This document outlines a project assignment for architecture students to study building materials used in existing structures. Students will be divided into groups to select a commercial or residential building to analyze. They will document the various materials used, their properties, and how the materials influence the design, aesthetics, and user experience of the space. Individually, students will analyze how the design concept and material selection affect the experience of moving through and occupying the space. The project aims to teach students about common building materials, how designers select materials based on various factors, and how materials shape the functionality and experience of a structure. Students will present their findings on boards and in a folder for assessment.

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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 2 : “Materiality of SPACE : An Experiential Exploration”
Marks : 40% (25% GROUP & 15% INDIVIDUAL)
Duration : 5 weeks
Submission Date : 26 June 2015 (Friday, 12 noon)
Introduction
Building material is just about every type of available material that has been used at one time or another for creating
various human homes, structures, and technologies. Many naturally occurring substances, such as clay, sand, wood,
rocks and etc. have been used to construct buildings. Apart from naturally occurring materials, many man-made
products in various compositions are actively used in construction. This assignment is designed to introduce building
materials that are commonly used in the construction industry. The spaces or building selected to study will allow one
to understand the reasoning behind choices made by designers in terms of concepts, function use, environmental
response, environmental profile, structural requirement, availability of resources and etc. when selecting or proposing
building materials. It is also essential for students to see the transition from vernacular point of perspective to the
current application in built environment.

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Objectives of Project
The objectives of this assignment are as follows:
1. To introduce various types of building materials which are being used in the construction practices.
2. To create an understanding of the choices designers make in choosing the building materials based on the
properties.
3. To further understand the physical and chemical properties of the building materials being used in existing
buildings/ spaces.
4. To expose students to standard construction names and terminologies for materials in a building/ space.
Learning Outcomes of this Project
Upon completion of this assignment, students will be able to:
1. Produce a complete documentation and analysis of materials in respect to physical and chemical properties.
2. Identify the various types of building materials (finishes and structural).
3. Understand the effects of building materials on aesthetics and structural qualities of a space or building.
4. Understand the appropriateness of material used in context of several factors such as occupancy, concept
and climate.
5. Acquire analytical skill in understanding selection of building materials for a building/ design.
6. Understand the application/ installation of material as finishes and structural materials (simple construction).
Tasks - Methodology
In groups of 5, select a commercial/ residential building (a fun, creative space) which allows you to experience and
explore most of the building materials covered in the module.
You are required to produce:
(A) TASK A : GROUP (two A2 boards, landscape. Mood board is separate on its own).
1. Brief Introduction of the selected building & reason for selecting the space
2. Mood Board
- Your mood board should include color, pattern, photographs, sketches and informative design
elements to reflect the materials used and ambience of the space of your choice (without using
any words or description)
3. Identification of Materials
- Draw out plans, sections and elevations to indicate the materials
- Explain briefly the type of materials that are used in a specific area/ space
4. Application of Materials
- The physical and chemical properties of these materials
- Explain the suitability of material used in context to concept, occupancy and climate.
- Explain and illustrate the findings in detail in terms of suitability of materials type, application,
aesthetics, maintenance etc.
(B) TASK B : INDIVIDUAL (One A2 board, landscape)
1. The Sense of Materiality (Experimential analysis of the Material & Space)
- Design Intention & Concept : How that has influenced selection of materials?
- Space Analysis : Experience within the space. How the material selection and its application
within the space affect users’ experience? (Scale, proportion, installation)
- Include diagrams to support your analysis (Sketches, photographs etc.)

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Introduction : From Lanes to Shophouses
A shophouse, normally has two or more storeys, is a commercial and private structure. The tenants
usually use the first floor for commercial purposes such as sundry shop, light industry or
warehouse, and reside in the upper floors. The building is not free standing; rather it is connected
to several other shophouses, which creates a shophouse block. This shophouse block is repeated
to form streets and town squares. Building materials such as brick, plaster, concrete and timber are
commonly found in shophouses.
Malaysian shophouses are laid out in rows or blocks. Each block is bounded by a main street (at
the front), side lanes and a back lane. Each block is also joined by a continuous sheltered five-foot
walkway (‘kaki lima’) in front of the building to provide shelter from the tropical weather conditions.
Traditional Materials
Generally, Malaysian shophouses are built using four main types of traditional materials:
 Timber
 Stone
 Clay
 Lime
Project Intent & Direction
The primary focus is centered on the silent dialogue between the body and material reality, to
explore the design efforts where quotidian experiences are heightened and made extraordinary.
Materials are investigated
How their innate materiality are amplified, overlaid and combined to provoke desired ambience and
atmosphere.
Explore the use of light and shadows, the aural, tactile and visual qualities of materials and how
their juxtapositions can draw out emotional responses that engender a multi-sensory poetic
experience.
(For example, the sense of mystery and depth evoked by the withholding and concealing nature of
shadows, or one of intensity and focus by combining light with strong colours).
 Thresholds – transition between public walkway to private interior : experimential threshold
between the exterior and the interior of the house
 Materiality Light & Shadow : explore how the manipulation of natural and artificial light has
effects on material’s surface and transforms our perception of materiality and spaces
 Tactically of Materials : texture, colour and installation.
Submission Requirement
1. The group work (TASK A) must be formatted on A2 paper and compiled in a clear A2 folder.
2. The individual work (TASK B) must be collated together with TASK A
3. DO NOT BIND
4. Please include your names, student ID and project title for each work submitted.

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Assessment criteria
Quality of work shall be assessed on the following criteria :
 Understanding of effects of building materials on building and environment
 Understanding of compatibility of proposed material to occupancy space and concept
 Explanation on how and what component component/ or materials are assembled together in the space
 Clarity in communicating your findings and analysis
 Richness of your content
Marking criteria
Marks shall be distributed as follows:
Assessment Criteria
Group(25%)
Site selection
Selectioin of appropriate case study
(10%)
Mood Board
Creativity and ability to translate the mood of the space
(20%)
Identification of Materials
Analysis of Appropriateness of materials in context of the selected space
(35%)
(Total 100% will be converted to 25%)
Individual(15%)
Design Intention & Concept
How that has influenced selection of materials?
(30%)
Space Analysis
Experience within the space
How the material selection and its application within the space affect user experience?
(70%)
(Total 100% will be converted to 15%)
Note : refer to rubric attached
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