CIVE5976M Architectural Engineering Studies

GOOD QUALITY DESIGN

Some key questions for the designer (architect or engineer!)

INTRODUCTION

Introduction to Good Quality Design

A].

There are many different (and differing) opinions on what constitutes good quality design; Design means many different things to different people; Much of what is contained in these notes is based on: Discussions (ongoing) in the Schools Institute for Resilient Infrastructure (Resilient Design Group) and other multi-disciplinary research groups in the University

and ......

Introduction to Good Quality Design

B].

The guidance provided by CABE (The Commission for Architecture and the Built Environment). CABE is the UK governments advisor on architecture, urban design and public space : see www.cabe.org.uk

In particular, these notes make reference to an essay by Richard Simmons (at the time Chief Executive of CABE) on Good Design: the fundamentals
A full pdf copy of this has been uploaded to the Blackboard VLE

Further reading: Good Quality Design

Other sources of information & background reading include:

Design Quality Indicators as a tool for thinking (paper by Gann, Salter and Whyte published in 2003 see pdf file uploaded to the Blackboard VLE) English Partnerships Delivering quality places (see also: www.englishpartnerships.co.uk ) The urban design compendium (see www.urbandesigncompendium.co.uk)

Further reading: Good Quality Design

Other sources of information include:

The code for sustainable homes (www.communities.gov.uk) ALSO see notes provided by Prof Tristram Hope on BREEAM, LEED, etc. (methods of assessing the environmental quality or the sustainability of designs)

Good Design Why it matters!

The history and culture of a nation and the character of its people are reflected in the public spaces, buildings, bridges, towns and cities of the nation. Public spaces and buildings are a statement of the values, aspirations, national identity, public pride, self-esteem and confidence of the people. They are a nations cultural assets and are examples of art and expression as much as any painting or sculpture.

Public spaces, buildings, bridges, etc are more widely seen and used than most other forms of art!
It is not just the iconic structures that are important! Arguably the quality of the average construction is a truer representation of the history, culture and character of a nation than its specialist (look at me) types of construction?

Good Design Why it matters!

We use public spaces, buildings, bridges, gardens, streets, parks, etc every day .... Good examples will help to improve the quality of life Bad examples become liabilities high maintenance; increased crime(?); poor health(?); social exclusion(?)

Clients are not just the people or organisation that pays for the design or uses it the results of design are enjoyed (or suffered?) by all! Architects and engineers have a huge impact on the built environment and the people using it.
What we create usually lasts for many years hence bad design has a negative impact on people for many years.

Mumbai good design? (any evidence of design?)

Achieving Good Quality Design

What is good quality design? What are we trying to achieve? How do we know when we have achieved it? What do we need to do to help us to achieve it?

QUESTION Are the engineer and the architect trying to achieve different things? ANSWER Broadly speaking : NO! Detailed (specialist) aspects of design? : NO! (the main aims and objectives are the same the engineer and the architect carry out detailed design of different parts of a structure)

What is good quality design? EARLY GUIDANCE

Earliest known (and most widely acknowledged) guidance on building design published by the Roman architect and engineer Marcus Vitruvius Pollio (usually known as Vitruvius).

Vitruvius: born circa 70 80 B.C. , died circa 15 B.C. Considered by some to be the Worlds first known engineer (?)
His famous ten books on architecture define the main principles of architecture his guidance was followed by Michelangelo, Palladio, Vignola and others. Widely accepted that Vitruvius guidance forms the basis of the principles of modern architecture

NOTE: In 1914, Vitruvius ten books were translated by Prof. Morris Hicky MORGAN & published by Harvard University Press; re-published by Dover publications in 1960; still available from Thomas Telford Books in 2009

Vitruvius 3 Principal Qualities of Good Design COMMODITY

Buildings should work they should be fit for the purpose for which they are designed.

FIRMNESS
Buildings should be soundly built and durable.

DELIGHT
Buildings should be good looking their design should please the eye and the mind.
These form the basis of the current CABE guidelines (some 2050 years later!) .....

