to prove that you have the correct concept you have to work backwards through others.
The design concept and its development demonstrates an understanding of architectural history and building traditions and an understanding of relevant social, cultural and environmental issues including issues of sustainability?
How is this achieved with Teal - architectural history?
Teal is part of an intensification process that happens in many cities around the world where there is a need to provide more housing and reduce urban sprawl which is brought about through planning changes first and foremost.
The existing building on the sites was a 1950’s house that had been somewhat haphazardly extended over time to one side of the duplex, with the other side left pretty much in it’s original condition. Similar processes had happened to much of the existing housing stock in the area.
When your project is part of the changing urban fabric it’s important that you are designing for what is still there and what will be there in the future. Pushing too far to quickly can create fractures in the neighbourhood.
The design concept and its development demonstrates an understanding of architectural history and building traditions and an understanding of relevant social, cultural and environmental issues including issues of sustainability?
How is this achieved with Teal - Environmental Sustainability?
When you’re thinking about environmental sustainability there are a number of considerations to this:
- building design
- building orientation
- material selection
With building design, having an efficient structural grid makes a huge difference to the weight of materials required in the building. I recently attended a gib webinar on this and the embodied energy that is inherent in steel and concrete can have a huge impact in the energy/waste created to build the project. Teal we worked in depth the engineers to the get the structure as light weight as possible. The only vertical bracing elements in the building are the two lift cores.
Building orientation talks to your operating costs to heat or cool the building. Teal faces West which experiences a large amount of solar gain - because of this specialised glazing was specified to help reduce the solar loads. We initially had external shutters that were valued engineered out of the project at a very early stage.
Material selection - maintenance, where is it coming from, what are the cradle to grave implications, robustness etc. Teal - chosen products that do require cleaning, but don’t require regular staining or repainting.
The design concept and its development demonstrates an understanding of architectural history and building traditions and an understanding of relevant social, cultural and environmental issues including issues of sustainability?
How is this achieved with Teal - Cultural sustainability?
Mana Whenua were engaged with with most not providing a response, or deferring to Ngati Whatua Orakei. The Ngati Whatau Orakei Trust had initial comments with regards to wanting a Cultural Values Assessment completed. This was later retracted after a site visit. Recommendations from Ngati Whatua included an Accidental Discovery Protocol was adopted in the event of unearthing koiwi (human remains) or taonga (treasure) during excavation. These were not found.
The design concept and its development demonstrates compliance with the law, relevant codes, regulations and industry standards for development, design, construction and services.
How was this achieved with Teal?
What should be achieved at each stage is outlined in the CIC guidelines as well as in the contract.
For Teal the things that were focussed on was achieving compliance with various building codes at an early stage - ie: will stairs comply with egress requirements in D1 or C- Fire? Making sure correct materials were selected for the corrosion zone. Are we meeting internal environment requirements? Around Preliminary design the structural engineer had been engaged to complete a concept structural design on the project and services engineers had been approached.
These decisions did not have a large effect on the design approach as the concept was not pushing the boundaries in apartment design, although it was pushing the planning zone envelope.
The development of the design concept demonstrates knowledge of the ethical basis, laws and statutes that regulate the practice of architecture.
How was this achieved with Teal?
During concept design this would fall under Code of Minimum standards - 58 competence, 58b Client Communication, and because another practice had previously been involved 54 Malicious Criticism. Also 52 Conflicts of interest. These apply to all projects, except 54 Malicious Criticism.
With regards to laws and statutes this is covered above and in case study around making sure you are designing something that can be built to the building code and will achieve appropriate warranties.
An appropriate cost control and reporting process is established and followed.
How was this achieved with Teal?
Working in an Architectural practice, I am not qualified to provide cost advice/ QS-ing past very broad generalisation. Ie: an Architect should have an understanding of construction methodologies and material selections that add cost to a project, but they should always recommend that a client engages with a suitably qualified professional to assess the cost of their designs.
