Konstrukshon CPD Weblog » Concrete http://blog.konstrukshon.com Construction CPD for the Architectural Technologist Fri, 17 May 2013 20:09:20 +0000 en-US hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.5.1 Architectural Technologist – Wolfgang Kessling reveals sustainable design innovations that cool us from above and below, and even collects solar energy for later use http://blog.konstrukshon.com/architectural-technologist-wolfgang-kessling-reveals-sustainable-design-innovations-that-cool-us-from-above-and-below-and-even-collects-solar-energy-for-later-use/ http://blog.konstrukshon.com/architectural-technologist-wolfgang-kessling-reveals-sustainable-design-innovations-that-cool-us-from-above-and-below-and-even-collects-solar-energy-for-later-use/#comments Thu, 12 Jul 2012 08:45:06 +0000 scays http://blog.konstrukshon.com/?p=18665 An impressive title, but one I think is worthy of the subject, discussed in this video, given at one of the many TED conferences. Having spent many days in these stadiums watching games and athletics, all over the globe, I know what he means. So whats the answer, well watch the video, make notes, mine looked like this: Shade [...]

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An impressive title, but one I think is worthy of the subject, discussed in this video, given at one of the many

TED (conference) TED (conference) (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

TED conferences. Having spent many days in these stadiums watching games and athletics, all over the globe, I know what he means. So whats the answer, well watch the video, make notes, mine looked like this:

  • Shade
    • Roman theatres
    • tent structures
  • Water
    • spray
    • small streams
    • underground pipes
  • under ground pipes general
  • Grass
    • water
  • Cooling
  • Solar power
    • PV
    • storage
    • power coolers
  • ambiant air quality
  • Roofs of PV
  • www.transsolar.com
I like many of the concepts introduced in this video, particularly the underground cooling, the roofs powering the machinery, the shade, and attention paid to the control of ventilation.
OK the UK is going to be a test in reverse, staying warm or even dry might be the order of the day, but for many other staiums this might be the real answer.
So much CPD, from historic stadium design, the roman theatres, to modern day designs, I have baked, particularly in Sydney, for the 2000 olympics, no shade in the cheap seats at all. climate,solar power,energy storage, water supply, even means of escape, access, bars, and  perhaps leg room, a particular favourite of mine. Although not mentioned, but material in my mind always has an influence of comfort, plastic seats, sweat, so much concrete is not good, stone, perhaps timber, a little more, just a thought.


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]]> http://blog.konstrukshon.com/architectural-technologist-wolfgang-kessling-reveals-sustainable-design-innovations-that-cool-us-from-above-and-below-and-even-collects-solar-energy-for-later-use/feed/ 1 Architectural Technologist – The Green Skills You Need to Become an Energy Contractor http://blog.konstrukshon.com/architectural-technologist-the-green-skills-you-need-to-become-an-energy-contractor/ http://blog.konstrukshon.com/architectural-technologist-the-green-skills-you-need-to-become-an-energy-contractor/#comments Fri, 15 Jun 2012 08:46:55 +0000 scays http://blog.konstrukshon.com/?p=18403 I had an email in from Derek Singleton  recently offering an article that I thought you might find interesting, re green skills, not gardening, but adapting current skills to cope with the new PV wind and other production’s of electricity. he basically say’s that two years ago, Software Advice reported that growth in the green construction market would [...]

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STARNBERG, GERMANY - OCTOBER 15: Workers wait... STARNBERG, GERMANY – OCTOBER 15: Workers wait for the crane to get installed solar power modules for producing electricity on the roof of a house on October 15, 2011 in Wessling, Germany. Germany has and is continuing to invest heavily in solar energy, both in the public and private sectors. The German government introduced a feed-in tariff with its Renewable Energy Act in 2000 that guarantees homeowners a minimum rate for selling electricity from renewable energy sources into the nation’s electricity grid. (Image credit: Getty Images via @daylife)

I had an email in from Derek Singleton  recently offering an article that I thought you might find interesting, re green skills, not gardening, but adapting current skills to cope with the new PV wind and other production’s of electricity.

he basically say’s that two years ago, Software Advice reported that growth in the green construction market would require electrical contractors to become energy contractors. We based this theory on a widely distributed report which predicted that electrical contractors would be in high demand for renewable energy and energy conservation projects. In 2012, it appears that our theory is playing out.

