Wednes day, November 1 5 , 2023 Weekly architecture digest TAI #W3-1123 Henry Kofi, Danso Light & Ventilation : Balancing function and aesthetics. To ensure a design function properly, it's crucial to align it optimally with natural light and local ventilation, often requiring openings in the architectural structure. The dynamic interaction between solid mass and void spaces adds an intriguing dimension to design. Howe ver, certain projects, influenced by various factors, may necessitate more enclosed volumes or visual barriers on specific facades. The challenge lies in balancing structural elements with natural light and ventilation. Facades incorporating perforated elements like cobogós or mashrabiya offer an excellent solution. They control incoming light, obscure the interior, and provide protection from elements such as rain while facilitating airflow. The level of transparency varies with the size of the openings, influencing views from both insid e and outside. Notably, the interplay between solid and void elements creates a visually captivating texture. Despite the presence of perforated elements and their textural variations, the fundamental structural concept remains intact. While these elements introduce a sense of lightness, the overall form maintains its integrity. This allows architects to preserve valued design aesthetics while still reaping the bioclimatic benefits. Numerous examples illustrate the successful integration of these concepts. Incorporating natural light and ventilation in facades. Facades featuring perforated elements like cobogós or mashrabiya provide an excellent solution. (image: joana franca - bloco arquitetos) ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- ----------------------------------------------------------------- Adu Mensah, Daniel Good Sustainability Is Not an Option: It’s a Necessity Innovative updates and opinions In the construction industry, the urgent call for sustainability is no longer a mere suggestion; it is an absolute necessity. The construction industry, once notorious for its disregard for environmental impacts, now stands at a critical juncture where conscious choices must be made to salvage our planet. The sector contributes to approximately 39% of the world's total carbon footprint and generates 30-40% of the world's total solid waste; Unsustainable extraction practices of gravel, sand and timber lead to deforestation, soil erosion, and depletion of natural habitats; The proliferation of heat-absorbing materials like asphalt and concrete in urban construction contributes to the "urban heat island" effect; The production of cement is particularly energy- consuming and contributes to greenhouse gas emissions; This industry is single-handedly responsible for climate change. Sustainability is not just about adopting eco-friendly practices; it is about recognizing that our survival is intricately tied to the health of our planet. Although the architecture industry has played a significant role in the degradation of our environment, it also possesses the power to lead the way in reversing this trend. By prioritizing sustainability, architects can create structures that not only stand as testaments to human ingenuity but also serve as beacons of environmental responsibility. From green building materials to energy-efficient designs, the possibilities are vast. Even animals that “architect” their own homes design and build sustainably. It is time for architects to weave sustainability into the very fabric of their creations, forging a path towards a greener, healthier future for all. Casa Muxarabi (Image: Julia Totoli @Studio Heloisa Fogaca) The Language of Architecture To Understand your Masterpieces African Traditional Architecture Preserving an Endangered Species n An Atlas of Another America The A rchi - topia Nana Akua Bema Appiah Nana Akua Bema Appiah Nana Akua Bema Appiah This book by Andrea Smitch provides students and professional architects with the basic elements of architectural design divided into twenty - six comprehensible chapters including an overview of how these elements have and can be used. This book, a general introduction to African vernacular architecture is a documentation that records the rich architectural heritage of Africa, which is being wiped away by the rapid evolution of most African countries written by Susan Denyer This architectural fiction puts the current architectural landscape of America and in extension, the rest of the world under microscopic scrutiny, bringing to life ‘Freedomland’, a fictional utopia of communal architecture. Page 1 Wedne sday, November 1 5 , 2023 TAI #W3-1123 Elijah, Anyirinaang Disasters by Design Latest from Ghana and Africa Our future depends on how compassionate we are to our environment and how creative we are at successfully adapting to the changes that are happening all around us. Natural disasters cause significant community destruction, taking generations to recover from. And the disaster is people suffering, rather than how buildings are affected by nature. But the dilemma is whether these disasters are natural disasters or human caused disasters. Disasters are caused by longer- term societal decisions taken with and without design professionals to avoid preparing for, mitigating damage from, reducing risk of, and planning for environmental phenomena. The disaster is from society, not nature What do we do? Disasters can be stopped through planning, engineering and architecture connected to other skills and professions. The choice must be made to do so. Designing like we care. Adopting climate resilience projects, among others. Design professionals must come together to think and design systematically to tie the pieces back together for a permanent and resilient environment, correcting our flaws in planning and design for disaster prevention. When we aren't creating something that is thinking about the future, we are creating something that we're going to have to fix later. This calls for a plan to curbing the many devastating disasters we face over and over. Climate change triggered byhuman