Good Design for Low-Rise Housing - Essay Example

HOUSE CONSTRUCTION of Introduction Low-rise residents are the most form of houses that are in need of heightened innovation so as to ensure privacy, simplify access, create harmonious form of relationship and maximize grade relationship. Creating a place where legitimate users and residents are in a position to go about their daily routine without any fear or insecurity is one of the major elements of this assignment. Moreover, the use of the existing urban areas will be required in the future where large, medium, and small centers enjoy good transport, services and jobs (Stephenson, 2011). Good design for low-rise housing has to focus on the increasing density at the same time without conceding the comfort of the existing residents. However, this design has to contribute confidently to the character of the locality while offering high-value public domain. Good house designs should not need expensive construction materials and techniques but offer creativity to produce well-designed houses that are smaller, more suitable and have lower running coast. Good low-rise housing designs of infill residential projects are important to promote community acceptance and understanding of the issue of higher densities present in the suburban regions. A major factor in housing cost is the provision of parking space. Notably, about 30% of apartment structures are for below-ground car parking (Stephenson, 2011). However, there is a possibility to lower the cost of building a house by reducing car parking especially if the site for the house is close to public transport means. The site areas used for access driveways and garaging can be reduced. This will leave more land that can be used as a private open place, residential amenity or for tree planting. In the past decades, low-rise house development in Conventry, UK has mainly focused on space in order to achieve good amenity. However, design creativity is now required at both high and medium densities. More detailed ideas are needed concerning the relationship between buildings and their neighbors and the streetscapes. The details should also provide information on vegetation benefits at each location and how to maximize the landscaping. The increase in the density of housing that exists in the suburbs is a problem that needs a solution. The issue of density is sometimes a cause of distress within a given community. The house design present in this paper reveals the fact that medium-density housing does not require to be achieved through the process of high-rise development. The organization of this housing design has to consider the following factors; 1. Building mass and height The height and mass of this design should be put into thought so as to ensure compatibility with some of the planned and existing developments present in the community (Fletcher, 2012). A building may be similar to its neighbor while some others may vary, requiring skillful design so as to ensure appropriate integration with the city fabric. However, low-rise houses are frequently sandwiched between high-density and low-density areas. With the careful organization of height and mass, low-rise houses can serve as a screening device for transition between fluctuating neighborhood scales. 2. Siting In the areas that have desirable and established character and streetscape, the placing of a new building should enhance and respect that condition. Matching grades and setbacks can help new buildings blend in while at the same time reducing any neighbor negative impact (Fletcher, 2012). For the areas that have less desirable character and streetscape, for instance, large surface parking lots, reverse frontages, encourage new development so as to establish new design standards and improve the character. 3. Connectivity Connectivity refers to features such as pathways, buildings, natural areas, and open spaces that are found in the new development. This design should integrate with the existing environment. As such, the guidelines for connectivity will deal with developing a positive relationship between the existing context and the new development (Joyce, 2005). The design should also focus on improving the linkages between built areas and within. Generally, the existing networks include pedestrian pathways, natural features, streets and open spaces. Enhanced pedestrian connectivity makes walking more convenient and pleasant, as well as encourages alternate transit manners to vehicular. Through a city-wide perspective, linking natural features and open spaces through a site can render a system of green corridors for environmental and recreational benefits. House construction The design of the house will include the ground floor and the first floor. The house will be located facing north. It will consist of a rear garden. The plot size for the house is 30 meters south to north and 12 meters west to east. He house will be a three bedroom house. It will have two bathrooms and a half bath. The living area of the house will be 1,775 sq.ft. The garage bay will accommodate two cars at a time. The design gives a bonus space which will be used as a garden for the house. Ground floor The design for the ground floor considers the following; Situation of the insulation within the floor structure. Applied floor loading Minimizing air leakage, thermal bridging and preventing air condensation. The ground floor of the house will include insulation below the concrete slab. This will ensure that there is increased thermal capacity for the house, maintaining steady internal temperature (Rumbarger, Vitullo and Ramsey, 2003). All the materials will be compressed under the load. The insulation material for the