I tend to think he is right, as the electricity supply moves from a nation 240 volt grid to a local 110 Volt grid and we use smart local systems, those electrician who have adapted might be open for a lot of work.

How does this affect us, well understanding this is part of the Architectural Technologist brief.do we have to design for it, are their installation items we need to know, cabling, positioning of equipment, so much might change.

I have been sent article to review from Derek before and always found them interesting, so read on and follow his links.

Don’t forget, I will host a tech hangout every Friday at 3 pm, call in to chat, moan,find out something, anything to do with Architectural Technology. follow me on Google + “+stevescaysbrook”


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]]> http://blog.konstrukshon.com/architectural-technologist-the-green-skills-you-need-to-become-an-energy-contractor/feed/ 4 Architectural Technologist – Abandoned Hospital Merchiston – Urban Exploration Abandoned Scotland http://blog.konstrukshon.com/architectural-technologist-abandoned-hospital-merchiston-urban-exploration-abandoned-scotland/ http://blog.konstrukshon.com/architectural-technologist-abandoned-hospital-merchiston-urban-exploration-abandoned-scotland/#comments Thu, 14 Jun 2012 09:07:21 +0000 scays http://blog.konstrukshon.com/?p=18382 You might have guesed, I like the video’s from Abandon Scotland, a small, I presume, team that captures old building that are just left to wrot, this time it’s Merchiston Hospital, what a waste of a perfectly good building, still my reasons for showing it, is not to shame the local authority, the Abandon Scotland team are doing just [...]

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SAN FRANCISCO, CA - JUNE 06: Peter Birch, Goog... SAN FRANCISCO, CA – JUNE 06: Peter Birch, Google Product Manager for Google Earth, shows an image of new 3D map rendering during a news conference about Google Maps on June 6, 2012 in San Francisco, California. Google announced new upgrades to Google maps including a feature to download maps and view offline, better 3D mapping and a backpack camera backpack camera device called Trekker that will allow Street View to go offroad on hiking trails and places only accessible by foot. (Image credit: Getty Images via @daylife)

You might have guesed, I like the video’s from Abandon Scotland, a small, I presume, team that captures old building that are just left to wrot, this time it’s Merchiston Hospital, what a waste of a perfectly good building, still my reasons for showing it, is not to shame the local authority, the Abandon Scotland team are doing just fine, more to look at the background, the construction, which is so evident after the various groups have stripped most of the metal and valuables.

Looking at their film, always makes me sad, but the CPD is huge, from the background info on the construction, location, google earth search’s, to just all the online info there is, particularly this building, some scary stoires from the locals, to local Universities and colleges that might want to use it as a project base, although gaining access might be a little bit of a legal iffy,

The main web site for Abandon Scotland has all the videos and past articles, some are now being restorated, some still lie in decay.

This is the first time a voice commentary has been added, interesting development, as I might have wanted a more technical approach rather than the way the Abandon teram have chosen, but, and its a big but, it’s their film and I enjoyed it none the less.

Todays Picture is not of the hospital, more the way Google and Apple have locked horns, which I’m pleased to say is going to allow the technology for maps to increase only to our benefit, I’m pleased to say. More of this later, the Apple and Google videos are going to be about soon, so more comment later.

Don’t forget, I will host a tech hangout every Friday at 3 pm, call in to chat, moan,find out something, anything to do with Architectural Technology. follow me on Google + “+stevescaysbrook”


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]]> http://blog.konstrukshon.com/architectural-technologist-abandoned-hospital-merchiston-urban-exploration-abandoned-scotland/feed/ 4 Architectural Technologist – A technical overview of Venice http://blog.konstrukshon.com/architectural-technologist-a-technical-overview-of-venice/ http://blog.konstrukshon.com/architectural-technologist-a-technical-overview-of-venice/#comments Thu, 24 May 2012 07:58:00 +0000 scays http://blog.konstrukshon.com/?p=18282 This 20 min film on the technical aspects of Venice is really quite good, from the way the lagoon works to the  building techniques, all are looked at from the damaged buildings, to the repairs, to the services. There is a lot to see in this short video, from the construction to the Architecture, the way the Viennese [...]

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English: Taken from the Rialto Bridge, a lone ...

English: Taken from the Rialto Bridge, a lone gondolier takes his gondola up the Grand Canal. (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

This 20 min film on the technical aspects of Venice is really quite good, from the way the lagoon works to the  building techniques, all are looked at from the damaged buildings, to the repairs, to the services.

