A belief based on a personal experience that asthma incidence in New Zealand is interrelated with the indoor environment, led the author to establish the study between asthma and housing. A considerable period of time was spent first on studying the roots of the two issues, asthma and New Zealand housing. The historical experience showed that health and housing problems at the national level in the 19 th century in England were solved by state interference. The architectural background of this study created a need to cover some medical knowledge to understand the causes, symptoms and cure of asthma, if any. This knowledge was crucial while monitoring houses, designing the questionnaire, and analysing results. Two stages of monitoring were achieved in 2000 and 2001. In addition to the monitoring, there was an attempt to find out as much information as possible about any issues related to the health conditions, especially the respiratory disorders, and the houses. The study of housing included building construction, house dust mite allergen levels in the carpet, building drawings, and other issues in preparation for the next stage of analysis. The overwhelming quantity of information gathered about the 30 houses investigated in 2000 was so confusing that no statistical software package was seen as a perfect way for analysing it. It was decided then to establish comparisons between each factor investigated and asthma presence. Also, in most of the cases, the correlation between more than one factor with asthma rates was examined. The investigation of the relations between many issues and asthma showed that there were links between asthma incidence and some indoor conditions of houses. Raised timber floors, which were found in most of the houses to be un-insulated, and in all the cases to be on unprotected ground, were found to have a strong relation with asthma incidence. In these houses, it was found that high asthma incidence was related to a higher level of moisture indoors. Asthma incidence in houses having old carpet, moulds, pets, or smokers indoors was higher than asthma incidence in houses without these. Old houses were found to have more asthma incidence than new houses. All the allergen levels in the carpets were extremely high and they were all above the allergen levels induced by house dust mites that can provoke asthma in susceptible individuals. Based on the knowledge gained about the defective factors in housing affecting asthma, upgrading of the houses was designed. A house was chosen to be upgraded in three stages, each stage providing a different level of insulation. The upgrading costs were compared with the current national costs of health and heating to see what level of upgrading would be logical and cost-effective. National costs and savings were estimated in four cases each with different level of insulation. It was decided at the final stage of the study that insulating ceilings and floors in addition to other basic upgrading factors would provide savings in health and heating costs and would result in less CO2 emissions to the atmosphere of New Zealand. / Subscription resource available via Digital Dissertations only.

A belief based on a personal experience that asthma incidence in New Zealand is interrelated with the indoor environment, led the author to establish the study between asthma and housing. A considerable period of time was spent first on studying the roots of the two issues, asthma and New Zealand housing. The historical experience showed that health and housing problems at the national level in the 19 th century in England were solved by state interference. The architectural background of this study created a need to cover some medical knowledge to understand the causes, symptoms and cure of asthma, if any. This knowledge was crucial while monitoring houses, designing the questionnaire, and analysing results. Two stages of monitoring were achieved in 2000 and 2001. In addition to the monitoring, there was an attempt to find out as much information as possible about any issues related to the health conditions, especially the respiratory disorders, and the houses. The study of housing included building construction, house dust mite allergen levels in the carpet, building drawings, and other issues in preparation for the next stage of analysis. The overwhelming quantity of information gathered about the 30 houses investigated in 2000 was so confusing that no statistical software package was seen as a perfect way for analysing it. It was decided then to establish comparisons between each factor investigated and asthma presence. Also, in most of the cases, the correlation between more than one factor with asthma rates was examined. The investigation of the relations between many issues and asthma showed that there were links between asthma incidence and some indoor conditions of houses. Raised timber floors, which were found in most of the houses to be un-insulated, and in all the cases to be on unprotected ground, were found to have a strong relation with asthma incidence. In these houses, it was found that high asthma incidence was related to a higher level of moisture indoors. Asthma incidence in houses having old carpet, moulds, pets, or smokers indoors was higher than asthma incidence in houses without these. Old houses were found to have more asthma incidence than new houses. All the allergen levels in the carpets were extremely high and they were all above the allergen levels induced by house dust mites that can provoke asthma in susceptible individuals. Based on the knowledge gained about the defective factors in housing affecting asthma, upgrading of the houses was designed. A house was chosen to be upgraded in three stages, each stage providing a different level of insulation. The upgrading costs were compared with the current national costs of health and heating to see what level of upgrading would be logical and cost-effective. National costs and savings were estimated in four cases each with different level of insulation. It was decided at the final stage of the study that insulating ceilings and floors in addition to other basic upgrading factors would provide savings in health and heating costs and would result in less CO2 emissions to the atmosphere of New Zealand. / Subscription resource available via Digital Dissertations only.

