The Blog Is Open!

So you think you know a thing or two about Architecture? Feel free to share it.

The Whole idea of the Blog is to make it 100% interactive; that way, it won't just be The Editor that will be posting, you too will...you'll just have to be Authorized.

Simple Steps To Authorization

-You'll need a Google Account

-You Must possess a good Style of Writing

-...a Lil sense of Humour will be a Plus-an Official Letter for Authorization should be sent to archbassey@gmail.com; attached to it should be two Architectural  Articles(with or without images) which will be sent to the same Gmail address.

-Pending your Approval, at least 1 comment on each of the Post would be needed;

Active Participation in the Group Chat Forum will be a Plus.

-When you are approved, a comfirmation mail will be sent to you to accept an invitation from us, accept this, then you're good to go!

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The Usefulness Of CAD

Computer Aided Designs (CAD) refers to the use of Softwares in a computer to produce drawings / designs.

Before the Advent of CAD, Good Architects have been making good drawings, but the problem was that it took a pretty long time to have that drawing completed especially if it's a work that involves a lot of Details.

This posed a challenge as no Construction work can start except he architect is done with his design. More so, the use of Repetitive patterns can cause a problem because there is a high possibility of Inconsistency being revealed as such patterns if being drawn.

So, Generally, there have been Limitations in Hand drawings; for I instance, if an Oil Rig is to be designed, how in the World does the Architect want to archives that-hand drawn??? It will take 'Forever' before he will be done with it.

The advent of CAD however, has brought a drastic Change to the World of design on its own: instead of one having to waste 2-3 days working on a Design for a Residential Building, he can have it completed in a day with a 3-D Rendering image of the Design to Complement!!'

That came out recently tho', because it can be said for CAD or any other thing whatsoever that hasn't undergone improvements before reaching the level of development and Flexibility when it comes to human use that it is now.

Not withstanding, the issue is, one has to first learn the Software before he can make use of it. The good thing however is, the softwares are related to the Architectural field, so all one has to do is to find that tool with the ability to do that job he'd have done with his hands, and use his mouse-instead of his hands- to perform that operation.

I usually told my Students while I was instructing them on the use of AutoCAD, that CAD generally is a 'Lazy Tool'. The Laziest Of them I know of is ArchiCAD.

ArchiCAD is an Architectural Software that aids the production of Architectural Drawings with great ease! Insomuch as you are creating your plan, a Section, Elevation, and 3-D view of your drawing is automatic created for you!

The commonest CAD software is AutoCAD and it is commonly called the Mother Of All CAD Softwares: this is because most users of other CAD softwares ( not restricted to Architectural CAD Softwares)sometimes move their drawings to AutoCAD for Finishing Touches.

In Summary, CAD has generally proven to give a Better end result to our designs than Hand Drawings. This is because it(CAD) eliminates errors in the process of producing your drawings.

It's Obvious: CAD use is Better than Hand a Drawings...You're Welcome.

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Please Comment And Share

Be a part of ArchyLounge. Kindly comment on any Post; and dot forget to share any post(s) you enjoyed reading.

Enjoy!

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Nigerian Comtempoary Architecture-BOI

The Bank Of Industry's Buiding at Abuja is another interesting Structure and it was designed by Seun Oduwole of Brown inQ. 

Sky Scraper City Has This To say which I've modified by eliminating future tenses with present tense since the Building is now Finished:

The building concept was inspired by the shape and dynamism of an eye. Visibility

and vertical connectivity were integral to the idea. a desire to depart from the traditional office configuration of masses of segregated spaces, bad lighting and poor space planning.

The elliptical shape of our floor plan allows the office space to revolve around a very

generous central atrium. The glazed atriumacts as a focus internally for the building & plays a large part in the environmentalstrategy of the building.

Internally, the range, depth and quality of the finishes reflects the identity and integrity of the organisation and meets the aspirations of the client.

 The building has become a statement of Bank of Industry’s position as one of the leading corporate organisations in Nigeria.

Designed by Seun Oduwole of Brown inQ, construction was executed by local firm SDP. 

