Sunday 11 February 2018

Why architects should learn to code?

Why architects should learn to code?

We know that we have to be contented with numerous topics besides computer science and it is also necessary for us to expertise those subjects that drives our real projects. It's true that an architect cannot expertise in all the domains related to an architectural project; like the whole list of design process, planning, managerial skills, administrative skills, project management, the business side of architecture, building rules, codes and list goes on.... Along with this never ending list of topics, do we need to learn programming? Then, why is the need for a computer programmer? If you look into the current scenario, the design tools are not considered as a tool for assistance, it is not driven by the architect, instead, the architect is driven by these tools making him to familiarize and use its limited functionalities hindering the designer to cognitively reason and to critically think; In short, the design solutions are not the actual solutions but an output produced by familiarizing the tools. Coding gives the designer an opportunity to practically apply logic through algorithms allowing the designer to customize and make iterations to the available tools. So, we also have to think about tools that are iterative in nature. I won't say that everyone should learn to code but learning allows an architect to produce rational and meaningful solutions. Also, I won't say that you have to be super expert in it; at least at a level of understanding the common logical operations would be fine. Fundamentally, at its core, all programming languages are similar; it can be related to the different languages we talk - sounds different but meaning remains the same. So, choose the best language.

We welcome your suggestions and your inputs on this subject. We'd like to know more about the most effective programming language used by architects today in the design domain and software development domain. Please share your thoughts on this and we welcome criticisms if you disagree with us. Hope this helped. Thanks for visiting our blog. Have a great day!

Web development for architects

Do architects have to learn web development? 
Let me try to answer this question in a way that directed me to explore the area of web development. You can share your opinion if you don't agree with me.
Now, let's discuss on it.
Why? What & How? Let's keep this in mind before we start.
The big Y.
Firstly - why to learn web development?
Web development - The subject is definitely inclined towards IT, Information Systems and Computer Science. Learning web development helps an architect to design his/her own architectural web portfolio independently and also know about the most advanced areas of web development that the architect can implement while creating the website design brief. I won't say that every architect should learn web design or development. But, when we look into the phases of design process involved in web development, there are specific areas related to design, especially the wireframing phase, which an architect can easily learn. While communicating with frontend developers of your website UI, it can easily help in translating your ideas. I won't suggest learning the backend technologies because it's bit complicated but an architect can know about the functional side of it.
At an inceptive stage of an architectural firm, a designer may not be able to afford the deployment of professional website as the cost involved in development and services are too high, especially, for website services and maintenance. This is what led me to learn about website development and blogging. And, many  other reasons too. Anyway, let's not talk about that because you would have visited this blog to know about web development. I'll share here few steps involved in web designing. Very soon, I'll update the blog with a presentation on the same.
Basically, we need to know about the overall process involved in the website development.
1. Detailed Specification (Brief)
2. ‎Wireframing and Structure
3. Look and Feel
4. Development
5. Testing
6. Launching
7. ‎Maintanence
Almost similar to the design process involved in architectural design. Ryt! But with little changes.
Wireframing and structure is almost like 'concept development' which an architect can easily learn. I'll share here few sketches used in wireframing. You can also relate this to the term 'diagramming' used in the analysis sketches for making design decisions but with different needs and applications.
The next big questions is..
What?
What are the needs?
• ‎What should be the UI design?
• ‎What is the structure of website?
• ‎What is the content?
• ‎What should be the user flow?
Getting the answer for this is time consuming and its one of most critical stage for the designer. and by this time you'd be exhausted with no more watts. So let's end with what and shift to how? Now you can relax and see how the website functions and the improvements to be made for which, oftentimes, a feedback processes will be carried out.
How?
• How to make iterations?
• ‎How is the website functioning?
• ‎How the site works?
• ‎How is the UI?
• ‎How to test?
‎and finally,
• ‎How to improve?
Key points to remember during the whole process.
• Needs
• ‎Goals
• Plan
• ‎Content
• ‎Structure
• ‎UI Design
• ‎User flow
• ‎Performance Indicators
• ‎Front End - UI
• ‎Back End - Servers
Thanks for visiting our blog. Hope this helped.

Friday 29 December 2017

Differentiating site analysis from site planning

Many architecture students find it difficult to differentiate site analysis from site planning. Here we are sharing with you a figure to help  you better understand the stage during which the site analysis is conducted in an architectural design process. Also the key points to be considered while conducting a site analysis is also given.



Also check out this PPT link to know more about this.



Tongkonan Indigenous Architecture

In today's post I'm sharing about a literature review done for a vernacular architecture in Indonesia. Here I've included a post presentation that compares the responsive and resilient features of the identified building.

Why Vernacular Architecture?
Vernacular Architecture is more challenging than any other field as it not only considers the technology associated with construction but also the local traditions and needs are answered in the most ingenuous and functional way.

