This document summarizes a student project to design and construct a shelter. It includes sections on design concept, materials used, construction process, structural elements, and mechanisms. The shelter design was inspired by trishaws and aims to provide weather protection while allowing configurations. Materials like plywood and waterproof canvas were used. Key structural elements are cross-halving joints, mortise and tenon joints, and bolts/nuts. The framing includes a fixed frame and retractable smaller frames to control ventilation. Load is distributed through the grid base structure.

1. BUILDING CONSTRUCTION 2
P R O J E C T 1 - S H E LT E R F O R O N E
L O W Y O N G G I N G 0 3 1 3 6 7 9
L I M Y E E Q U N 0 3 1 9 1 2 1
C H U N G W E I J I N 0 3 1 3 7 8 9
O N G H U E Y F E N 0 3 1 4 2 6 3
L E E C H A E R S H E A N 0 3 1 3 6 7 5
P E H K E R N E N G 0 3 1 4 6 1 9

2. CO N TEN TS
1 . INTR O DU CTI O N
2 . D ESI G N CO N C EPT
3 . M ATER I A LS
5 . CO N STR U CTI O N P R O C ES S
6 . STR U CTUR A L CO N STR U CTI O N E LEM ENT
4 . P R O C ES S IN M A K IN G
7 . M E CH A NIS M
8 . CO N CLU SI O N
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3. INTR O DU CTI O N
The main objectives of this project are:
• To create an understanding of skeletal structure and its relevant
structural components.
• To understand how a skeletal structure reacts under loading.
• To demonstrate a convincing understanding of how Skeletal
Construction works.
• To be able to manipulate Skeletal Construction to solve an oblique
design problem.
The learning outcomes of this project include:
• Apply construction system in design.
• Recognize the implication of construction systems in design.
• Analyse the issues of strength, stiffness and stability of structures
including modes of structural systems, forces, stress and strain and
laws of static.
Example
of
shelters
The design concept of our shelter is inspired by the trishaw in which
we aim to provide a comfortable space that shields people from the weather
and at the same time it is an interactive shelter in a way that people get to
transform the shelter into any way they want. We analyzed the structure
and form of the trishaw and created our own design of a shelter.
Design concept:
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4. M ATER I A LS
PLYWOOD
ADVANTAGES:
• High resistance to breaking and can withstand a large weight.
Therefore, it is used as the base of the shelter.
• High resistance to cracking thus it does not crack easily when sawed.
• Easily assembled and can be recycled.
WATER PROOF CANVAS
ADVANTAGES:
• Can withstand heat as the white surface of the canvas reflects heat off the
surface of the shelter, thus providing thermal comfort to the people in the shelter.
• Resistant to stain.
• Durable as it is resistant to rip and tears.
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*ALL MATERIALS ARE RECYCLE OR REUSED

5. P R O C ES S IN M A K IN G
1.Plywood planks with the
correct measurements and
shapes drawn were prepared.
2.The bridle joint and cross-halving
joint were cut out using machines.
3.Plywood that were sawed were
sanded by using sanding paper
before setting them up.
4.The waffle slab base was set up by
using cross-halving joints whereas
the seating was set up by using
bridle joint.
5.The plywood planks needed for the
fixed frame and also the retractable
frame were sawed and also sanded.
6.The fixed frame was nailed to both
sides of the base.
7.The retractable frames were secured
to the base by using bolt and nut and
tied together using strings.
8.A plank of plywood was nailed
diagonally at the back of the
shelter to further stabilize it.
9.Waterproof canvas was secured
to the retractable frame by using
nails.
10.Testing the ability of the
shelter to support
load>60kg.
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6. CO N STR U CTI O N P R O C ES S
1. The waffle slab base is constructed by
crisscrossing plywood planks into a
square base.
2. The base is then covered on four sides by
four pieces of plywood planks. A seating that
can be assembled and disassembled is then
slot into the waffle slab base.
3. The fixed frame that supports both sides
of the shelter is then built up.
4. Another plank of plywood is then nailed diagonally
at the back of the shelter to further stabilize it.
Two additional plywood planks are nailed to the bottom
of the waffle slab base to secure the base.
5. The retractable frame is then built up by securing
three pieces of plywood on both sides of the shelter
with bolt and nut.
6. Lastly, the water proof canvas is then secured to the
retractable frame with nails.
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7. STR U CTUR A L CO N STR U CTI O N E LEM ENT
Cross Halving Joint
•Two pieces of woods are interlock with each other to form the grid structure or
waffle slab as the base.
•It is chosen to form the base due to its high strength and stability of supporting.
•Part of each pieces of the woods has been cut away to form a cross halving joint
Mortise and tenon
•Two pieces of wood are joined together with an angle of 90 degree.
•Used to support the waffle slab.
•The protruding tenon is fitted into a rectangular slot, mortise to
produce a strong and neat joint.
•Non-movable and difficult to separate once it is fitted.
Flat Head Wood Screw
•Used to lift up the waffle slab and position them.
•Gives greater strength to the base and resist of loosing compare to nails.
•Full thread screw is chosen due to its long-term strength.
Full Thread Bolt and Nut
•Used as the supporter of the roof structure.
•Bolt is locked into the woods and but is tighten at the end of the bolt.
•Pieces of woods are joined together with bolt and nut to make it movable.
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8. F UN CTI O N S A ND A ESTH E TI C S
M E C H A N I S M
The framing is divided into one fixed frame and smaller frames attached to it .
The smaller frames are retractable , allowing the shelter to open up to healthy sunlight and hygienic reasons while closed to block out rain and excessive
heat source, achieving thermal comfort .The platform above the base is detachable , forming a bench for sitting purpose. It is customised to assemble
firmly , with the legs of the bench attached to the base as a whole .
Load distribution After Weight
Load distribution is divided, from the platform and the frames.
With the grid arrangement of the base, load is distributed evenly
across the base to the four corners and later on, evenly into the ground.
The arrangement of the base is in a grid manner , allowing load to be
distributed evenly across the 4 corners .
Load Distribution before Weight
When there is no load , the Load distribution is derived from
the frames and distributed down to the base before being
disposed to the ground.
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FIXED FRAME
RETRACTABLE FRAME

9. CO N CLU SI O N
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After completing this project, we have a better understanding and were able to demonstrate our understanding on how a
Skeletal Construction works. With the understanding we learnt after this project, we can apply the construction system in
our future design. In addition, we were able to analyse the issues of strength, stiffness and stabilty of the structure including
different methods of joints and how forces of load react on the structure.