Architecture Commons^™

Environmental Sustainability: A Definition For Environmental Professionals, John Morelli

Journal of Environmental Sustainability

While acknowledging the need for “sustainability,” this paper summarizes the problems that have been encountered in our understanding and use of this concept. It explores the efforts of others to define the concept within the context of specific disciplinary areas and sets forth a proposal for a basic understanding of the term “environmental sustainability” as an expansion of our common perception of the nature of human activity so as to more clearly connect it with the ecological concept of interdependence and to serve as a goal for environmental managers.

The Psychological Impact Of Architectural Design, Natalie Ricci

CMC Senior Theses

The interplay between architectural design and human psychology is significant, yet it remains largely unnoticed or even ignored both in and outside the design industry. Moreover, the relationship between design and psychology is not only consequential, it is bidirectional. On the one hand, successful design has been shown to have clear psychological and physiological impacts; on the other, psychology, human experience, and the function of our neurological systems all play a significant role in what we perceive to be successful design. This thesis endeavors to create an understanding of how that complex relationship evolved and how it works in today ...

Preparing Interim Payment Valuations For Construction Works - Worked Examples And Solutions, Tony Cunningham

Other Resources

The effective administration of the payment clause of a building contract is one of the most important tasks that the contract administrator and consultant quantity surveyor perform during the contract period. This study examines the principles and procedures for calculating interim payments in accordance with the terms of the Royal Institute of the Architects of Ireland (RIAI) ‘Yellow’ and ‘Blue’ Forms of Contract (2017) and the Public Works Contract Form - PW-CF1 (version 2.2 09/01/2017). These contract forms have recently been amended to take account of the Construction Contracts Act. The valuation principles and procedures are summarised and ...

The Riai Standard Form Of Contract 2017 Version:An Overview, Tony Cunningham

Other Resources

The RIAI ‘Yellow’ and ‘Blue’ Forms of Contracts have been recently amended and published as the 2017 edition. This paper supersedes an earlier paper of the same title and reviews and synopsises the provisions of the 2017 RIAI ‘Yellow’ Form of Contract and identifies the principle changes that have been made to the superseded 2012 edition.

Measuring Building Substructures: Solutions To ‘First Year’ Introductory Level Examination Questions, Tony Cunningham

Other Resources

The measurement of substructure works to simple domestic type buildings is a logical starting point for students to commence the process of taking-off building quantities. Substructure work is typically the first class of work to be explained in textbooks dealing with both construction technology and building measurement. However, substructure work is often one of the most challenging elements to measure. In this paper, the author demonstrates the process of measuring basic substructure designs. The approach involves providing solutions to a sample of four Irish Department of Education Technological Certificate: Builders’ Quantities Intermediate Stage examinations. The intention is to demonstrate how ...

An Introduction To Taking Off Building Quantities:An Irish Approach, Tony Cunningham

Other Resources

The purpose of measuring building work is to establish the correct amount of work to be executed. Calculating well presented accurate quantities in a clear manner while adopting a logical approach will help to reduce errors and will save time if the measurements need to be referred to at a later date. This paper describes and demonstrates an approach to hand-written taking off procedure informed by the techniques adopted by Irish consulting quantity surveying practices. The paper also discusses the ‘direct billing’ system used inIrelandand contrasts this with the procedures demonstrated in various UK textbooks, identifying key differences between the ...

Urban Design Principles Of The Original Neighborhood Concepts, Nicholas Patricios

Nicholas Patricios

The neighbourhood concept is arguably one of the major planning landmarks that shaped the urban form of the twentieth century city in many countries. Coincidently, both the neighbourhood idea of Clarence Stein and Henry Wright, exemplified in their plan for Radburn, and the Neighbourhood Unit idea of Clarence Perry were published in 1929. The urban design principles of Stein and Wright included the idea of a superblock of residential units grouped around a central green, the separation of vehicles and pedestrians, and a road hierarchy with culs-de-sac for local access roads. A cluster of superblocks was to form a self-contained ...

Cost Control During The Pre-Contract Stage Of A Building Project – An Introduction, Tony Cunningham

Other Resources

Cost overruns are commonplace on construction projects.

One of the most important tasks carried out by quantity surveyors (QS) involves providing advice to clients and design team colleagues to enable the design to be finalised within the approved budget. This financial management process is referred to as cost control. Cost control seeks to deliver a high degree of cost certainty during the various stages of the building project in order that the project can be completed within budget. Successful projects are those which are delivered to the required quality standards, on time, and within budget. Effective cost management therefore is ...

Regenerative Architecture: A Pathway Beyond Sustainability, Jacob A. Littman

Masters Theses 1911 - February 2014

The current paradigm in the field of architecture today is one of degeneration and obsolete building technologies. Regenerative architecture is the practice of engaging the natural world as the medium for, and generator of the architecture. It responds to and utilizes the living and natural systems that exist on a site that become the “building blocks” of the architecture. Regenerative architecture has two focuses; it is an architecture that focuses on conservation and performance through a focused reduction on the environmental impacts of a building.

This paper introduces regenerative architecture as a means for architectural design. I present the Nine ...

Bombing, Tagging, Writing: An Analysis Of The Significance Of Graffiti And Street Art, Lindsay Bates

Theses (Historic Preservation)

A first look upon a well-contrived piece of graffiti or street art may inspire feelings of surprise, delight, and amusement, but the connection between graffiti and cultural heritage might be more difficult to perceive. Conventionally, graffiti was synonymous with vandalism, associated with a subculture that needed to be extinguished immediately. However, with the works of such artists as Basquiat, Keith Haring, Banksy, Steve Powers, and the like, graffiti began to be recognized as something more than crime – something with far more value, something that could reach beyond the walls of a gallery. Indeed, this subculture has since proliferated exponentially, and ...