SOME TOPICS ON BUILDING AND ARCHITECT

1.12 Pre-fabrication: Principles of pre-fabrication, advantages and

disadvantages of a pre-fabricated building
Prefabrication is the method of construction, which includes assembling
components of a structure in a manufacturing or production site, transporting
complete assemblies or partial assemblies to the site where the structure is to be
located.
It is a combination of good design with modern high performance components and
quality controlled manufacturing procedures. The work is carried out in two stages,
manufacturing of components in a place other than final location and their erection
in position.
Prefabrication sections are produced in large quantities in a factory and then
shipped to various construction sites. This procedure may allow work to continue
despite poor weather conditions and should reduce any waste in material and time
at the site. Precast concrete units are cast and hardened before used for
construction. Sometimes builders cast components at the building site and hoist
into place after they harden. This technique permits the speedy erection of
structures.
The prefabrication as defined will be done in two stages:
1. Manufacturing at factory condition
2. Erection of components at the required location
This requires certain stages of preparation.
1. Casting
2. Curing
3. Transportation
4. Erection
Casting: Precast components are cast with controlled cement concrete in moulds of
required shapes and sizes. The vibrator is used to vibrate concrete and this removes
any honeycombing inside the components.
Curing: After 24 hours of casting, the cast components are released from the mould
and transported to curing tanks. Certain special components like railway sleepers
here high strength is required are steam cured.

Er. Shuvanjan Dahal

SOME TOPICS ON BUILDING AND ARCHITECT

Transportation and Erection: After complete curing is done, the components are
transported to the site with heavy trucks and erection will be done using cranes
with skilled labour force.
Advantages and Disadvantages
Advantages
Saving in cost, material, time and manpower
Shuttering and scaffolding is not necessary
Installation of building services and finishes can be done immediately
Independent of weather condition
Components produced at close supervision, so quality is good
Clean and dry work at site
Possibility of alterations and reuse
Correct shape and dimensions and sharp edges are maintained
Very thin sections can be entirely precast with precision
Disadvantages
Handling and transportation may cause breakages of members during the
transit and extra provision is to be made
Difficulty in connecting precast units to produce same effect as monolithic.
This leads to non-monolithic construction.
They are to be exactly placed in position, otherwise the loads coming on
them are likely to be changed and the member may be affected.
High transport cost
Need of erection equipment
Skilled labour and supervision are required
3.19 Squatter and slums
Majority are established along riverbanks, which traditionally formed the
borderline between cities
Between 1 and 2% of the citys urban population
NGOs and local bodies (Nagar Palika) in charge of these much discussed and
politicized areas make a distinction between squatter settlements and slums.
The people ascribed to the first category (Squatter = Sukumbasi) of settlement live
on marginal government-owned land and, for the most part, come from outside the

Er. Shuvanjan Dahal

SOME TOPICS ON BUILDING AND ARCHITECT

Kathmandu valley. They do not possess any property title (Lal Purja) for their
shelter.
Those living in slums, the second settlement category, have been in the Valley for a
long period and are sometimes even considered the original dwellers in the region.
They mostly belong to low Newar castes, such as the Dyola fishermen or Shahi
butchers. These castes, among the lowest of Newar society, used to dwell in
rudimentary houses on the outskirts of historic cities. Slum dwellers are not
Sukumbasi per se; some have land documents, other do not. Their houses are
small, dilapidated and have poor sanitary conditions. Whole sectors of the
overpopulated center of old Kathmandu City belong or could belong to this
category of housing.
4.6 Principles of architectural design
Visual Design Elements
Six integral components used in the creation of a design: (a) Line (b) Colour (c)
Form and Shape (d) Space (e) Texture (f) Value
Line
Vertical - represents dignity, formality, stability and strength
Horizontal - represents calm, peace and relaxation
Diagonal - represents action, activity, excitement and movement
Curved - represents freedom, the natural, having the appearance of softness
and creates a soothing feeling or mood
Colour
Colour has an immediate and profound effect on a design.
Warm Colours - red, orange, yellow
Cool Colours - blue, purple, green
Colours can affect how humans feel and act.
Form and Shape
Form: (3D) The shape and structure of something as distinguished form its
substance or material

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SOME TOPICS ON BUILDING AND ARCHITECT

Shape: (2D) The two-dimensional contour that characterizes and object or area.
Space
By incorporating the use of space in your design, you can enlarge or reduce the
visual space.
Open, uncluttered spaces
Cramped, busy spaces
Unused vs. good use of space
Texture
The surface look or feel of something
Smooth Surface - reflects more light and therefore is a more intense colour
Rough Surface - absorbs more light and therefore appears darker
Value
The relative lightness or darkness of a colour
Shade - Degree of darkness of a colour
Tint - A pale or faint variation of a colour
Visual Design Principles
Seven principles encompass an interesting design: (a) Balance (b) Rhythm (c)
Emphasis (d) Proportion and Scale (e) Movement (f) Contrast (g) Unity
Balance
Parts of the design are equally distributed to create a sense of stability. Both
physical and visual balance exist.
Symmetrical or formal balance
Asymmetrical or informal balance
Radial balance
Vertical balance
Horizontal balance
Rhythm
Repeated use of line, shape, colour, texture or pattern

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SOME TOPICS ON BUILDING AND ARCHITECT

Regular rhythm
Graduated rhythm
Random rhythm
Gradated rhythm
Emphasis
The feature in a design that attracts ones eye the focal point.
Emphasis can be achieved through size, placement, shape, colour and/or use of
lines.
Proportion and Scale
Comparative relationships between elements in a design with respect to size
Movement
Flow or feeling action
Contrast
Noticeably different
Can be created with
Colour
Proportion and Scale
Shape
Texture
Unity
Unity is achieved by the consistent use of lines, colour, material and/or texture
within a design.

Er. Shuvanjan Dahal