Architecture of happiness.

“For us to deem a work of architecture elegant it is hence not enough that it look simple: we must feel that the simplicity it displays has been hard won that it flows from the resolution of demanding technical or natural predicament. Thus we call the Shaker staircase in Pleasant Hill elegant because we know--without ever having constructed one ourselves--that a staircase is a site complexity and that combinations of treads risers and banisters rarely approach the sober intelligibility of the Sharkers' work. We deem a modern Swiss house elegant because we not how seamlessly its windows have been joined to their concrete walls and how neatly the usual clutter of construction has been resolved away. We admire starkly simple works that we intuit would without immense effort have appeared very complicated.

Simple duplex to spice up your dream house in the making.

Plan your building with an Architect.

Drop your comment if the building truly spiced up your urge for good buildings.

Architecture of happiness.

“Bad architecture is in the end as much a failure of psychology as of design. It is an example expressed through materials of the same tendencies which in other domains will lead us to marry the wrong people choose inappropriate jobs and book unsuccessful holidays: the tendency not to understand who we are and what will satisfy us.” --

The Architecture of Happiness.
Arc. Chekwas.

Give your edifies gentle touch.
Think of good designs
Think of VICON.

fish community design.

Architecturally we believes in forms. That is taking or choosing a particular shape for your design.

Forms follows function. What ever shape you design must depict on the functions of the building.

Take proper look at this picture and tell me what you see.

Fish!

This is a design for fish community at least mere looking at the building you will have an insight that it relates to fish.

Always plan your building with an Architect.

Ft Arc previledge.

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ARTLANTIS WORK

          Arc privilege concept.

A good building is a product of a good Architect.

“A real building is one on which the eye can light and stay lit.” -- Ezra Pound

How to calculate numbers of blocks from a building plan.

How to calculate numbers of blocks from a building plan.

(click on image for a bigger  view or save image)

Most asked question from a would be house owner is always how many blocks do I need to get for my building to be completed. Hence this topic is written with illustrations to make it easy for you to do the calculations yourself from the plan your architect gave you.

The plan above is for a 2 bedroom bungallow, so we are going to start from the basics having in mind these factors-

i)The lenght of a block is 0.45m or 450mm or 18″

ii)The width of thickness varies -150mm or 6″ and 225mm or 9″ which are most common.