house, which will be under the slab, will be in a position to accommodate the applied loads with minimum compression. The location of the insulation on the floor influences the thermal characteristics that the floor brings to the house. Additionally, it has relevance when it comes the active loads that apply during the use of the floor. The point load will be spread by the layers that are above the insulation so that the load, which is acting on the insulation is lower than the load applied to the surface of the floor. The ion of the load is a function of the depth of the layer that is above the insulation. Thus, a point load applied to the floor where the insulation is placed below a thin screed will lead to a higher applied load on the insulation. There will be a 150mm that will be between the upper region of the floor and the exterior ground level. The dpm will be lapped with vcl/dpc .On the exterior part of the ground-floor wall, the brickwork cladding will be set out from sheathing face so as to ensure correct cavity with. This can be illustrated by Figure 2 of the ground floor slab. First floor First floor will be made up of depth beams or trimmers which will be fabricated by bolting or nailing joints together. For the engineered timber joints, manufacture’s guidelines have to be followed. In any case, the long or the large loads need support; beams, that have greater depth, will be required. Otherwise, beams and trimmers can be of steel flitch or hardwood beams. Walls The walls of the house will be made from timber. In order to attain better thermal performance from the timber wall structure of the house, there will be an increase in the depth of the studs to more than 150mm so as to permit more insulation. Additionally, the design does allow the use of studs that are more than 200mm deep. For insulation purposes, the walls will use cellulose or fiber. Ventilation of the house The house will be made of the ground and first floor. Therefore, it will require proper ventilation for the circulation of air in and outside the house. On the ground floor, the house will have a total number of eight windows. Each room will have one window except for the rumpus room which will have the entrance door. The stairs of the house will be located on the lower right side of the house in the living room. First floor will have five windows that will ensure proper ventilation of the house. The kitchen of the house will be located on the ground floor of the house. The kitchen of the house will have counters. The kitchen shall also have a food storage room. The house will use the pitch roof type. On the roof, there will be a total of three roof windows which will ensure that there is proper flow of air in and out of the roof region. Inspection of the house Inspection of the house will be done under the accompanying criteria Grounds Proper grading drainage far from the house No sign of standing water No spills from septic tank or parasite field Yard, arranging, trees and walkways in great condition No limbs or hedges touching house or overhanging the top Railings on stairs and decks are satisfactory and secure Driveways, walkways, yards, door landings in great condition, and pitched far from the structure Downspout waste steered far from the structure Structure Ridge and sash board lines seem straight and level Sides of house seem straight, not bowed or listing Window and door frames seem square (particularly bowed windows) Roof Composition shingles no twisting, no measuring, no loss of granulation particulate, No broken, harmed or missing shingles, close to two layers of material Wood shingles or shakes no mold, decay or rot, no broke/broken/missing shingles, no twisting Flat tops: no undeniable patches, no splits or parts, insignificant rankles/"alligatoring" and wrinkles, no residue stores Flashing around top infiltrations No proof of abundance material concrete/tar/caulk Soffits and belt: no rot, no stains Exterior venting for eave regions: vents are clean and not painted over Gutters: Inside Rooms Floors, dividers, and roofs seem straight and plumb and level No stains on floors, dividers or roofs Flooring materials in great condition No noteworthy splits in dividers or roofs Interior entryways work effortlessly and lock appropriately, no harm or rot, no broken fittings Paint, divider covering, and paneling in great condition Wood trim introduced well and in great condition Lights and switches work appropriately Adequate number of three-pronged electrical outlets in each one-room Windows, Doors, and Wood Trim Wood casings and trim pieces are secure, no breaks, decay or rot Joints around casings are caulked Muntin and mullion coating compound in great condition Storm windows or warm glass utilized Drip tops introduced over windows Bathrooms Working fumes fan that doesnt end in the loft space Adequate stream and weight at all apparatuses Sink, tub, and shower empty appropriately Plumbing and cupboard floor under sink in great condition If the sink is metal, it hints at no rust; flood channel doesnt spill Toilet works appropriately Toilet steady, no shaking, no stains around the base References Fletcher, G. (2012). Residential construction academy: House wiring. Clifton Park, NY: Delmar Cengage Learning. Joyce, M. (2005). Residential construction academy. Australia: Thomson/Delmar Learning. Madsen, D. A., & Madsen, D. P. (2012). Engineering drawing & design. Clifton Park, NY: Delmar, Cengage Learning. Rumbarger, J., Vitullo, R., & Ramsey, C. G. (2003). Architectural graphic standards for residential construction. New York: John Wiley & Sons. Stephenson, T. (2011). Understanding construction drawings for housing and small buildings. Toronto: Nelson Education. Read More