The CABE principles of Good Design initial comments

Good quality design is not a function of personal taste or fashion Personal taste varies and fashions change
Style can help contribute to the quality of a building, bridge or public space, particularly if the designers aim is to try to match or reflect the style of existing construction. BUT trying to imitate (usually poorly!) an earlier style often does not work well! Often it is better to use modern styles, materials and methods.

CABEs 3 guiding principles of Good Design

Regardless of style, CABE states that the 3 most important principles of good design are:

ROBUSTNESS OR DURABILITY USEFULNESS OR EFFICIENCY BEAUTY OR THE ABILITY TO DELIGHT PEOPLE

Expanding on these principles ......

Expanding on the CABE principles of Good Design

Buildings and public spaces are well designed IF:

THEY ARE USEFUL, BUILT TO LAST AND EASY TO CARE FOR.

Comments Remember the principal points of the Structural Asset Management and Maintenance lectures! Durability is important as identified by Vitruvius over 2000 years ago! Designers should discuss the whole life (or life cycle) costs with their Clients It must be made clear to the Client that an additional initial investment in better quality, more durable materials will pay for itself many times over during the design life of the structure. Your Client must be made aware of the implications of lack of investment in durable materials. Even if the Client opts for minimal initial cost (possibly because of budget limitations and/or cash flow constraints) at least you have exercised your professional duty as an architect or engineer.

Expanding on the CABE principles of Good Design

Buildings and public spaces are well designed IF:

THEY ARE USEFUL, BUILT TO LAST AND EASY TO CARE FOR.

Comments Easy to care for? Designers should think about ease of inspection and maintenance at the outset discussions with the Client are essential so that the Client understands how often various parts of a building will need to be maintained. Decisions about surface finishes can have a big impact on future maintenance surface coatings vs cladding? Detailing cladding panels that can be removed to provide access to building services plant and the structure? Discussions need to take place about alternative maintenance strategies and the impact of maintenance (or repair) on the continuing function of the structure and the cost. Consider the provision of Ownership Manuals? (This is fairly common for building services plant but not the structure!)

Expanding on the CABE principles of Good Design

Buildings and public spaces are well designed IF:

YOU CAN FIND YOUR WAY AND MOVE AROUND EASILY

Comments

Remember your obligations under the Disability Discrimination Act (DDA) as well as your ethical obligations to disabled people. Is there a logical flow (of people) through your building (does there need to be?) Does the building convey a feeling of safety and security? Does the lighting, the use of footways and paths, the use of appropriate signs; the use of different textured materials, etc. help to direct people to where you want them to be in the building? Is the layout of the building sufficiently simple (or logical) to avoid feelings of confusion (assuming that you dont want to confuse the end users!)

Expanding on the CABE principles of Good Design

Buildings and public spaces are well designed IF:

THEY RELATE WELL TO THE PLACE WHERE THEY ARE CONSTRUCTED

Comments Does the building fit in well with adjacent buildings and space? OR if the aim is to provide a contrast, how well has this been achieved? Buildings and public spaces are well designed IF:

THEY ARE FLEXIBLE (I.E. ADAPTABLE!)

Comments Sustainability is partly about getting more out of what we already have. (To minimise waste, reduce carbon footprint; reduce cost?) Can the building be readily adapted to meet new needs in the future? Does the structural layout permit change of use? There are many examples of Victorian factory buildings in the UK that have been converted to residential buildings.

Expanding on the CABE principles of Good Design

Buildings and public spaces are well designed IF:

THEY ARE ENVIRONMENTALLY EFFICIENT AND WILL HELP US TO LIVE AND WORK IN A SUSTAINABLE MANNER
Comments

This is an extremely broad issue covering the basic tenets of sustainability such as financial, social, environmental, natural material drivers Also future-proofing against the short-term effects of climate change (e.g. Increased flood risks) and the longer term issues such as rising water levels, increased ambient temperatures; loss of energy sources; use of renewables; etc. all come into consideration These will be considered in far more detail by Prof Hope. Prof Hope will also consider different ways of trying to measure sustainability in design (CEEQUAL, BREEAM, LEED) difficult to get anything meaningful or sufficiently definitive.

Expanding on the CABE principles of Good Design

How do we know if buildings and public spaces are well designed?

