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for November, 2009.
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Archive for November, 2009
Friday, November 27th, 2009
You may have heard this term and thought, what exactly is that? No, it isn’t a fancy term for an umbrella or something you plant bougainvillea on. It’s not an object at all. It’s actually a construction technique. A rain screen is very similar to a “cavity wall”. If your house has brick veneer on the exterior then it is a cavity wall. Here’s what a cavity wall consists of:
- Layer 1: This is the first line of defense against moisture intrusion. Inevitably some amount of moisture is absorbed or pushed through the brick.
- Layer 2: An air “cavity” that allows moisture to escape.
- Layer 3: The structural system which has a weatherproof barrier that creates a drainage plane, keeping moisture from penetrating your house.
 
So what is the difference between a “cavity wall” and a “rain screen wall”? The only significant difference is that outer layer. In a cavity wall the outer layer is installed like a shield to keep out as much water as possible. The “cavity” or airspace behind is simply secondary defense to get rid of what the first layer couldn’t keep out. What the rain screen wall does is treat the outer layer as a “screen” more so than a shield. It’s installed to intentionally allow some moisture past the first layer to the weatherproof barrier behind it. As you can see in the image above the wood siding is installed with gaps between each board, so while much of the moisture will be “screened”, some will get behind it.
And what advantages does the rain screen offer? It’s an “open” system so it allows for increased and continuous ventilation of the wall. In other words the wall system is constantly being hung out to dry rather than being wadded up in a wet ball on the floor. You also get decreased maintenance, particularly in wood siding applications and reduced mold and mildew issues. The cladding can be made from almost anything as long as it is durable, including masonry, metal, glass and even fabric.
If you’re thinking of incorporating this into your project talk to your contractor and take a look at this concealed clip system that eliminates exposed nails or screws.
Image: Fine Homebuilding 137, pp. 86-91
Tags: Building Envelope, Building Skin, Cladding, Construction, Rain Screen Siding, Wall System
Posted in Technical | No Comments »
Tuesday, November 24th, 2009
One of the more interesting pieces of the Doges Palace is this sculpture located in the colonnade of the interior courtyard. The “Mouths of Truth” were places located throughout the city where any citizen of Venice could privately accuse another of a crime. Once a citizen placed their signed “secret denunciations” in the mouth it would then be investigated and the appropriate action taken.
I can just imagine the guy who took out his grievance against the fisherman who shorted him at the market or all the notes they received asking the council to “please do something about all the pigeons.”
More than I think about all the story lines this sculpture was involved in I admire it for what it is. The Venetians could have just as easily built a non-descript slot in the wall. Instead they chose to personify a piece of the building, giving it decoration which reinforced its purpose. Some might argue the simple slot would have been more appropriate, I had the same thought. I’ll let you be the judge. (pun fully intended)
Tags: Details, Doge's Palace, Italy, Mouth of Truth, Venice
Posted in Travel | No Comments »
Tuesday, November 17th, 2009
This new building for Antioch Baptist Church by Auburn University’s Rural Studio re-used most of the materials from the existing church that was demolished on the site, including roof and floor joists, wood paneling and exterior corrugated metal siding. All work was done on site by the students of the studio. The form of the building helps direct people while also framing and creating views of the surrounding wood. Photos by ken mccown.
Talk about a ranch reformation! Architect Randy Bens transformed this 2,500 square foot ranch house in New Westminster, British Columbia into a sensitive, modern house that belongs comfortably in the 21st century. Bens used a very simple material palette that was sympathetic to the house’s context while still felling fresh. Natural light and connection between spaces drove the design.
These construction photos of 290 Mulberry show exactly what I love about this project. SHoP Architects used the idea of traditional masonry construction in combination with NY zoning restrictions to develop a contemporary translation of both, literally. The pre-cast panels of brick veneer create undulating texture that respond to regulations that allow for a percentage of the façade to project beyond the property line.
And to round it out, here’s a mixed use development in Scottsdale Arizona by Miller/Hull. Again it’s all about materiality. The material palette feels very appropriate for its setting, consisting primarily of concrete, cor-ten steel and glass.
Tags: Antioch Baptist Church, Cor-Ten, Miller/Hull, NY Zoning, Pre-cast brick panels, Randy Bens, Rural Studio, SHOP Architects
Posted in Inspired | No Comments »
Wednesday, November 4th, 2009
I was raised in a home on the south coast of Texas. I remember when the hurricane threats would come through, while the rest of our neighbors were out buying plywood my dad was walking around securing the shutters on the front of our house. Most people probably thought they were just for looks but every few years we’d unhinge those guys and let them fulfill their given purpose – protecting our windows.
Shutters are a building detail that has been employed for quite a long time. They have acted as a means of controlling light and ventilation, protection from the elements, security and of course keeping out unwanted pests and insects. Over time, building technology has allowed shutters to be built in a variety of styles and from a variety of materials, though we have moved away from the marble shutters of ancient Greece. Try shutting those by yourself.
Shutters now generally play a secondary role in the operation of building openings. The majority of shutters we see are merely ornament, applied to the face of homes for aesthetics. The shutter has gone the way of the “antique” coffee grinder set on a shelf for show. We still cling to the nostalgia of the past even though shutters, even operable ones, are rarely if ever used. The shutter does add character to a façade, but seeing a piece of plastic applied to the side of a window gives an uneasy feeling of falsity. Architecture should be honest in how it speaks. There needs to be “truth of expression” as John Ruskin put it. If it’s a shutter, make it a shutter not a bauble. Otherwise we should embrace our changing needs or technology and design accordingly.
Tags: Amsterdam, Details, Function
Posted in Travel | 2 Comments »
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