A belief based on a personal experience that asthma incidence in New Zealand is interrelated with the indoor environment, led the author to establish the study between asthma and housing. A considerable period of time was spent first on studying the roots of the two issues, asthma and New Zealand housing. The historical experience showed that health and housing problems at the national level in the 19 th century in England were solved by state interference. The architectural background of this study created a need to cover some medical knowledge to understand the causes, symptoms and cure of asthma, if any. This knowledge was crucial while monitoring houses, designing the questionnaire, and analysing results. Two stages of monitoring were achieved in 2000 and 2001. In addition to the monitoring, there was an attempt to find out as much information as possible about any issues related to the health conditions, especially the respiratory disorders, and the houses. The study of housing included building construction, house dust mite allergen levels in the carpet, building drawings, and other issues in preparation for the next stage of analysis. The overwhelming quantity of information gathered about the 30 houses investigated in 2000 was so confusing that no statistical software package was seen as a perfect way for analysing it. It was decided then to establish comparisons between each factor investigated and asthma presence. Also, in most of the cases, the correlation between more than one factor with asthma rates was examined. The investigation of the relations between many issues and asthma showed that there were links between asthma incidence and some indoor conditions of houses. Raised timber floors, which were found in most of the houses to be un-insulated, and in all the cases to be on unprotected ground, were found to have a strong relation with asthma incidence. In these houses, it was found that high asthma incidence was related to a higher level of moisture indoors. Asthma incidence in houses having old carpet, moulds, pets, or smokers indoors was higher than asthma incidence in houses without these. Old houses were found to have more asthma incidence than new houses. All the allergen levels in the carpets were extremely high and they were all above the allergen levels induced by house dust mites that can provoke asthma in susceptible individuals. Based on the knowledge gained about the defective factors in housing affecting asthma, upgrading of the houses was designed. A house was chosen to be upgraded in three stages, each stage providing a different level of insulation. The upgrading costs were compared with the current national costs of health and heating to see what level of upgrading would be logical and cost-effective. National costs and savings were estimated in four cases each with different level of insulation. It was decided at the final stage of the study that insulating ceilings and floors in addition to other basic upgrading factors would provide savings in health and heating costs and would result in less CO2 emissions to the atmosphere of New Zealand. / Subscription resource available via Digital Dissertations only.

A belief based on a personal experience that asthma incidence in New Zealand is interrelated with the indoor environment, led the author to establish the study between asthma and housing. A considerable period of time was spent first on studying the roots of the two issues, asthma and New Zealand housing. The historical experience showed that health and housing problems at the national level in the 19 th century in England were solved by state interference. The architectural background of this study created a need to cover some medical knowledge to understand the causes, symptoms and cure of asthma, if any. This knowledge was crucial while monitoring houses, designing the questionnaire, and analysing results. Two stages of monitoring were achieved in 2000 and 2001. In addition to the monitoring, there was an attempt to find out as much information as possible about any issues related to the health conditions, especially the respiratory disorders, and the houses. The study of housing included building construction, house dust mite allergen levels in the carpet, building drawings, and other issues in preparation for the next stage of analysis. The overwhelming quantity of information gathered about the 30 houses investigated in 2000 was so confusing that no statistical software package was seen as a perfect way for analysing it. It was decided then to establish comparisons between each factor investigated and asthma presence. Also, in most of the cases, the correlation between more than one factor with asthma rates was examined. The investigation of the relations between many issues and asthma showed that there were links between asthma incidence and some indoor conditions of houses. Raised timber floors, which were found in most of the houses to be un-insulated, and in all the cases to be on unprotected ground, were found to have a strong relation with asthma incidence. In these houses, it was found that high asthma incidence was related to a higher level of moisture indoors. Asthma incidence in houses having old carpet, moulds, pets, or smokers indoors was higher than asthma incidence in houses without these. Old houses were found to have more asthma incidence than new houses. All the allergen levels in the carpets were extremely high and they were all above the allergen levels induced by house dust mites that can provoke asthma in susceptible individuals. Based on the knowledge gained about the defective factors in housing affecting asthma, upgrading of the houses was designed. A house was chosen to be upgraded in three stages, each stage providing a different level of insulation. The upgrading costs were compared with the current national costs of health and heating to see what level of upgrading would be logical and cost-effective. National costs and savings were estimated in four cases each with different level of insulation. It was decided at the final stage of the study that insulating ceilings and floors in addition to other basic upgrading factors would provide savings in health and heating costs and would result in less CO2 emissions to the atmosphere of New Zealand. / Subscription resource available via Digital Dissertations only.