There is a lot to see in this short video, from the construction to the Architecture, the way the Viennese lived and the way the buildings were used. The technical aspects of maintaining these buildings is well explained, from the water to the penetration, to the methods of stopping the deterioration of the brickwork, to the way the buildings are actually constructed.

I have been to Venice many times from business to several short holidays,  where each time I have been  subjected to the usual cultural tour, I would dearly like to go on one, looking at the content of this excellent video. Even the weather comes into play with the constant flooding, and having been in Venice when it was flooded, its worthy of some thought to the buildings.

CPD is again huge, looking at the video is a clear 1/2 hour, but adding just a little research into brickwork,repair techniques, timber decay,structure, and there is a lot to consider here, to basic services, I would expect a good 1 hour, perhaps more, I will claim the hour I think, and have rated it a quality “10″ piece of CPD.

Don’t forget, I will host a tech hangout every Friday at 3 pm, call in to chat, moan,find out something, anything to do with Architectural Technology. follow me on Google + “+stevescaysbrook”


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]]> http://blog.konstrukshon.com/architectural-technologist-a-technical-overview-of-venice/feed/ 0 Architectural Technologist – The building of the Shard – London http://blog.konstrukshon.com/architectural-technologist-the-building-of-the-shard-london/ http://blog.konstrukshon.com/architectural-technologist-the-building-of-the-shard-london/#comments Tue, 08 May 2012 06:16:09 +0000 scays http://blog.konstrukshon.com/?p=18038 You have about 25 days left from today, to watch one of the best construction related program’s that’s been on TV for some time. It’s the construction of the Shard in central London. Hemmed in by Guys hospital and an underground railway station.You can view this on the Channel 4 player, I watched it on [...]

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Dwarfing the neighbouring tower block.

Dwarfing the neighbouring tower block. (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

You have about 25 days left from today, to watch one of the best construction related program’s that’s been on TV for some time. It’s the construction of the Shard in central London. Hemmed in by Guys hospital and an underground railway station.You can view this on the Channel 4 player, I watched it on my iPad via an excellent, easy to use app.

The design, sketched on the back of a menu, had loads of problems, starting with the existing building on the site, it’s demolition, the close proximity of Guys, the tube, the river and the speed of the build, which lead to the other major problem, that of the weather.
There is so much CPD in this hour long video, the demolition, the coffer dam, the pouring of the slab , the steel pile design, the tower construction, the need for cranes, and the rather cleaver crawing crain in the lift tube, although I’m sure I have seen this used before !, to the wind and cold on all aspects of the construction. The CAD is sadly lacking, we were shown the usual 3D buildup, but nothing we, as Technologist’s would expect to view. If anyone reading this worked on the shard, with either Richard Rogers or the Italian Architect Renzo Piano, best known for creating Paris’s Pompidou Centre, again with Richard Rogers, please, contact me and let me know the CAD package, the BIM and the actual relationship and connectivity between all parties who used CAD.

Again I can not emphasise the quality of the CPD, I shall be using this film to show to my students next week, it has so much in it, I will have to stop it several times to point out the construction, the site problems and where I think the Architectural Technologist would have his work cut out dealing with the design.

I came past the Shard via the DLR last night on my way back from the Grand Designs Live Show, it’s top was shrouded in cloud, as I saw it in the distance, but boy does it stand out in even the cloudy London sky line.

Don’t forget, I will host a tech hangout every Friday at 3 pm, call in to chat, moan,find out something, anything to do with Architectural Technology. follow me on Google + “+stevescaysbrook”


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]]> http://blog.konstrukshon.com/architectural-technologist-the-building-of-the-shard-london/feed/ 1 Architectural Technologist – Rainwater and our need to understand water tables http://blog.konstrukshon.com/architectural-technologist-54/ http://blog.konstrukshon.com/architectural-technologist-54/#comments Mon, 30 Apr 2012 14:00:00 +0000 scays http://blog.konstrukshon.com/?p=17919 You might well want to read this excellent article by Trevor Bishop Head of Water Resources at the Environment Agency, re the rain we have been enduring for the past week, It’s a sad reminder of the way the earth works, and the need to understand the natural system, and not try an bypass it. Oh [...]

