Design-Tech

Building Science for Architects

Thomas Leslie, Robert Whitehead

• Publisher: Routledge
• Year: 2014
• ISBN:
  9781317812470
• Edition: 2
• Topic: Architecture
• Subtopic: Architecture Methods & Materials

Design-Tech is an indispensable, holistic approach to architectural technology that shows you in hundreds of drawings and tables the why as well as the how of building science, providing you with a comprehensive overview. In this expanded edition, measurements and examples are listed in both metric and imperial units to reflect the global reality of architectural practice. The authors also address digital fabrication, construction documentation, ultra-high-rise structures, and zoning codes. And there's more in-depth coverage of structural design and greater emphasis on environmental forces. Numerous case studies demonstrate real-world design implications for each topic, so that you can integrate technical material with design sensibilities.

Short chapters explain each topic from first principles in easy-to-reference formats, focusing on what you need to know both at the drawing board and in future discussions with engineers, contractors, and consultants. This new edition incorporates material from continuing curricular experimentation in the SCI-TECH sequence at Iowa State University, which has been recognized with awards and funding from the American Institute of Architects, the U.S. Green Building Council, and the National Council of Architectural Registration Boards.

1 Human Factors: Anthropomorphics

DOI: 10.4324/9781315817057-1

The body	Range of motion
	Human scale
	The 95th percentile
Ergonomic/anthropometric design	How we fit into a built environment
	Human productivity
	Hazards to well-being

Design for People

One of the main issues designers face when approaching a building project is, “How big should it be?” This is determined by the intended use, number of users, circulation needs, furniture, and equipment requirements. Once these are accounted for the question becomes, “How much individual space do the people need?”

There are resources that can assist in determining the typical size and arrangements of people, furniture, and spaces. The human body has been measured and statistically averaged to provide information that can accommodate most of the population. This does not mean you shouldn't measure your own surrounding environment and decide whether or not you think it's adequate, but these resources can help with understanding how others have solved these same problems.

Another primary issue that designers face is when it's appropriate to “redesign the wheel”. There are arguments for re-examining problems without knowing the standard approach, because that allows for new ideas to emerge. Many times, however, these are problems that have been considered many thousands of times and those solutions are available for your review. Always starting from scratch is impractical; always using the standard approach limits creativity and progress. Be aware of what information is available, and then decide what to use and what to discard.

The Body

The laws of physics and the mechanics of the body govern human movements within buildings. We balance in certain ways, walk within a small range of speed, sit comfortably based on our pressure points, and can reach things based on pred...