activities, is one influencer of natural disasters. From unpredidctable rain patterns to overflowing of natural reservoirs leading to flooding. If there is a climate change then there is a need for a design change. Following design and building orders to building orders to shape our built environment for resilient disaster buildings. Aerial view of a flood affected community due to many factors including a bad design layout. Autodesk Inc. A dobe InDesign Arch ‘O’ Soft recommends This software is a layout tool for Architects. It comes along with features that help enhance the graphical integrity of design portfolios, whether in PDF formats or as website uploads. It also supports the design of different layouts for resumes, posters, presentations, business cards and other layouts to enhance your architectural career. This software has a very friendly user interface that makes it easy to maneuver in a bid to create a layout. It provides a wide variety of tools that allow architects to painlessly create a graphical representation to communicate what they wish to. It also allows for the incorporation of videos, audios and animations when needed. To gain maximum experience in the use of Adobe InDesign you need, at a minimum a Windows 10 multicore Intel processor with an 8GB RAM and 3.6 GB available hard-disk space for installation. How do we design for impact? In a world bustling with innovation, we often overlook the potential within our own communities. This competition is a chance to harness your community’s spirit and design something with local value. Mark, Ati Shaping Spaces Together The l atest on architectural competitions Your challenge is to transform and enhance a local public space that is overlooked or poorly maintained. This transformation should be beautiful and add value to the lives of those who encounter it. We encourage you to foster social wellbeing and enhance people’s lives through your design. Some examples might be: turning an alleyway into space for public art, rejuvenating a forgotten corner of a park, or finding new uses for underutilized parking spaces; the possibilities are endless.e. As part of your competition entry, you must gather feedback from the community who will use the space. This feedback is core to designing something that is not only beautiful but also functional for those who interact with it every day. Eligibility The competiton i s open to all, anyone anywhere Entry Fee There is no registration fee. Key Dates Stage 1 deadline : Dec 1 5, 2023 Stage 2 deadline : Jan 15, 2024 Voting starts : Jan 20, 2024 Voting ends : Feb 12, 2024 Winner’s announcement : Feb 15, 2024 To know more about the competition, visit, click here! Design stunning pages for digital and print with Adobe InDesign Page 2 Wedne sday, November 1 5 , 2023 TAI #W3-1123 Dorcas Naa Ayeley Aryee Internship Stories Architecture School this week! of clients very well! Finally, research about the Upper Side, South Africa made me realize how seriously architecture can impact our lives. On site, I have come to know how to do measured drawings very well, realized the essence of paying extra attention to detail and wearing PPEs on site. I will always keep a record of my progress in every task I undertake! - Dzarhene Vania Quarshie, Arch 2 I left because the software they were using wasn’t aligning with my goals. I started my internship two weeks after vacation. What has really stood out about this firm for me? Well, this firm always has someone to run to for help! It has given me the opportunity to learn a variety of software, unlike where I interned last year where AutoCAD was used for everything (from drafting to modeling). Now, I’ve gained extra tips and tricks in rendering and have improved on my drafting. Also, our multiple site visits every week have thrown more light on the theory stuff I learnt throughout the academic year. Truly, prayer and determination will always be the key to excellence! - Anonymous Agnes Aba, Daisie. An Archi - tastic Watchlist! #2 Architecture & Entertainment We are back again with an update on our customized movie playlist. Enjoy while educating yourself this week! Click on thumbnail to watch! This is a series and a platform where architecture students can share their experiences during internships. Finally! A firm that doesn’t undermine my abilities to help. I began interning at a firm two weeks after we vacationed. One thing I like about that firm is that it doesn’t see me as an errand girl. It neither demoralizes my capabilities to help but sees me as a beautiful butterfly in its early stages. This is the knowledge I have acquired so far. Spending three solid weeks in the office designing a residential building under the supervision of experts at the firm, I learnt to critically consider passive architecture and cost in my designs. I’ve also learnt how to deal with all sorts of Note: Pop - ups come on first two clicks and after, close the pop - up dialog box on the movie where the movie will show. National Day Calendar ® National Clean Out Your Refrigerator Day What are we celebrating t oday ? National Clean Out Your Refrigerator Day on November 15th encourages us to prepare for the upcoming holidays. Get together a soap and hot water-filled bucket, disinfectant, a sponge, and a garbage bag. Then you will be ready for the day! Due to our hectic and busy lifestyles, the cleaning of the refrigerator gets neglected. Hence the creation of National Clean Out Your Refrigerator Day. There may be a surprise or two found at the back of the shelves. Things are often pushed back as new food is put in the front and gets forgotten. International found that the meat and vegetable drawers were the dirtiest spots in our kitchens - well with regard to causing disease. The home economists at Whirlpool Home Appliances created National Clean Out Your Refrigerator Day in 1999 to encourage people to clean out their refrigerators in advance of the upcoming holidays. At that time, the company even had a toll- free hotline that people could call into for cleaning tips Use #CleanOutYourRefrigeratorDay to post on social media. Page 3