Q1 Successes and failures in materials use You will need to choose two different materials relevant to this course. One of those materials must be relevant to topic 3 (chemical-based products) or topic 4 (building membranes). You will then need to present an example of a 'success' and a 'failure' for each material type that you have chosen. To be realistic, the 'success' may be something that looks great, serves a useful function (which must be clearly defined) and (this is the realistic bit) has NOT yet failed (and which of course, to be fair, may NEVER fail). The 'failure' that involves your chosen material/s, can be due to: · some defect within the material itself; · faults in its installation method; · failure of other elements of its supporting structure; · a cataclysmic natural event such as floods, fire, a seismic event or cyclone; or · any other cause, e.g. inadequate waterproofing measures. However, the failure must involve the (chosen) material itself in the ramifications of the failure, i.e. where the old curtain walling failed and the 'glass' (your material) fell to the ground below. An example of a 'success' of your chosen material could be (hypothetically) that the
polycarbonate (glazing substitute) installed in a building that collapsed through structural inadequacy, survived the collapse intact. Nevertheless, your examples must be REAL examples, as proven in relevant references to/from the literature (including newspapers and the web) or even your own photographs (but not too many photos please as these may make the submission too large for uploading into the e-course). Options You may choose to discuss/present your examples of successes and failures in one of various ways; · according to 'material' with your response having two sections, each incorporating a success and a failure of the relevant material, or; · separated according to successes (and according to failures), with those two sections each incorporating the examples of the two different materials you chose, or; · separated according to the CAUSES of the failures or successes, e.g. structural design or material failures (the results of which involve 'your' materials), cataclysmic natural events, or poor workmanship, etc. In fact, you may present this assignment in whatever is your chosen way, making sure that the above discussions are close to the following required length. (up to 2 pages of text plus illustrations) Q2 Plastics or membranes for exterior surface cladding Translucent polyethylene roof membrane/sheeting was used as a recyclable exterior cladding for a temporary 'dining room' / restaurant erected on the (near-future - at that time) Olympic site in London, ie; Studio East Dining at Stratford, London by Carmody Groarke (Architects). Undertake web searches for information about that temporary building and the actual cladding material used and discuss its relevant details. Then discuss the use of that 'fabric' or a similar membrane/sheeting or a similar product that may be in popular demand for (or at least occasionally seen in publications) selective use on the exteriors of buildings.

In this assessment task, you need to address two case studies of different materials:

Q1 Glass Case Study

Refer to your recommended readings from Topic 6 and find more information from your own research endeavors about glass properties and its application within buildings.

In the past the only fully glazed structures tended to be the glasshouses / conservatories built to control conditions in which plants were (and still are) grown. Then, in the mid-nineteenth century, Paxton designed the Crystal Palace as an exhibition Centre. This was during the period in which the engineers were beginning to design and build ‘widely spanning’ iron and glass structures associated with major railway stations.

This assignment however, has a much smaller focus. You are required to investigate a significant (but small) example of a glass structure, as follows.

In 1987 the American architect, I M Pei, designed the glass ‘pyramid’ that is part of the Louvre, Paris. More recently, a relatively small ‘glass box’ structure for the new ‘Apple Store’ in 5th Avenue, New York, had been constructed in approx. 2008. In both cases, these buildings play an important (albeit small) role in a much larger complex that is below ground. Similarly, both structures

are located in a busy urban street or plaza.

Select one of the above two examples or an equally significant international example (well known or visible on the web) that serves a similar purpose in a similarly busy urban location. Your structure of choice must not be directly attached to an above-ground building and must have below ground facilities that are important to its function.

Find as much information (properly referenced) as you can about its basic ‘purpose’, also details of the structure and its glazing, including a photograph of the overall glass building. A drawing or photograph of its glazing system (or supporting structure) would be an advantage.

If there is little information about structural details and/or the type and properties of the glazing actually used, I need you to use your personal judgment which must be supported by relevant academic literature, trade journals, and/or reputable architectural or product websites. In such a case, make sure that you state this fact clearly within your text.

In summary; WHY is it there? (purpose of the little structure itself), of WHAT does it consist? (materials), and HOW does it function? (properties of the glass).

2) Clay Brick Case Study

Focus to be on polychromatic and/or sculpted (or sculptural) brick use

Refer to your recommended readings from Topic 7 and find more information from your own research about brick properties and their application within buildings.

Many beautiful examples of polychromatic and sculpted brickwork can be seen in older Aussie buildings (some of which are on the Heritage register, some not). With the current shortage of skilled bricklayers within Australia, greatly reduced numbers of brick buildings are being constructed here. Nevertheless, some very interesting examples of decorative brickwork have recently been published (and given awards) both here and overseas.

For this case study, you have a choice of focus. You may either focus on:

1. historical Australian Buildings (option 1) OR on

2. contemporary examples either in Australia or overseas (option 2).

Either option must be examples of the use of polychromatic and/or sculptured brick. For either option your research may be through personal observation or from the literature (or the web).

Option 1 - historical example/s:

You may approach this option to suit your own preferences or to suit the availability of good examples in your own area. For example, Tasmania has (or certainly had) some excellent examples of polychromatic brick patterning in both commercial and residential buildings constructed in the early part of the twentieth century. A number of these included sculptural effects from the placement of the bricks, and occasionally specially shaped (sculpted) bricks as well. If you live in such an area you could do a personal study of up to three local examples (from the footpath, obviously). If you prefer you can do a more detailed study of just one building. The above examples of approaches you may take also apply to a study from the literature.

