MATERIALS
The materials used for the old and new structures are both natural and man-made, and have been carefully chosen to ensure resistance and durability over time. The old school structure is mainly made of traditional natural material bricks which gave a cozy and warm atmosphere. The new structure, however, integrated man-made materials, given the different historical construction. Both facilities, despite their differences, were designed with the common goal of providing a safe and comfortable educational space for us students.
BRICK
USED:Gym,Auditorium,Connection,Classrooms,Changing rooms - the floors and roof
TYPE: man-made materials
CHARACTERISTIC :The brick that is used to build many things such as walls, retaining walls and monuments. This material has been used for centuries as it has many advantages.
ADVANTAGES : First, it is strong, low-cost, made of accessible raw materials, is insect-proof and lasts a long time. Due to their size and shape, bricks are also easy to use and are heat resistant. In addition, bricks have a lot of thermal mass that helps them to retain their heat. Like stone, bricks provide increased comfort in the heat of the summer and the cold of the winter. However, in extreme weather like frost, the surface of some kinds of bricks can be damaged. DISADVANTAGES :The disadvantage of using brick is that masonry must be built on firm foundations to prevent settling and cracking and like any heavy material, increased structural requirements may be necessary especially in seismic zones.
CEMENT
USED:Gym,Auditorium,Connection,Classrooms,Changing rooms
TYPE: man-made materials
CHARACTERISTIC :Cement is a binding element, a grey powder which becomes hard after being mixed with water and allowed to dry. It can be formed using several materials: the first cements were made using burnt gypsum or lime. Ancient Romans used lime and volcanic rock (pozzolana). The most common modern cement is Portland cement (made of clinker mixed with small amounts of other materials) used for its strength and fast drying time. Cement is used to join bricks together, and to make concrete, mortar and grout.
ADVANTAGES : Cement is a hydraulic binder that comes in the form of a finely ground powder, which, when mixed with water, forms a paste that sets and hardens. This hydraulic hardening is mainly due to the formation of hydrated calcium silicates following the reaction between the water added to the mixture and the cement components. The hydraulically active component of a cement is the so-called "Portland Clinker". Cement, produced industrially since the mid-19th century, still remains one of the main construction materials because, thanks to its flexibility and high performance characteristics, it finds application in various construction sectors, whit other materials that increse the performance.
DISADVANTAGES :If not prepared in the right proportions it does not have the same characteristics.
CONCRETE
USED:Gym,Auditorium,Connection,Classrooms,Changing rooms-concrete tiles ,pillars
TYPE: man-made materials
CHARACTERISTIC :Concrete is a building material made by mixing sand, cement and water, with the addition of small rocks or gravel that make it stronger and longer-lasting than mortar. To make it even more resistant, steel reinforced bars can be added to make reinforced concrete. It is also used to support structures, such as beams or other building foundations, but unlike mortar, it is not a good bonding element because the mixture is much thinner than mortar as it contains less water.
ADVANTAGES :
Compressive resistance.
Tensile strength.
Fire resistant. Concrete has a good ability to protect reinforcing steel bars from fire for long periods.
Locally sourced materials.
Printability,reinforced concrete, as an early fluid material.
Low maintenance.
DISADVANTAGES :
Long-term storage,concrete cannot be stored once mixed as the cement reacts with water and the mixture hardens. Its main ingredients must be stored separately.
Hardening time,concrete has a curing period of thirty days. This factor greatly affects the construction schedule of the building.
This makes the construction speed of cast-in-place concrete slower than steel, however, this can be greatly improved with the use of precast concrete.
STONE
USED:Foundation
TYPE: natural materials
CHARACTERISTIC :It’s often of volacanic of different shapes as found in nature and adapt to costuction needs. Over the centuries the first stone walls were called dry stone walls because the stones had nothing between them to hold them together and relied only on gravity to stay upright. Later they began using mortared stone walls.
ADVANTAGES : In addition to being resistant and long-lasting, they are cool and insulating, as this material has a good insulating capacity, i.e. it is able to maintain a pleasant temperature in the rooms: in summer the stone above all keeps the cool inside and winter protects enough from the cold. For this purpose, professionals recommend the use of andesite in particular, which is also useful for protecting walls from the formation of mould. In addition to functionality, stone walls also have advantages in aesthetic terms: they are beautiful to look at and able to give a unique personality to the home.
DISADVANTAGES :The first disadvantage to highlight undoubtedly concerns costs,this problem concerns the most valuable materials such as marble, which in itself is quite expensive.Another unfavorable element of natural stone is its heaviness: it is a solid material, with uniform properties, a characteristic which makes it considerably heavier than other types of coverings, such as tiles or wood, and therefore the stone must be installed with particular attention.
Text written by Nero Dominic and Cutillo Angelo , graphics design and web page realized by Cutillo Angelo