Construction Demand & Evolution

• The lecture covers the demand and evolution of construction, including lecture outcomes, reasons for building, influences on design, and historical and modern trends in building technology and architecture

Lecture Outcomes

• Examines the nature of demand for construction services
• Evolution of Construction & Buildings is discussed
• The driving forces behind changes and evolution are determined
• Possible implications for the structure of the industry are identified

Reasons for Building

• Basic human needs such as physiological requirements (food, clothing, shelter) and safety/security
• Housing is a primary category
• Commercial and industrial developments are required
• Buildings offer a supportive, healthy, secure, and comfortable environment for living activities

Influences on Building Design

• Needs, based on the intended function such as residential or commercial
• Technology, particularly green technologies
• Culture, in the form of lifestyle, cultural styles, and local traditions
• Climate, and the heating/cooling systems necessary
• Societal factors, such as modernity, urbanization, and remote work culture

History of Building

• Architectural evolution has occurred over time
• Key principles include:
  • Increasing height and span of buildings
  • Material durability
  • Control over the interior environment using cooling/heating systems
  • Construction methods and technologies

Evolution of Buildings

• Buildings have evolved
• Early monolithic structures with perishable materials have been replaced by modern buildings
• Initial structures included caves and rock overhangs, aimed at protection and safety

Early History of Construction

• Stone Age structures used large stones without mortar or concrete
• Mud brick construction was used for buildings and houses
• Egyptians used cut stone in royal mortuary buildings for strength and durability
• Stone is stronger in compression but weaker in tension than timber

Bronze Age and Early Urban Cultures

• Bronze was discovered and characterized this period
• Mud bricks were formed in wooden frames and joined with mud

Greek and Hellenistic Cultures

• Iron beams were used to reinforce stone structures
• Three column types were invented to support buildings
• Marble was discovered and roof tiles allowed for low-pitched roofs

Roman Architecture

• Arches characterized Roman design
• Masonry construction used Roman cement
• Early concrete structures were developed, initiating a "Concrete Revolution"
• Timber was incorporated in roof trusses
• Dome structures spanned 43.3 meters in diameter

Gothic Architecture

• Rib vaults and flying buttresses were prominent
• Vaults and buttresses counterbalanced the roof's weight, allowing for greater height and window space
• More natural lighting and colour were used, including extensive use of stained glass (rose windows)

The Renaissance

• Emphasis placed on symmetry, proportion, and geometry
• Columns, pillars, and lintels were arranged in an orderly fashion
• Use of semi-circular arches and hemispherical domes
• A transition to modernity

First Industrial Age (1750-1850)

• Iron technology was developed, including steam engines, machine tools, explosives, and optical surveying
• Glass was manufactured as a building material
• Design and construction became professionalized
• Building services like plumbing were improved

Second Industrial Age (1820-1914)

• Steel building technology was introduced
• Steel allowed for long-span construction
• Concrete was reintroduced, and reinforced concrete was invented
• Building service and support systems were developed
• Electricity was implemented for lighting
• Heating and cooling systems were developed

Empire State Building

• Initially constructed to be the tallest building in New York City, surpassing The Chrysler building
• Steel allowed for extensive interior spaces
• It had over 100 floors, 6,500 windows, 73 elevators, and 1,860 steps from street level to the 102nd floor

Third Industrial Age (1950s)

• Computerization and the Information Age took rise
• CAD and other design and planning tools were implemented
• Digital technologies were introduced
• Construction efficiency increased

Modern Construction

• The construction industry is always changing and evolving
• New trends include:
  • A focus on sustainability
  • More technological integration
  • Increased prefabrication and modular construction
  • Improved safety procedures

Contemporary Construction

• Innovative and represents the present-day building style
• Contemporary architects create unique designs and masterpeices
• Capital Gate tower in Abu Dhabi: Circular, 35-story tower with an 18-degree tilt
  • This makes it the most inclined building in the world
  • The interior layout provides different spaces, none of the rooms are identical to each other
  • Designed by Scottish architecture firm RMJM
• The only 7-stars hotel in the world is one of Dubai’s first artificial islands, it is the Burj Al Arab
  • It is the fifth tallest building in the world
  • Designed by Atkins and led by architect Tom Wright
• Burj Khalifa –Dubai: The structure is 828m tall and is a reinforced concrete tower structure
  • It is one of the tallest building in the world
  • Has a Y-shaped tripartite floor geometry