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windmap

windmap (Photo credit: Scays)

You might well want to read this excellent article by Trevor Bishop Head of Water Resources at the Environment Agency, re the rain we have been enduring for the past week, It’s a sad reminder of the way the earth works, and the need to understand the natural system, and not try an bypass it. Oh it’s also a call to the press to get it right, and not to exagarate the problem.

It should be high up on your Architectural Technologist CPD, looking to keep your knowledge of water tables, and rain run off, soakaways, drainage, cartography,and the like up to date.

Reading this and doing some follow up should earn you at least 1 hour, save it to your Evernote folder and make a link to it vis the spreadsheet. I saved it to my rainwater harvesting, folder with a load of tags linking it to other topics. Don’t forget to go to your Evernote account and check the use with search engines, it allows for me, Google search my notes to add a header to show any notes I might have made in Evernote.

Don’t forget, I will host a tech hangout every Friday at 3 pm, call in to chat, moan,find out something, anything to do with Architectural Technology. follow me on Google + “+stevescaysbrook”


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]]> http://blog.konstrukshon.com/architectural-technologist-54/feed/ 11 Architectural Technologist – bTech Lesson Plan – Sustainability http://blog.konstrukshon.com/architectural-technologist-btech-lesson-plan-sustainability/ http://blog.konstrukshon.com/architectural-technologist-btech-lesson-plan-sustainability/#comments Thu, 19 Apr 2012 14:00:52 +0000 scays http://blog.konstrukshon.com/?p=17767 Well yesterday I was back at Tewkesbury Launchpad college teaching my class on construction, this week we concentrated on materials looking at what they are, and more inportantly the sustainability of them, are they good, or bad, what constitutes a sustainable material. Perhaps one thing that came out is that there are degrees of sustainability, that there [...]

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The three pillars of sustainability. Click on ...

The three pillars of sustainability. Click on image areas for more information. (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

Well yesterday I was back at Tewkesbury Launchpad college teaching my class on construction, this week we concentrated on materials looking at what they are, and more inportantly the sustainability of them, are they good, or bad, what constitutes a sustainable material. Perhaps one thing that came out is that there are degrees of sustainability, that there is no black and white, and that a point or grading system needs to be applied, and that its interlinked with all aspects of construction, from Social, environmental to financial.

My lesson plan although short this week, it was a packed day, trying to get all this across and stil have time for the students to work on their documents.

Not only is this a major chalenge for 14 year olds to grasp, but it lays the foundation for more involvement in the materials they will ultimately choose to build with.

I must say, we and I mean my generation have not, are not , and do not, give a good example, perhaps I can rectify some of this with my lesson.

My last lesson before Easter was CAD, and drawing, for a few weeks I have made the students use the “T” square, in this lesson plan I introduce the Electronic CAD system we all love !, I used Sketchup as a basis, just because its easy to use, get hold of and for the most part fun to use. Plus the interaction between Sketchup,and google  Google maps makes in even more interesting, the concept of 3D and the demonstration of this using Las Vagas ans a live example.

For the more experienced Technologist, there is plenty we can use for our own CPD activity in these lesson pland, perhaps making your own up for a week/Months CPD might be a good idea.Goals for the day or week.


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]]> http://blog.konstrukshon.com/architectural-technologist-btech-lesson-plan-sustainability/feed/ 1 Architectural Technologist – White star line – Titanic video http://blog.konstrukshon.com/architectural-technologist-white-star-line-titanic-video/ http://blog.konstrukshon.com/architectural-technologist-white-star-line-titanic-video/#comments Wed, 18 Apr 2012 14:00:10 +0000 scays http://blog.konstrukshon.com/?p=17708 There are not many videos of the Titanic, so when I found this fine example from Pathe News, I though woow, interesting, the people, the smoke from the funnel, the way she left the water front, lots n=more in the video, but it was the opening shots that grabbed my attention. Visit Vectorworking   Related [...]

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Cover of "Titanic (Three-Disc Special Col...

Cover via Amazon

There are not many videos of the Titanic, so when I found this fine example from Pathe News, I though woow, interesting, the people, the smoke from the funnel, the way she left the water front, lots n=more in the video, but it was the opening shots that grabbed my attention.


