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SCHOOL OF ARCHITECTURE, BUILDING & DESIGN
Centre for Modern Architecture Studies in Southeast Asia (MASSA)
Bachelor of Science (Honours) (Architecture)
BUILDING MATERIALS (ARC 1512)
Project 1 : Solid vs Void – “Shaping Light & Space”
Marks : 30% (Individual)
Duration : 4 weeks
Submission Date : 26 June 2015 (Friday, 12 noon)
Introduction
Building material is any material which is used for a construction purpose. This project is designed as an introduction
to building materials that are commonly used in the local construction industry. Students are required to construct
their choice of shapes using the listed materials to explore and understand building making in relation to the
materials, design considerations of material according to their properties and to finally understand how to intrinsic
forms, limitations and boundaries of a material factor in a design process.
Objectives of Project
The task of this project is to design and build any basic shape of your choice in an imaginary volume of 12”X12”X12”
space using solid and transparent materials.

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Learning Outcomes of this Project
Upon completion of this assignment, students will be able to:
1. Recognize how intrinsic forms, limitations and boundaries of a material become factors in design process.
2. Effectively work with a material in line with design requirements.
3. Be able to express a material within its contextual application.
Tasks - Methodology
Students are required to design and build any basic shape of their choice within a volume of 12”X12”X12” on a 1”
base:
Shapes (Choose ONE) Materials (Combination of THREE materials)
Select THREE of the following materials:
 Hard plastic sheet
 Glass
 Perspex
 Cardboard
 Box
 Any type of tiles
 Wire mesh
 Aluminium sheet
 Balsa wood
 Plywood
**Note:
At least ONE transparent/ translucent material.
You may use recycle materials.
The model may use fastening system (glue, nails, screw, rope etc.) at the students’ discretion.
The function of the model is to define a volume within a 12”X12”X12” imaginary space. It does not need to fill or
entirely engulf the volume simply define it.
Issues to consider are:
 Module of material and waste
 How to work with a material
 How to turn a corner
 How to join materials
 How to express a material
 How to intrinsic forms, limitations and boundaries of a material in a design process
Reviews
There will be two reviews of the model:
1. The first will be a working pin-up review. Its requirements will be working analytic A2 board containing :
 Plan 1:50
 Section 1:50
 Elevation 1:50
 Draft Storyline (80 words)
Date : 20 April 2015 (Week 5) - PROJECT REVIEW

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2. The second will be the final project review. Its requirements will be a final full scale model exquisitely fabricated
and an A2 analytic board containing:
 Plan 1:50
 Section 1:50
 Elevation 1:50
 Storyline (80 words)
Date : 30 April 2015 (Week 6) – SUBMISSION
Submission Requirement
1. Final 1:1 scale model exquisitely fabricated and an A2 analytique board containing:
 Plan 1:50
 Section 1:50
 Elevation 1:50
 Storyline (80 words)
2. A CD – marked with the project and student name and ID – containing a .pdf of the boards and 3 High res.
cleaned up photos of the final cube and one photo of the process cube(s)
Assessment criteria
Quality of work shall be assessed on the following criteria:
 Craft 25%
 Modularity 25%
 Adherence to dimensions 25%
 Design and Ingenuity 25%
Total 100% will be converted to 30%
Suggested References
1. Lyons, Arthurs, “Materials for Architect and Builders”, 2nd Edition, Butterworth Heinemann 2004.
2. Neveille, AM “Properties of Concrete”, Addition Wesley, Longman, 1995.
3. Everett, Alan, “Materials”, 5th Edition, Longman Scientific & Technical, 1994.
4. Robbin, Tony. 1996. Engineering A New Architecture. Yale University Press.
5. Mohamed Abdul Kader Ismail.et.al 2008. Introduction to Civil Engineering Materials. McGraw-Hill
6. Jackson, Neil 1996. Civil Engineering Materials, 5th Edition, Palgrave.
7. Illston, J.M(ed). (2001). Construction materials :their nature & behaviour (3rd ed). London. Spon Press