Sustainability 4.0

• Players along the construction industry's value chain need to strategically prepare and make the right moves to thrive
• They need:
  • Use Artificial intelligence - software systems to build in a virtual world
  • Use lean principles and advanced manufacturing processes - to pre-fabricate modules
  • A just green transition - use sustainable technologies and new materials to meet tough environmental regulations
  • Integrate and collaborate - across the construction industry's value chain
  • Adopt advanced technologies at a larger scale

Innovation 4.0

• Non-standard, innovative building systems, products and materials are used
• These systems are made in a factory, either in part or whole, and assembled on site
• Improved building performance is possible which construction methods struggle to deliver
• High levels of performance are achieved due to high degree of accuracy in the construction process

Evolution and Influences

• The evolution of construction has been driven by various factors, including technology, culture, climate, and societal needs
• Modern construction practices must continue to evolve
• Emerging technologies or sustainability trends can shape the future of the construction industry

Vernacular Architecture

• This involves building designed by an amateur, following conventions built up in their locality, with little attention to design principles
• The building's function is the main factor
• Aesthetically, considerations are small
• Local materials are the main component
• Ronald Brunskill-2000

Vernacular:

• Native
• Traditional
• Indigenous
• Of one's own country, culture and language Architecture results from available resources & native wisdom
• Vernacular is referred to as 'traditional' architecture
  • It is based on needs and local construction materials

Reasons to use Vernacular Architecture

• Environmental sustainability e.g. maximum natural lighting
• Culturally sensitive – Strengthen identity
• Cost - Local content is cheap
• Earthquake/floods - Resilience
• Traditional huts in Southern Africa are thatched with simple grass from the surrounding areas

South African Vernacular Architecture

• There has been cultural and technological pressures for change
• Resulting in its evolution through a number of stages new materials and the development of new building technology has been introduced

Vernacular Architecture (continued)

• Constantly evolves through influences such as culture and technology solar orientation and the development of thresholds between inside and outside is still being focused on

Vernacular Architecture

• Designing for climate results and forms traditional building environments
  • Forces such as wind, snow, solar radiation, and humidity are used

Environmental Forces

• The igloo is made from hard packed snow (Canada, Greenland)
• Built resist tropical cyclones in Fiji

More on Vernacular Architecture

• Centred on the functions that the building type is required to perform
• Local environment and climate will determine: othe predominant soil type, osolid and liquid minerals, omaterials and practical methods of building, obuilding shape, obuilding elements and components, etc.
• Designs evolve to better suit local conditions
  • Determined by what the local technology uses and the local culture

Laws Of Physics

• Orientation, layout and choosing a site will all influence the amount of sun a building receives
• Building orientation should be based on influence of Topography and speed/direction of wind - Building relation with street and sunlight

Laws Of Physics - Ventilation

• Plans are often complex and hard to move air
• Improved efficiency is declining because of : - Growing population - High expectations - Expanding commercial sector

Designing for Climate

• Climatic conditions influence:
  • Functional and performance requirements -Building design and specifications -Materials -Construction methods conditions

Architecture Details and Similarities

• Buildings by Architects ARE not vernacular

• Building by Architects have studied vernacular buildings and drew inspiration

• Vernacular similar to Architecture when:

  • use local materials
  • non-urban environment
  • Sustainable integration

Modernity In Tradition

• Vernacular sustainable solutions to building problems
• These solutions can be inapplicable to modern buildings innovative building technology has Hallmark

More Traditional Modernity

• Defined as "less is more" in appearance and detail
• Strong relationship with nature

Vernacular Architecture Design influences and Factors

• Natural energy of light and air should filter into the designed spaces design, designing earth-friendly structures that are comfortable
• Modern regionalism and traditional buildings are also energy efficient

Kerala architecture is sustainable and simple

the rooftop is slanting at 30-40 degree angle, stopping rain damage

• Sustainable Architecture combines Vernacular and modern style
• innovative approach uses a technology

Three main pillars of Sustainable architecture

    - Environmental resilience
    - Economic demand
    - Social sustainability

Logics and concepts

• These are not meant to be exclusive
• Logics may collide, merge or co-inhabit environmental benefits and knowledge