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]]> http://blog.konstrukshon.com/architectural-technologist-white-star-line-titanic-video/feed/ 1 Architectural Technologist – It’s April time for as new spreadsheet http://blog.konstrukshon.com/architectural-technologist-its-april-time-for-as-new-spreadsheet/ http://blog.konstrukshon.com/architectural-technologist-its-april-time-for-as-new-spreadsheet/#comments Fri, 13 Apr 2012 08:14:20 +0000 scays http://blog.konstrukshon.com/?p=17609 It’s April, and I’m trying to sort out my new spreradsheet, to record my CPD activity, nothing will change, I had thought about making some spiffy charts to show what I had done, but to be honest, I just don’t see the point other than showing how clever I am doing it, so we stay [...]

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Templars burned at the stake.

Templars burned at the stake. (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

It’s April, and I’m trying to sort out my new spreradsheet, to record my CPD activity, nothing will change, I had thought about making some spiffy charts to show what I had done, but to be honest, I just don’t see the point other than showing how clever I am doing it, so we stay the same.

I an looking at making it more of a backend database program, and it that comes off, then watch this space.

As it’s Friday the 13th I will take it rather easy today, not that the date worries me, just think of all those Templar knights waking up and being thrown into jail, thats were the superstition comes from Friday 13th 1307 when Philip the fair of France decided to liquidate the debt he had to the Templars. Although so many other events happened on this day when the date alined, but I like the Templar history thing.

So it’s a site inspection morning to watch a concrete slab being poured, the only problem is the location, at the rear of the property, and to far to use slides, so it’s a barrow and two men, one to do the hard wheeling and one to spread. If we get there just at the end we will not get dragged into helping :-)

I have also to check that the underfloor ventilation is still adequate, and that the large pipes running under the slab are well lintoled up and covered in pea gravel, oh and not forgetting the quality of the brickwork, the contractor could not get the right brick size to match the colour, so I have gone for colour, and texture to match, and hidden the joint and obvious brick bed difference behind the very convenient rain water pipe.

I had a note on my class use video for Vectorworks, asking why I used a “0″ class, simple realy, the class list in the drop down box list, numbers first then letters, so for the times I want to draw say tyhe location od a tree with guide lines or draw an object up before I classs it, I use “0″ as its always at the top of the class list, Vectorworks include a null class, but thats always half way down, so thats always removed.

One point I did make in the video, is to always class each object used, and make a separate class for the object placement, it does not help if you use a load of correct classes to place objects in say a wall, and then use on of then to place the wall, which for some reason you turn of and find the whole wall disapear, because it was placed in the same class, everything must be spearate, even the viewports, I have about three I use, no border, with red border and one for a black border, so often when I first started out, I found viewports disapearing when I turned of items.

 


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]]> http://blog.konstrukshon.com/architectural-technologist-its-april-time-for-as-new-spreadsheet/feed/ 2 Architectural Technologist – Just wondering the web http://blog.konstrukshon.com/architectural-technologist-just-wondering-the-web/ http://blog.konstrukshon.com/architectural-technologist-just-wondering-the-web/#comments Tue, 10 Apr 2012 13:53:52 +0000 scays http://blog.konstrukshon.com/?p=17584 A small part of most days, I put aside to just wonder the web, following up on notes I have made, in my moleskin, or on evernote, and in some cases, my day book, my partner Wendy calles it playing on the web, but I call it education, reading articles watching the ever increasing number [...]

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Image representing Saeed Amidi as depicted in ...

Image via CrunchBase

A small part of most days, I put aside to just wonder the web, following up on notes I have made, in my moleskin, or on evernote, and in some cases, my day book, my partner Wendy calles it playing on the web, but I call it education, reading articles watching the ever increasing number of excellent videos, and following google+ blogs. for me it’s an essential part of my personal CPD, don’t expect to use the web and all it offers if you don’t do this.

There is no real point to this blog other than I came across this video below on scobles google+ site, which he seems to use more than anything now. It’s about startup companies, and there need for space, the need to belong  and be seen. Saeed Amidi owns the building where Google and Paypal got their starts.

VC and angel companies see them as a catalist for small companies they can invest in. So my question is should we start a similar place for small Architectural practices, worth thinking about, very low rents for desk space, not rooms, printer access, good broadband, central library, sample library. presentation space, private client rooms.

In Birmingham we have something similar called the Custard Factory, how many other cities have similar. My own wish would to have a large open office, be able to talk, mentor, gain help.share resources. At just a tad over an hour long, its an essential video to watch.

 

 


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