An overview of Tongkonan
Tongkonan, is an indigenous house in the South Sulawesi island of Indonesia. The topography of Indonesia makes the place vulnerable to various hazardous situations such as flooding and earthquakes. The study area is in Indonesia, an archipelago, with a population of more than 230 million of which the majority of population depends on the local ecosystem's resources for survival. Tongkonan is a traditional house of Toraja District in Southern part of Sulawesi Island.

The climate of South Sulawesi is majorly classified as Af (Equatorial Climate - Rainforest) by the Köppen-Geiger system. The southern part of Sulawesi is characterised by humid tropical climate with constant temperature and the seasons are differentiated by the amount of rainfall received. The Tana Toroja regency covers an area of 3205km2 located in South Sulawesi, Indonesia and is located approximately 300-600m above sea level. The Torojan people are known for their culture and tradition. As their place was isolated for a long period of time by natural barriers they have practiced what they had inherent in them.




Resilient and responsive features in the case of Tongkonan

An architectural solution that facilitates the rational functioning of eco system is needed for the local people and built environment to be resilient and responsive during unexpected challenges and vulnerable scenarios. The characteristics of the built environment may be influenced by the environmental and cultural factors. Here an identification of the spatial and structural features is carried out to review their responsiveness to contextual climate and resilience during vulnerable scenarios. This helps in relative classification of resilience and responsiveness and also the to see the extend of its influence over the comfort parameters and structural stability.



Sunday 12 November 2017

iLeads - Integrated Learning Environment in an Architectural Design Studio and Interactive Media Design Lab (IMDL)

An initiative from team ids exclusively for architecture students. The program is to assess the performance of students in their academic design studio and interactive media design lab  for an integrated and holistic learning. We will be updating on the program and the iLeads leadership program in the upcoming posts.  This program is at its amateur level now; we are working as a team to improvise this program. A brief overview of the program and assessment criteria is given below.

Assignment Stage 
Exercise on specific tasks that are holistic in nature are given to students.

Participation and Involvement Program
iLeads Student Design Leadership Titles: Students are honoured with titles and tags for their performance and contribution which is considered as the two major categories. And the titles are given on the basis of the interdisciplinary nature of subjects.

Assessment modes
Credits‎ with feedback from expert panel
‎Participation and Involvement Program
Panel Review

Thanks for visiting our blog.

Friday 10 March 2017

Vernacular SEA (South East Asia) - Major Elements and Technology


This post will give you an overview of the major elements and component considered in the study of vernacular architecture. Some of the parameters are listed below and the same are considered for reviewing indigenous responsive and resilient architectural features in the upcoming posts; (Review 1 - Tongkonan). 

Technology



  • Materials - Use of locally available materials Well adapted to local environment
  • Joining, pegging, wedging/binding and mortising most significant in roof construction
  • The superstructure mainly consists of prefabricated screens attached to structural components.
  • Post/Columns are used as load bearing components.

  • Wall - Not a priority instead screens are used. Non load bearing walls
  • Wood - Hardwood (Teak, Cengal) is used. Bamboo is also used for temporary buildings
  • Roofing - Palm leaf and grass thatching
  • Foundation - Raised platform. Varies across region; Some are built directly on ground. Low pile foundations are used in west Java. Raised floor is effectively used in Thailand.

Components/Region; Example.



Region
Component
Description
Example
Toba Batak Village - Indonesia
Roof
Saddle backed roof

Extended ridge and
sloping gable

Toba House
North Sumatra - Indonesia
Roof
(Batak Architecture)
Saddle backed roof
Different variations
Karo batak
North Sumatra
 
Tana Toraja South Sulawesi, Indonesia
Foundation
Stand on high piles
Traditional Torajan ancestral houses.

Tongkonan
Roof
Layered split bamboo
Curved arc shape.
Tongkonan means ‘to sit’.
Tongkonan Layuk, Tongkonan pekamberan.



Proprofs; Vernacular Architecture Quiz

Proprofs; Vernacular Architecture Quiz
Lets try this quiz below


Saturday 24 September 2016

High Paying Ad Networks

Give below are the highest paid Ad Networks
1. Media Net

  • Exclusive access to Yahoo
  • Largest contextual Ad Networks
  • Provides several Ad Styles
  • Main Ad style is content Ad.
  • Search Targeting
  • Provides mobile ads
  • Best when compared to Adsense.
2. Adsterra
  • Fastest growing premium Ad Network
  • For Web and Mobile
  • Ads with standard banner, sliders and direct links
  • Payments by weekly via major payment systems.
3. Chitika
  • 3,50,000 publishers
  • Partners include Yahoo, Supermedia etc
  • Payments by PayPal with a minimum of $10.

Why architects should learn to code?

Why architects should learn to code? We know that we have to be contented with numerous topics besides computer science and it is also ne...