Master of Architecture / Department of Architecture / Gary J. Coates / This research explores the bioclimatic and socio-cultural benefits of Kolkata’s courtyard houses. A typological and historical analysis of courtyard houses from around the world, as well as in Kolkata, provides a context for the field research. The main intention of this study is to explore the roles of solar shading and natural ventilation in courtyard houses located in the hot-humid climatic region. For this purpose interviews with the heads of household of ten courtyard houses in Kolkata were conducted in January 2005, to finally choose three houses for detailed experimental analysis. All three houses have high thermal construction and similar socio-economic conditions. This helped in comparing the results of the temperature (both ambient and surface temperatures) and air speed measurements among the three houses referred to as House A, House B and House C houses. House A and House C houses have shallow courtyards (high aspect ratios which in both cases equal 0.95), while House B house has a deep courtyard (low aspect ratio equal to 0.21). Further, ventilation analysis has been done with the help of Computational Fluid Dynamics (CFD) software. The simulation study and the experimental data measurements focused on the comfort conditions generated within the house based on their differences in proportion of form and massing. The effects of solar shading and natural ventilation on activity patterns and uses of a space are also examined through occupant surveys. Finally, this research explores the historic courtyard houses in Kolkata, with a view to address the benefits of the universal courtyard form of design and speculate the appropriateness of the vernacular courtyard form in the modern architectural arena of Kolkata.

Master of Science / Department of Architectural Engineering and Construction Science / Kimberly W. Kramer / This report offers a parametric study analyzing the vertical reinforcement for slender reinforced concrete walls (tilt-up panels) subject to 90 miles per hour (mph), 110 mph, 130 mph, and 150 mph three-second gust wind speeds. Wall panel heights of 32 feet (ft) and 40 ft are considered for one-story warehouse structures. First, solid tilt-up panels serve as the base design used in the comparison process. Next, square openings of 4 ft, 8 ft, 12 ft, and 16 ft centered in the wall panel, are analyzed. A total of 32 tilt-up panel designs are conducted, establishing the most economical design by the least amount of reinforcement and concrete used. In addition to lateral wind pressures, the gravity loads acting on the load bearing tilt-up panel are dead load, roof live load, and snow load. All loads for this report are determined based on a typical 24 ft by 24 ft bay. The procedure to design the tilt-up panels is the Alternative Design of Slender Walls outlined in the American Concrete Institute standard ACI 318-08 Building Code Requirements for Structural Concrete and Commentary Section 14.8 In general, an increase in panel height, lateral wind pressure, and/or panel openings, requires an increase in reinforcement to meet strength and serviceability. Typical vertical reinforcement in tilt-up panels is #4, #5, and #6 size reinforcement bars. A double-mat reinforcement scheme is utilized when the section requires an increase in reinforcement provided by use of a single-layer of reinforcement. A thicker tilt-up panel may be needed to ensure tension-controlled behavior. Panel thicknesses of 7.25 inches (in), 9.25 in, and 11.25 in are considered in design.