ii)Taking for a general or average purpose, the blocks laid from foundation to dpc(german or
oversite concrete) is 4 coaches/levels. From dpc to the base of window another 4 coaches,from
base of window to top of window another 5 coaches, then from top of window to base of roof
another 3 coaches, neglecting the lintel or concrete on top of window.
Now with these parameters let calculate the plan above which has a wall of 150mm or 6″ all
through.
Add the length and breadth of the blockwall for external and internal
Therefore (A)9,400mm +9,600mm(B)+9400(C)+9600(D)=38,000mm or 38m
Now add the internal walls too
(Follow the grid lines and check the corresponding dimensions on plan remember 150mm is the
block width)
(Grid 7)150+3600+150+150+3600+150=7,800mm or 7.8m
(Grid 6)1350+150+2250+150+825+675+150=5,550mm or 5.55m
(Grid 1b)800+2400+1300+900+100=5,500mm or 5.5m
(Grid 2)2600+900+100+150+100+900+500+150=5,400mm or 5.4m
(Grid 3)1800+150+650+900+250+900+1450=6,100mm or 6.1m
(Grid 3b-Kitchen)900+50+1200+50+150=2,350 or 2.35m
(Grid 7b toilet)1800 or 1.8m
Total internal walls=34,500mm or 34.5m
Therefore Total walls=38,000mm +34,500mm=72,500mm or 72.5m
Now for the first 4 coaches to dpc level the wall will run right through, i.e the spaces for
doors or windows are not left out (n/b- blocks are used in relatively strong and stable soil not
waterlogged area that requires concrete instead).
Divide the sum by 450mm to know the numbers needed for one level/layer/coach of blocks
72,500/450=161 blocks
From dpc level to roof lets take the numbers of coaches to be 4+5+3=12 coaches
then multiply the numbers of blocks for each coach above by 12
161 x 12=1932 blocks
Don’t forget we have windows and doors spaces which we need to remove,for each window of 1200mm
take numbers of the block to be 14 (i.e 1200/230=5.2 and 1200/450=2.6 ,5.3 x2.6=14 approx
Now count the numbers of 1200mm windows and multiply by 14
Total numbers of 1200mm windows as counted on plan is 12 (note 2400mm window was taken as two of
1200mm window)
i.e 11 x 14 =154 blocks + 7 blocks for 600mm window for toilet. Total=161 blocks
Now calculate for doors,Numbers of blocks for a door of 900mm is 18.
height of a door(2100/225=9)+width of a door (900mm/450mm=2). so 9 x2 =18 blocks for each door.
Multiply 18 by numbers of doors=18 x8=144 blocks
Add 144+161=305 blocks,then remove from total blocks of 644 (for dpc) + 1932
Total numbers of blocks reqd=2,271 blocks
For a quick calculation, having the entire length to be 72,500mm. Take for a bungallow total
lenght from foundation to roof to be 1,200mm +3000mm=4200mm
Then calculate the surface area which is 72,500 x 4200 and convert to meters
72.5m x 4.2m=304.5m2
Remove surface areas of windows and doors
For window, height is 1.2m and total is 11
i.e 1.2m x 1.2m x 11=15.84m2 +0.6 x0.6(toilet window)=16.2m2
For doors, height is 2.1m while width is 0.9m
i.e 0.9 x 2.1 x 8(nos of doors)=15.12
Total area for doors and windows=16.2m2 +15.12m2=31.32m2
Remove 31.32m2 from 304.5m2=273.18m2
Now divide this by surface area of a block which is 0.225 x 0.45=0.10125
The blocks reqd caculated by this method is 273.18m2/0.10125=2,698 blocks
Note a difference of about 400 blocks from the two calculations. Of course you can’t get exactly
the numbers you need but the first method is close to it. And calculations are not 100% true
because of these factors
1-The mortar space was not considered
2-Blocks that will be wasted due to breakages e.t.c
Tags: 2 bedroom bungalow, blocks, bricks, calculate numbers of blocks, dpc, estimate.
Note: structural engr. Gives you the best calculations for your building according to building code.
Always plan your building with an Architect.

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How to calculate the numbers of bags of cement in the foundation of a simple bungallow from a building plan.

How to calculate the numbers of bags of cement in the foundation of a simple bungallow from a building plan. Critically explained by Arc. Omiom.

A prospective client first question is an estimate to know the numbers of blocks and number of bags of cement required  to complete his building project.

But for this article I will write on calculating the numbers of bags of cement for a simple project of 2 bedroom bungalow. Using the plan shown above.

For this plan the total wall both internal and external is 72.5m all.

Taking the thickness of block as 150mm or 6” the foundation base is taken as 150mm(or 0.15m x 3)=450mm or 0.45m or 18”.

Now for any concrete you want to calculate, first find out the volume.

For the foundation of the plan above

450mm(breadth) x 72.5m (entire length) x 150mm(foundation base thickness)=4.894m3

Now the volume of a bag of cement is given as 0.035m3 but lets use 0.03m3 to cater for shortages.

There are two major mixture ratio for concrete 1:2:4 or 1:3:6, there are others, but we are going to base our calculations on these two. 1:2:4 means one portion of cement is mixed with an equivalent volume or ratio of two of same portion of volume of cement in sharpsand and four of same portion of volume of cement in granite. That is, if I have a cement of 1m3, then I will need to mix it with 2m3 of sharpsand and 4m3 of granite stones. However one bag of cement is calculated to be approximately two headpans of sand or granite, therefore for one bag of cement in ratio 1:2:4, you will add four headpans of sharpsand, and eight headpans of granite, this is the standard , though experience has shown that materials properties varies, hence there is always little variations in quantities used on site.

Now, for the plan above, the numbers of bags of cement needed in the concrete is simply calculated by dividing the total volume of cement in concrete by a volume of one bag which is taken as 0.03.

For total volume of cement in ratio 1:2:4, add the numbers together,1+2+4=7

Divide the volume of concrete by 7 to get the volume of cement in concrete.

i.e 4.894/7=0.7m3 for volume of cement.

