Introduction and Context

The Basic Relationship

• The fundamental relationship of construction to architecture is that construction uses its adaptive, flexible, and knowledgeable management and its highly skilled trade workers to faithfully construct the design professionals design concept.– Owners program– Creative and Aesthetically pleasing– Functioning– Sound design and engineering

Definitions

• Construction – The act or process of building or erecting something.– Types– Systematic plan for delivery

• Architecture – The art and science of designing and building of structures.– Paper Architecture– Rhetorical Architecture– Virtual Architecture

Elements of Architecture

• Architecture:– Artistic and aesthetic phases– Principles of design

• Balance• Scale• Massing• Proportion• Rhythm• Unity

– The architect must be able to convert and express the intangible attributes of the design concept in a real physical manner

Elements of Architecture

Contractors Position

• Most contractors do not have a sense of buy-in into the design concept because they are held to specifics.

• Contractors are actually like subcontractors in that they perform a particular portion of the project

• It would be more helpful if contractors could be brought in to understand the design concept

• CM – construction manager may be contracted to provide design phase services concerning construction methods and materials in the form of:– Insight– advice

Project Developm

ent

• Each project progresses through the architects office in a set manner or planned stages:– Working drawing production consumes nearly

half of the architects fees– Are the drawings most valuable in the

construction of the facility?• Vital to producing the correct work• Thousands of decisions are made in the

working drawing phase• Hundreds of thousands of items may be

involved.– Why do you think most architects would treat

this phase of the work offhanded?– Should shortcuts be taken?

Recent Changes

• Innovation:– 3D modeling– Signature Architects

• Starchitects– Statement– High rise office buildings (page 8)

• Architecture is the result of:– The product of several sequences and efforts.– The combination of many talents and skills– The real manifestation of a mental concept

• Most architects have work that is not ostentatious or clearly visible.

Recent Changes (cont.)

• The profession of architecture is practiced with results that:– Protect communities– Enhance communities– Improve the lives of the occupants

• The vast majority of the general population:– Are not aware of the impact that architecture

and construction have on their lives– Are regulated in the design for use and

occupancy• This course is designed around how projects are

produced, from perceived needs to mental processes and images to “bricks and mortar”

The Axiom(principle)

• Architecture is the manifestation of design achieved through construction– Does any one project define

architecture?– The architect is engaged to work as the

owners representative.– The owner chooses the one design

concept/solution that is to their liking or fits their needs.

– In the construction process the design professional is not regulated to the position of bystander

The Axiom(principle)

– Therefore it is necessary that professionals know, understand and fully appreciate the extent of the project and the process of construction.

– The professional needs to be:• Flexible• Decisive• Strong• Instructional• A good manager• And work with client and contractor

Construction

• Two Elements of Architecture:– Art

• Esthetics (design)• Interpretation

– Science• Engineering • Technology

Totality of Work

• Architects need to understand both elements.

• An architect may choose to become a designer.– Devoted to conceptualizing and

creating designs– Resolving owners needs and demands

• Design and Construction must be bonded together to ensure that each is pursued in the correct context and within the proper bounds.

Totality of Work (cont.)

• Construction is a team activity• Various players and combination of players contribute to

the team effort:– Some on a continuous basis– Some coming and going at various junctures

• The architect:– Leader of the team– Knows more about the project than anyone else.– Forms the team of consultants

• No time or room for contention within the group/team.• The group/team must be:

– Focused– Coordinated– Cooperative– Well directed

Totality of Work (cont.)

• A project is not a competitive situation, but one of:– Full inclusion– Cooperation– Contribution– Compromise– Adjustment– Unity of purpose

Collaborative Team

Effort

• Can it be that architecture exists only in the creative mind of the designer?

Genesis of Architecture

• Architecture is founded in the minds of the designer.

• They have control of:– Design theory– Design principles– Sense of space– The ability to create forms that

combine:• Taste, attractiveness, and function

The Blend

• The key to a successful project is to blend:– Design– Construction– Management

• Each needs the other to succeed• Respect is fundamental

– You cannot make someone show respect to another

– The proper leader should show respect to others and can gain respect in this manner.

• The goal is to move people in a cohesive and single-minded direction.

The Blend (cont.)

• There is a widespread almost industry-wide distrust between designers and constructors:– Design– Construction– Management

• Each needs the other to succeed• Respect is fundamental

– You cannot make someone show respect to another– The proper leader should show respect to others and

can gain respect in this manner.• The goal is to move people in a cohesive and

single-minded direction.• Each group seems to feel that the other is intent on

compromising its efforts

The Blend (cont.)

• Designers are agents of the owner and are hired to work the parameters of the project in the best interest of their client.

• Produce documents that set out a formal array of construction information and direction within a legal framework

• There should be no intent to undercut or compromise the construction process.

• Contractors may feel burdened by:– How the project is designed– The documents– Expectation of cost and timing

• All of this needs to be agreed to before onset

The Blend (cont.)

• Designers often regard contractors as:– Those that can unfairly manipulate the project work.– Provide less than value in many aspects of the work

such as:• Cheaper materials• Less skilled labor at inflated prices• Etc.

– Those that prey on the normal range of shortcomings in any set of documents by taking advantage of loopholes

– In short, designers view contractors as psuedo-preditors who sacrifice and compromise the project in their own self interest and profit.

Dispelling the Issue

• The design professionals purpose is to produce a project as nearly perfect as possible for the client.– Nothing frivolous involved– Nothing thrown in– No attempt to:

• Impose, attack or seek to be adversarial to contractors

• Penalize contractors• Reduce their effectiveness• Reduce their profitability

Dispelling the Issue

• The drawings are so commonly accepted and understood that they are seen as the only valid documents.– Specifications are equally important

• Communicate information that cannot be displayed graphically.

Dispelling the Issue

• Project progression (def. page 22)

– See fig. 1-10 page 23– 1st example uses 3 separate processes:

• Design professional and owner work to formulate a project

• The contractor builds the project as designed• The design professional works with the

contractor to close out the project– 2nd example See fig. 1-11 page 23

• Owner and Design professional are constantly involved

• This is the truer example

Understanding the progression

• A logical format of tasks:– Some performed in tandem– Some concurrently– Singularly– Events that build on each other– New work should never be

installed at the wrong time• Page 26, numbered list• Look at example page 27