Option 2 - modern examples:

As for Option 1, you may follow your own leanings. Similarly, you may do a study of two or more examples of contemporary use of polychromatic or sculpted (or sculptural) brick use. Otherwise, if you have access to a good example locally or (to a great deal of information about one such building) in the literature, you may focus on one building only. To help you in finding contemporary examples, the following three examples have been included in product or architectural publications in the last decade:

· the Nigel Peck Centre at Melbourne Grammar School by John Wardle Architects using bricks from Daniel Robertson (bricks)

· the Mornington Centre (Melbourne) by architectural firm Lyons using specially crafted bricks from Austral Bricks.

· the brick screen wall from the Office for South Asian Human Rights Documentation, New Delhi, India

Assignment 3 is an online quiz which relates to unit learning outcomes 1, 2 and 3 and will require you to answer multiple choice questions based on Topics 5 to 9.

Successful completion of the online quiz from a single attempt

The quiz will be marked automatically by the system.

In this assessment task, you need to address the following case studies of different materials:

Q1 Case Study of aluminum composite cladding panels in multi-story buildings.

You will need to choose a significant building (or several smaller buildings) for which you can obtain sufficient information to complete this Case Study. In the interests of your eventual application for an 'open' license, please choose an international example (or outstanding Australian building) that will demonstrate some breadth in your understanding of relevant up-to-date materials, their properties and application in significant buildings.

Your case study should include (but not be limited to):

Material composition & manufacturing process.

History of application & uses of material in buildings.

Success & Failures of aluminum composite panels in multi-story buildings.

Repair / rectifications of failures.

Some examples of significant buildings that you may want to consider in your case study selection:

Grenfell Tower - West London

Lacrosse apartment building – Melbourne

Tamweel Tower in Duba

(600-800 words plus illustration/s)

Q2 Successes and failures of ʻblockwork retaining wallsʼ in basements

Refer to your recommended readings from Topic 9 and find more information from your own research endeavours about ‘concrete blocks’ (and alternatives) relevant to this course and their application for basement retaining walls within buildings.

Background...

Even though it should be well known that sub-surface seasonal watercourses exist (potentially) within soil and rocks below ground surface, it often comes as a serious shock when the occupants of a new building find water has penetrated their basement rooms or garage after three or more years when all has previously been dry. These seasonal watercourses do not require a distinct cavity in which to flow, it is simply that the excessive rainwater that has penetrated the surface soil follows any and all porous routes it can find through the deep soil and fragmented rocks.

There are a number of practical waterproofing strategies and products of which I am aware, plus several ‘design strategies’ (allied with appropriate waterproofing); any of which ought to safeguard against such occurrences. However, keep in mind that any waterproofing system (especially when applied to a wall that is totally underground for its full height, [say] near the middle of the floor level above it), needs to be ‘perfect’ because one tiny join un-taped or any applied coating missed off; will, in the above circumstances, lead to increasingly worse ingress of water.

Submission requirements...

If you are aware of (or can find information about) any significant failures relevant to

the above type of scenario, include a description of its cause and effects in your discussion. WARNING: If that is a real-life scenario (unpublished), please ensure that names and/or locations that might identify any person or the ‘project’ itself are NOT included. If it has been published, then ensure that you include referencing.

Find two different ‘basement retaining wall’ materials relevant to Topic 9 then describe full details of their construction as the ‘block retaining walls’ themselves.

Then find two different waterproofing methods to suit the given scenario (of a fully underground structural retaining wall located around the midpoint of the entire floor above, thus inaccessible from outside). Describe the required materials and their application. Include a 1:20 annotated detail section for each method/system.

Find one ‘design strategy’ that is intended (with waterproofing) to greatly reduce the chances of belowground water ingress to basement habitable rooms as described above. Describe the design strategy, the required materials and their application. Include a 1:20 annotated detail section.

(500-600 words plus illustration/s)

Q3 Removal of hazardous materials

As mentioned in Topic 5 in the Study Guide, the dangers of ‘lead’ (which is a neurotoxin) in the old types of paint are (or should be) very well known. Nevertheless, given the number of sturdy old buildings that remain in use, and the importance of recycling durable materials that remain in good condition, you could still be faced with the need to remove old paint without knowing whether or not it contains lead.

Another product used frequently in the past is asbestos, whether that be loose asbestos fibres used in bulk for wall or ceiling insulation, or is included the asbestos cement sheeting for walls or corrugated roofing used in the past. Unfortunately, it has recently been discovered that products are currently being imported from overseas countries that once again include asbestos in their manufacture.

For this assignment question investigate either (or both) of the above-mentioned hazardous materials. Check out and discuss briefly what they are and what risk they pose to human health.

Investigate current regulations and important advice regarding their removal (or not) from any building in which they are at this time and discuss appropriate actions.

Re paint:

Find an environmentally sensitive type of paint. Then briefly discuss why that one is considered to be ‘relatively’ safe for human health.

Re asbestos sheeting:

Find an appropriately non-hazardous option currently available. Then briefly discuss why that alternative option is considered to be ‘relatively’ safe for human health.