OBJ 4.1

Question 1

Porte-cochère

Answer 1

A building entry at a covered portion of a driveway to drop off passengers.

Question 2

Area of refuge

Answer 2

A location in a building designed to hold occupants during a fire or other emergency, when evacuation may not be safe or possible. Occupants can wait there until rescued or relieved by firefighters.

Question 3

Differential settlement

Answer 3

Differential settlement or uneven settlement is when different parts of a structure settle due to uneven soil conditions. The Tower of Pisa is an example of differential settlement.

Question 4

Defensible space theory

Answer 4

Architect and city planner Oscar Newman first wrote about defensible space theory in his book, written in the 1970s, in which he describes how building and site layouts can allow inhabitants increased security. Newman’s five basic principles of defensible space are as follows:

1. Territoriality – The idea that one’s home is sacred.
2. Natural surveillance – The link between an area’s physical characteristics and the residents’ ability to see what is happening.
3. Image – The capacity of the physical design to impart a sense of security.
4. Milieu – Other features that may affect security, such as proximity to a police substation or busy commercial area.
5. Safe adjoining areas – For better security, residents have greater surveillance of adjoining areas through design.

Question 5

What are the main soil types, and which are the best for bearing capacity?

Answer 5

Bedrock = 10,000 PSF
Gravel/sand = 3,000 to 12,000 PSF
Compacted sand/fill = 2,000 to 3,000 PSF
Silt/clay = 1,000 to 4,000 PSF

Question 6

What are the main differences in typical building strategies between building in a temperate environment and in a humid environment?

Answer 6

Temperate climate: stretches from east to west with long elevation facing south, shading on the south side for shade in the summer and sun in the winter, deciduous trees on south elevation, and evergreen trees on north elevation.Hot/humid climate: breezeways to promote airflow, elevated off ground to promote ventilation, and open/two-piece roof system to allow warm air to escape.

Question 7

If you were designing a building in a hot, arid climate, what types of strategies might you try to implement?

Answer 7

Thick walls to promote solar mass, smaller windows on the outside, courtyards, a smaller and more compact footprint (similar strategies to those employed in traditional Southwest adobe pueblos).

Question 8

Ejector pit

Answer 8

Ejector pits and pumps are often found in basements where the plumbing is located below the elevation of the municipal sewer main. Greywater from basement floor drains and laundry areas, or wastewater from a basement bathroom, is piped to an ejector pit, where it is pumped out to a sewer or septic tank.

Question 9

Sump pump

Answer 9

Sump pumps are located in pits below the floor in basements, where they are designed to collect water from perimeter foundation drainage systems or water that has accumulated in a basement. Sump pumps send water to the municipal storm sewer or a dry well.

Question 10

Dry well

Answer 10

An underground structure that is designed to take away water from surface runoff or sump pumps and hold it while it percolates back to the groundwater.

Question 11

Jetty

Answer 11

An upper story of a building projecting beyond the story below. Also called a jutty.

Question 12

Tuned mass damper

Answer 12

Huge masses mounted in skyscrapers that are designed to reduce oscillations.

Question 13

Natural period of a building

Answer 13

All buildings have a natural vibration, or period, that is defined as the number of seconds it takes the building to naturally sway back and forth.

Question 14

Diaphragm

Answer 14

The horizontal floor or roof structure that distributes lateral forces.

Question 15

Deflection

Answer 15

Displacement of a beam or slab from its original location when loaded.

Question 16

Relationship of building materials to overall building size and shape

Answer 16

When laying out a building, a designer must think of the materials that will be used to construct the building in order to reduce waste and minimize labor. For example, gypsum board is sold in sheets that are 4 feet by 8 feet. Studs are laid out 16 inches or 24 inches o.c. Therefore, designing buildings in increments of 2 or 4 feet helps realize efficiencies. Another example is laying out a building with “masonry dimensions” to lessen the number of masonry units that will need to be cut in order to build it.

Question 17

Designing door and passageway sizes

Answer 17

Equipment sizes must be considered in order to be able to get equipment in and out of buildings. Boilers, water heaters, and other mechanical equipment are examples.

Question 18

Wayfinding

Answer 18

Includes both signs and spatial cues.

Question 19

Size of a two-car garage

Answer 19

20′ x 20′ to 25′ x 25′.

Question 20

Ergonomics

Answer 20

The science of designing and adapting working environments to the worker.

Question 21

Carpet comes in what size rolls?

Answer 21

Twelve to fifteen feet. Useful in planning room sizes in residential units that will receive carpeting.

Question 22

Compartment bath

Answer 22

A bath with a subdivision and door that divides two or more areas.

Question 23

Jack and Jill bath

Answer 23

A double entry bath for use by occupants of two different bedrooms.

Question 24

Lanai

Answer 24

A type of roofed, open-sided porch or patio originating from Hawaii.

Question 25

Breezeway

Answer 25

A roofed outdoor passage, such as between a house and garage.

Question 26

Distance between work surfaces in a one-cook and two-cook kitchen.

Answer 26

One cook: 42 inches.
Two cooks: 48 inches.
A U-shaped kitchen should have 60 inches between work surfaces.

Question 27

Width to plan for each seated diner

Answer 27

Twenty-four inches.

Question 28

What is a landing area in residential kitchen design?

Answer 28

Landing space is defined as countertop frontage adjacent to a sink or appliance. Space should be provided on either side of sinks, ovens, microwaves, ranges, and at least one side of the fridge in a kitchen to provide space for cooking activities.