Remember  volume of one bag of cement is 0.03, then divide 0.7m3 by 0.03

=23 bags of cement

Also if the ratio is in 1:3:6, simply add 1+3+6=10

Divide volume of concrete by 10 to get the required volume of cement in concrete

i.e 4.894/10=0.4894 for volume of cement

Don’t forget we are taking the volume of one bag of cement as 0.03,

Then divide 0.4894m3 by 0.03m3

=16 bags of cement (this is most applicable on good and fairly stable soil.

Note: structural Engr will be in good position to give you good structural plan of your building according to building code.

As simple as that. Your house is your pride. With
Vicon building consults.

BUILDING STAGES

At times you get confused on where to start from, how to move and what to do to jump-start your project. Knowledge of building stages also helps to save time and gives you the opportunity to plan ahead and reduce cost according to Arc onion Emmanuel. When you are thinking of building a house what comes to your mind should be in this sequence.

(1) Concerning what type of house you want, what purpose is it going to serve? residential or commercial? or others, this will give you an idea of the location, and the size of land you need to get. It is however important you seek advice from your Architect on what type and size of land can suit your dream of what you are planning. After this you need to see-

(2) Your land speculator or agent, that will help you in getting land that soothes your purpose, a lot of them advertises on papers these days so getting one may not be too difficult. He arranges with the Omo Onile, pay their dues and you also get a lawyer to help you in preparing and checking the documents to make sure you are not buying a land that is Government acquired from the wrong person,and to avoid land with dispute.

(3) Now you need the local town planning authority in your area to make sure that land can be used for the purpose you have in mind and they can give first hand information about development pattern in this area ,Land under Govt acquisition would best be found out here.

(4) Meet the Land surveyor to demarcate your land and draw out the site boundary, he will also put the corner pieces demarcating your land from your neighbor.

(5) The drawings of the land surveyor is what the Architect will use to come out with a befitting plan after talking with you, he may also be responsible for approving the plan in town planning office.

(6) Is now time to move to site, for let’s say 2-3 bedroom bungalow at starting, get 2 trips of sand, 2 trips of gravels, look for a secured place you can keep your bags of cement get a tanker or drum where you can always have water to use, after you must have cleared the site. Buy for a starter 1000 blocks or as calculated from your estimation.

(7) It is time of setting out, some bricklayers uses blocks to set out a foundation especially when it is a small building and the ground is level, or your Architect or Builder can collaborate with bricklayer to do this in a more complex plan. They will buy wood, ropes, nails and you have to pay for the services or based on contract as you deem fit.

(8) After setting out digging begins, then concrete is poured round the foundation, then blocks are layed by bricklayer on top of concrete to 3 or more coaches serving as the d.p.c level. It is then filled with sand and rammed (beating to make hard) then oversite concrete or German concrete is poured round to cover the d.p.c (for waterlogged, sloppy or sandy area you may need to apply reinforcements or Iron at the edges of building and nylon-like membrane is used to cover some site especially when there is a threat of water disturbances).

(9) Blocks are now laid to window base, 4 coaches or layers after marking out the doors, then after the 4 coaches you mark out the windows and go another 5 coaches, the entire opening in the house is now ready for concrete lintel.

(10) Get your Iron benders or welders, they will have to make their estimate the carpenter and the bricklayers are all going to work here the welder is responsible for cutting and bringing in the Iron, the carpenter makes the frame or boxes to accommodate the concrete, and the bricklayer with labours or casters pours and see to it that the boxes are properly filled with concrete. After this, add 2 more layers of block and you are ready for roofing.

(11) Get your carpenter, cost the timber or steel for larger projects. The covering roof proper that can be aluminum, asbestos, plastics, galvanised zinc etc.

(12) If you are thinking of conduit wiring or plumbing, then you need the help of electrician and plumbers now, and you can be putting your ceiling after or simultaneously. Digging of your soakaway pit and connection of pipe services by your plumber should commence, and tillers or terrazo contractor if you are using one comes after plastering by the bricklayer, Electrical work also continues, fixing of door frames, wardrobes by furniture maker, windows and other accessories can also go along based on taste, style or pocket.
Building your dream house is not one big deal, you can build in stages according to your income till you complete it.

Remember to plan your building with an Architect.
Vicon building consults all the way for you.
Arc Victor Onuoha 08068243574
Viconbuildingconsults@gmail.com.