In Teal, the cost control team were kept very separate from the design team - we never had a meeting QS which is unusual. Initial cost estimates were completed at preliminary design and then done again at developed design where we had the first round of VE. There was a final costing completed when we issued for Tender/Building Consent as a sanity check against what Aspec had priced. Note the way the contract was negotiated was more akin to an open book contract than anything else.
This was not managed by the client in a clear manner through their communication processes which meant we completed redundant work, which we were paid for in effect 3 times.
The development of the design concept demonstrates knowledge of the ethical basis, laws and statutes that regulate the practice of architecture.
How was this achieved with Teal - safety in design?
Safety in Design worksheets are completed at preliminary design phase, and then updated at developed design and detailed design. This are a requirement under the Health and Safety at Work Act 2015. As the architectural practice is a PCBU who designs plants, substances or structures.
This was provided to the client and the contractor as part of the practices obligation to consult, co-operate and co-ordinate.
Health and Safety - when is a PCBU a ‘designer’?
PN 1.219
When a practice (persons conducting a business or undertaking) designs plant or structures that is to be used or could reasonably be expected to be used as a workplace.
As PCBU’s what are practices obligations?
PN 1.219
1) they will have a duty to ensure, so far as is reasonably practicable, that any designs of plant or structures are without risks to the health and safety of those at a workplace who use the structure for which it was designed and any visitors to the workplace.
2) cannot contract out of this duty
3) must consult, co-operate and co-ordinate with other PCBUs and designer owing overlapping duties
4) must also carry out any analysis and testing necessary to ensure the design will be without risk to health and safety
5) must provide relevant information about the plant or structure to each person who is provided with the design and current relevant information to persons who request it.
Which phase does the Health and Safety at Work Act 2015 apply to for designers of plants and structures?
(PN 1.219)
The duties owed by a designed under the Act extend beyond the design phase throughout the life-cycle of the design. Designers need to consider the health and safety of those people who construct, maintain, clean, repair and eventually demolish the structure.
As it will be difficult for one designer to predict who another PCBU will elect to construct or demolish a building common sense applies. The obligation under the Act is that a designer must, so far as is reasonably practicable, ensure that the structure is designed to be without risks to the health and safety of persons carrying out a reasonably foreseeable activity.
what are the four steps outlined by Safe Work Australia with regards to a risk management approach?
(PN 1.219)
1) Identify Hazards
2) assess risks if necessary - nature of the harm that could be caused by hazard, how serious is this harm? and likelihood of it occurring?
3) design control measures - implement, eliminate or minimise
4) review the control measure to ensure they are working as planned.
What are the penalties in the HSWA 2015?
Reckless conduct in respect of duty that exposes an individual to a risk of serious injury/illness or death.
Failure to comply with a duty that exposes an individual to a risk of serious injury/illness or death.
Failure to comply with a duty.
1) Individual who is not a PCBU - max $300K or 5 years in prison or 5 years in prison or both.
2) Officer of PCBU or individual who is a PCBU - max $600k or 5 years in prison or both.
3) anyone else (organisation that is a PCBU) $3Million fine.
The design concept and its development demonstrates compliance with the law, relevant codes, regulations and industry standards for development, design, construction and services.
Auckland Urban Design Panel
The Auckland Urban Design Panel (AUDP) plays a key role in improving the quality of the built environment across the Auckland region.
The role of the panel is to:
- provide independent urban design advice to promote good design and a quality environment
- provide pre-application advice to developers and council representatives on private and public developments
- provide urban design advice to us on large or controversial council-initiated projects
- provide advice to us on any proposed policy and statutory tools that have an urban design impact.
- The panel is an independent advisory body and does not have statutory decision-making powers.
Planning applications and/or proposals include recommendations from the panel in an urban design report. The delegated council officers or the planning commissioners appointed will consider the application.
The applicant can decide whether they would like the panel review outcome released to the public or held in confidence