Master Of Architecture / Department of Architecture / Matthew Knox / Film allows a different way of looking at space than architecture. It gives easier access to the set-up world of the narrative. The narrative is the story of what happens in the spaces—what the idea of the space is—its ritual. Using the media of film presents a better understanding of a world through the projected images to the designer and viewers. A short film—Poesis—was made to provoke poetic images. The film was used to construct architecture through film, developing a process of making and a more complete understanding of architecture. Each space was treated as a repository for a poetic image. The poetic image is art, a connection to memory, and viewed through materiality. The poetic image allows a relationship with reality, while giving a new awareness of the world at hand. Art is defined as something that sets up a world for someone to enter. Film and architecture both set up a world that is created through memory and material, thus art. Memory is a narrative that does not depend on time, but instead movement through space. Memory allows for empathy from the viewer, creating a connection with the world and characters in it. Materials create surfaces. Surfaces meet at corners and the meeting of these surfaces create a container for space. The space that these surfaces hold give new memories that are poetic images. Andrei Tarkovsky wrote, “Poetry is an awareness of the world, a particular way of relating to reality.” The poetic image is understood as a better understanding, or awareness, of the world we dwell in. Poesis was created as art, setting up a world for someone to enter; not only the character, but the audience as well. The character’s memory of space was taken away in order to purge the desensitization created from the bombardment of images of our culture, and to present the character with new memories of space. Giving these new, simpler notions of space allowed for a more innocent view and awareness of his surroundings. Using these things together created the poetic image of the film—a new awareness and understanding of the world we dwell within. The process of constructing architecture through film allowed for a more complete image of the building being designed. Film is an art that sets up the world that the narrative of the story takes place in with clear and concise juxtaposed images. The process of constructing was a different way of treating the space so it contained the poetic image. The film became a tool of communication for the architecture and its poetics. A more complete understanding of what the space was emerged by looking through the eyes of a filmmaker. A new sense of space developed through this process of making.

Master of Architecture / Department of Architecture / Matthew Knox / The purpose of this study is to examine how the industrial process of rapid prototyping might reshape practice and making in architecture. Rapid prototyping is defined as an accelerated, adaptive evolution of a system or its components in some form using computer-aided drafting and manufacturing. Historically, all architecture was the intelligence of a single maker—the master builder. Specialization has caused architecture to fragment with architects serving only as designers. This report explores the ability of computer-aided drafting and manufacturing technologies to streamline the design procedure, which potentially increases the architect’s input into the process of building. Effectually, the architect narrows the distance between the design and the built—returning the architect to the role of master builder. An actual design exercise will examine the connection of architectural practice to making. To apply this research a habitable space was constructed through the incorporation of rapid prototyping.

Master of Science / Department of Architectural Engineering and Construction Science / Sutton F. Stephens / Autoclaved Aerated Concrete (AAC) is a lightweight concrete building material cut into masonry blocks or formed larger planks and panels. Currently it has not seen widespread use in the United States. However, in other parts of the world it use has been used successfully as a building material for over fifty years. AAC is a relatively new (at least to the United States) concrete masonry material that is lightweight, easy to construct, and economical to transport. Its light weight is accomplished through the use of evenly distributed microscopic air bubbles throughout the material; these bubbles result in a lightweight concrete that is composed of a latticework around spherical voids. This report details the history, physical properties, manufacturing process, and structural design of AAC. This report includes an explanation of the 2005 Masonry Standards Joint Committee (MSJC) Code for the design of AAC members subjected to axial compressive loads, bending, combined axial and bending, and shear. An example building design using AAC structural components is provided. This report concludes that AAC has important advantages as a structural building material that deserves further consideration for use in the United States.

Master of Science / Department of Architectural Engineering and Construction Science / Fred L. Hasler / The purpose of this report is to provide an introduction to the new ASHRAE Standard 189.1-2009, Standard for the Design of High-Performance Green Buildings. The report will include an overview of the standard to detail what the purpose, scope and requirements for high-performance buildings will be. The entire standard will be overviewed, but the focus of this paper is in the areas of energy efficiency and building performance. Next, the report will examine further impacts that the standard will have on the building design and construction industry. Chapter 3 includes the impact on other standards, specification writing and coordination of the design and construction teams. A case study of an office building is performed to compare a baseline building meeting ASHRAE Standard 90.1 to a building meeting the minimum standards of ASHRAE Standard 189.1. The case study compares the total annual energy use of the two projects to determine an expected energy savings. Based on this information, recommendations about the new standard will be discussed. Universities and government entities should require ASHRAE Standard 189.1 for new construction projects, to show willingness to provide sustainability in buildings. Finally, conclusions about how the standard will change and impact industry will be addressed. These conclusions will include issues with adopting ASHRAE Standard 189.1 as code as well as discussion on the LEED rating system.