Welcome to Day 5!
Your bids are in and your contractor is selected so let’s begin the 5th and final phase of your architecture project, Construction Administration!
Design Phase 5: Construction Administration
This is my favorite phase because you get to see your creativity and hard work come to life. As the architect, you don’t perform the actual building, but you work with contractors to ensure that your design is being built correctly and according to your drawings, to answer any questions that the contractor might have during construction, and also help to resolve any problems that may arise on site. So grab your hard hat and boots and let’s go!
A Contractor's Perspective
Project 1: Being Flexible
The contractor has discovered that the desk that the building owner has already purchased is too large for the office space. He calls you (the architect!) and asks what can be changed on your design to allow the owner to use their new desk in the office. Sketch out several ideas of how you can change the design to work better for the owner. Use the handout linked below to complete this challenge.
Depending on the size of a project, the construction time can take a couple months or even several years!
Here is a time lapse video by Manhattan Construction the Texas Rangers Globe Life Field during construction. From the very first shovel to enter the dirt to move-in day, this project took 3 years to build!
The Basilica de la Sagrada Familia
The Basilica de la Sagrada Familia, or Sagrada Familia for short, was designed by architect Antoni Gaudi in Barcelona, Spain. Construction of this Roman Catholic basilica (church) began on March 19, 1882 and still to this day has not been completed. That means it has been under construction for 138 years! Several factors have caused such a slow construction for this project. Gaudi and his family have been paying for the construction of the basilica with their own money and donations. They could only build what they could afford each year. In 1936 there was a fire that destroyed Gaudi’s original plans, drawings, and models. It took 16 more years to replace those drawings and models before construction could begin again. Now with computer-aided design, the construction is moving faster and it is anticipated to be complete in 2026.
Tiny Home Project:
Day 5
Day 5
Now its time to build your tiny home! Build a final model of the home you have been designing all week, keeping in mind your site plan constraints, the design drawings from your set, and the fixtures and materials you have selected throughout the week. This model should be constructed neatly and reflect your design intent accurately. If something isn't fitting together the way your plans show, take a moment to sketch out some ideas, select the best solution, and then continue on with your construction. We can’t wait to see how your tiny home turns out!
As you look at the chip board pieces for your house, use your ruler to measure the pieces. You can then use this guide to figure out what pieces go where (all measurements are in inches):
Exterior wall _ 6x12.5
Exterior wall _ 6x5
Base _ 5x12.5
Roof _ 7x15.5
Interior wall _ 6x12.5
Interior wall _ 6x5
Or, feel free to get creative and use the pieces however you want. After all, you’re the client, as well as the architect, so build the tiny house you want!
Don't forget the parameters laid out on Day 1:
You are limited to a perimeter size of 250 square feet, a maximum width of 10 feet, a maximum length of 25 feet, and a maximum height of 12 feet. Each graph paper box equals 1 square foot.
You must include an area for sleeping, cooking, and a bathroom. You may include additional functions as you please. Note: Try to limit the number of functions to five so that it will all fit, remember this is a tiny home.
Remember what you learned about Scale on Day 3:
1/2 Inch = 1 Foot (On your graph paper 2 squares = 1 inch)
