Department of Architecture & Civil Engineering, Unit Catalogue 2006/07

AR30229 Natural building materials & methods

Credits: 3

Level: Honours

Semester: 2

Assessment: CW100

Requisites:

Before taking this unit you must take AR20082 and take AR20208

Aims: To develop an awareness of and enthusiasm for building design and construction using natural materials and methods, and develop understanding and ability.
Learning Outcomes:
On completion of the unit the successful student should be able to demonstrate:
* a broad understanding of the context, characteristics, manufacture and applications of natural building materials;
* sufficient knowledge and insight to design, specify and build with confidence using natural materials and methods.
Skills:
A range of knowledge and analytical techniques necessary for the architectural and building engineering design using natural building materials.
Content:
Outline the main issues of sustainability relating to building materials: environmental impact; CO2 emissions; embodied energy; recycling of materials; role of natural materials; vernacular building methods and appropriate technology. Designing to take account of unfamiliar material properties and appropriate construction methods; designing in the absence of prescriptive codes of practice.
These issues are then to be considered in relation to the following material types and construction methods. Depth of coverage may vary between these areas, and additional materials/technologies may be introduced into or removed from the unit with the development of appropriate technologies.
Earthen construction: adobe; rammed earth; cob; compressed block; wattle & daub; soil mortars; material suitability; stability, durability, manufacture; characteristics; applications; design; case studies.
Timber construction: natural 'green' timber construction; properties & characteristics; production and treatments; building technology; applications; traditional connections; design; case studies.
Natural fibre construction: bamboo; straw bale; grasses and leaves; wool; turf roofs; animal skins; properties and characteristics; applications; building technology; design principles; case studies.
Natural binders: pozzolans; gypsum; lime; sulphur concrete; production and characteristics; techniques (lime mortar; lime-crete); applications; design principles; case studies.
Stone: materials (rock types); sources and extraction; environmental impact; properties; durability; applications (foundations, walls, roofs, and floors); design; case studies.
Waste materials: waste paper and textiles; sewage sludge; coal wastes; blast furnace slag; bauxite waste; rubble; rice husks; coconut wastes; wood residues; water hyacinth; vegetable wastes; applications; case studies.
Caves and underground dwellings; ice (igloos).
A number of external expert speakers will be invited to deliver specialist lectures (e.g timber construction; use of lime). In addition, site visit(s) will be arranged to inspect particular case studies (e.g CAT, Wales). The coursework will comprise a small project in which students will be encouraged to innovate and explore further by designing a medium size building using entirely natural materials.

University | Catalogues for 2006/07