PEOPLE TELL YOU THAT THEY ARE!

Comments It is generally accepted good practice to carry out design audits ask people who use the building (or public space) if it works well? Do they enjoy the working environment can they deliver services more efficiently? Are the costs of ownership as envisaged? What are the views of the maintenance staff? Is it relatively easy to inspect the building services (and the structure)? Is access OK to carry out routine maintenance? Are people proud of the building or space? Does it improve their quality of life? Review the design activity? Carry out an audit did the design team work well? What can be improved? Carry out a construction audit! Ask the contractor if, from their perspective, was the design good (can you improve buildability?)

The Role of Codes of Practice?

Some (many?) engineers think that if they meet the requirements of a code of practice, they will achieve good design Is this correct?

What do codes of practice provide?

Guidance on structural design? (achieving acceptable margins of safety; a level of reliability; local and global stability; robustness; limits for acceptable in-service behaviour e.g. deflection limits, crack control in concrete, etc.) Codes do NOT cover all aspects of design!

Take a closer look at codes of practice ........

Structural Design
Guidance on structural design is provided in the suite of structural Eurocodes .......

EN =

In the UK these standards have been adopted by the British Standards Institution (or BSI) and therefore have the designation BS EN 1990, 1991, etc.

Structural Design
The principles of structural design are defined in ........

This is sometimes (incorrectly) referred to as Eurocode 0 Its correct title is The Eurocode it is supplemented by the 9 other codes (BS EN 1991, BS EN 1992, etc.) which are commonly known as EC1, EC2, EC3, etc.

Extracts from BS EN 1990

BS EN 1990 (and, by implication, all the other Eurocodes) are intended for use by everyone involved in the construction process! It is reasonable to assume that clients will understand and appreciate the implications of the codes? Engineers and architects (the design team) must help their clients to understand the implications of design decisions

More worrying (?) extracts from BS EN 1990

Note the emphasis on qualified and experienced personnel; supervision and quality control; materials and products (complying with standards); maintenance and assumed use!

Further extract from BS EN 1990: Design Lives

Reminder: durability is important! (Corrosion 1 year after completion of construction!)

Bolted connection: English Institute for Sport, Sheffield

Buildability (ease of construction) is important may also contribute in the future to ease of demolition and recyclability

Pinned connection: Sheffield Winter Gardens

Pinned connection: Sheffield Winter Gardens

Architecturally honest details are also easy to inspect and, if necessary, maintain

English Institute for Sport, Sheffield

Will people feel safe and secure? Are there clear routes into different parts of a building?

Sheffield Winter Gardens

Scale and proportion: has good use been made of the space?

The Arcam, Amsterdam

Bracing to improve stability against lateral wind loading should not be an afterthought! Poor communication between the architect and the structural engineer?

Wind bracing has not been an afterthought here!

Careful attention to detail is important here welded tubes have been used. The fabrication costs are high although the bridge has been prefabricated in a fabrication shop and floated to site. There is also a risk of fatigue failure of the welds in service and the corrosion protection system (paint) will need to be replaced every 20 years (?)

All these issues should have been accounted for in early discussions with the Client and accounted for in the structural design

Large cantilever roof Conservatorium, Amsterdam

Important to be aware of the design challenges at the outset!

Flexible cantilever under reversible (wind) loading; thermal and moisture variations; long-term integrity of the connection between cladding and support structure; consequences of failure of cladding; inspection and maintenance problems (?); access?

Bolted connections easy to carry out on site? Easy to dismantle in the future (aids recycling?)

Simple pinned connection

More complex connections combination of shop-welded vertical trusses with site bolted bracing and lateral restraints has produced a buildable solution

Simplicity an honest detail?

Quality of architectural detailing is important simplicity and honesty contribute to the aesthetic appeal and keep construction and maintenance simple

Details reflecting cultural heritage (Chinese culture - Singapore)

Same materials and construction techniques as original 1850 construction

Large cantilevering space frame roof tied to building Visually impressive Structurally simple Maintenance? Repair? Access? Has the Client been made aware of the likely future problems? Should this be sacrificed in favour of good architectural design?

.... and finally, some alarm bells from CABE