The building has been standing since June, 2009.

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Nigerian Contemporary Architecture-GT Banks

Anyone who has seen the 'Wonderfulness' of any GT Bank Branches in Nigeria, will JUST have to look again the second time-no matter how much the person claims to hate Architecture.

Am not am exception (I am A Lover of Architecture tho'), but I find myself still looking at the GT Bank branch Building that is closest to my house and still end up finding it as interesting g as the first time I saw it.

It's quite interesting when Architects start to think 'outside the Box'. It's seems the GT Bank Group have just made the design of 'Crazy' Structures as part of their branding.

I'd have loved to know the Architect for the Bank, but when I did my lil research, I found out that it's actually different Archie Companies that take charge of different bank-branch project,and they still come up with the same crazy designs!

Some of the GT Bank Architects include:

-Temidayo David Ogunremi

-Formwork Limited

-Nicolas Tye Architects (foreign Architects)

-Oladapo Abejirine 

-3D World Consultants

-James George

GT Bank, Lawanson Branch

To me, the Lawanson Branch seems to make the most Promulgated of all the GT Bank designs. Sky Scaper City has this to say:

"Architecture has the potential to do much more than just delineate

spaces for human activities, in truth; architecture can create

excitement and bring new energy to a community. That much did the

design sleuthe find out while chatting with James George on his self

styled ‘twist cube’ design for the Guaranty Trust Bank branch in

Lawanson, Surulere, Lagos; which has since completion become a head

turning spectacle in the ever bustling neighbourhood. It is not

always that you encounter a building that makes you look again,

especially in the seediest parts of Lagos, James George tells us why

and how he set out to do what he did with the building."

More Kudos, however, should be given to the Nigerian Architect who came up with the Brand design. 

Tis not only GT Bank tho', that has such crazy structures, a lot of the Buildings on the islands, mainlands, Abuja and other parts of the Country still got some interesting Buildings.

More coming your way soon.

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Beautiful Interior Designs

    

       

 

Which is your Best? 

Share Your Views In The Commet Box Below

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Quality: What It Really Entails

The Advanced Dictionary and Thesaurus simply defines Quality as something, someone that is 'of Superior Grade'.

But unlike in English or General terms, Quality in Architecture cannot be defined categorically because some bodies and persons will have to access, and approve the Work as Quality work in their own Criteria before a building can Finally be viewed as Quality work.

According to Stephen Emmitt, the Author of Architectural Technology, he tries to make us understand that Quality in Architecture and Building generally is not exactly as we presume it to be.

"Each group's perception of quality will vary depending on their particular position in the development 'team'. Not surprisingly, there is a great deal of confusion when people talk about achieving quality in construction, despite a growing body of literature addressed a such issues. Usually the word 'quality' is used in a subjective manner, rather than in an objective sense that can be tested and benchmarked."he says.

"To confuse the issue further, provision of a Quality Service does not necessarily mean quality work, nor does a quality building necessarily have to be the product of a Quality Service. The two should however be inseparable (Maister 1993)."he also said.

In Conclusion, Cuff (1991) puts to argument the principal Judges of any buildings Quality:

1.) The Consumers, the Building Users, and the Public at Large.

2.) The Participants in the Design and Assembly Process,

3.) The Architectural Profession.

It's interesting to note that these three groups have different criteria for determining quality. So, if a building is to be perceived as 'Excellent', it must be perceived as Excellent by all three groups!

So, I believe I've made you understand that the way you might have been perceiving Quality in Architecture might have not necessarily been the way it should be perceived; but if you're still in doubt, you may consider reading Stephen Emmitt's Architectural Technology,page 12,13.

  

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Group Chat Now Possible!

The Producers of Archy Lounge are here to give you the very best, and that's why we incorporated C-Box's Group Char in our Blog.

So it is now possible for You and other visiting Architects of our Site to come, share and Converse issues among yourselves and with also!

I'll be using the name 'Basie' to chat.

Find the Group Chat Gadget at the Top Right Corner Of The Blog;

Enjoy!

The ArchyLounge Team.

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