architecture – Wiltshire Design

April 26, 2022April 26, 2022

How to Use Roughness Maps in Lumion (With Pictures)

For the first several months I was using Lumion I didn’t think it was possible to load a roughness map into a material. This was very frustrating, as in my mind roughness maps are essential to realistic renders. After a little bit of searching, however, I found a method to actually load and use roughness maps through the normal map in Lumion!

Roughness maps can be used in Lumion by applying the roughness map to the alpha channel of the normal map.

April 11, 2022April 11, 2022

Why do Architects Write in All Caps?

If you have ever seen a set of construction documents, or seen an architect writing, you may have seen a lot of upper-case. I was asking myself, why is this the norm? Why do architects write in all caps?

Architects write in all caps for the legibility and standardization. Largely, this is from the days of all documents being produced by hand, where achieving regularity from person to person was very important. Upper-case also helps to keep construction documents neat and tidy.

March 28, 2022March 28, 2022

Steel Joist Spacing

Steel joist spacing is dependent on if the roof or floor can span between the joists and if the steel joists can carry the load of the roof or floor. In general, 24 inches is a good rule of thumb for steel joist spacing unless noted otherwise by a structural or civil engineer.

Steel joist spacing is very dependent on the load that they are carrying, and size of the joists, as well as a number of other factors. To ascertain a spacing, be sure to consult with an engineer.

That said, often a designer will need to have a rough idea of steel joist spacing earlier in a project, before they have had a chance to consult with an engineer, and this short guide is for just such a circumstance.

March 23, 2022March 23, 2022

Why is Architecture School so Hard?

After hearing stories about how hard architecture school can be, and then undergoing the ordeal myself, I graduated asking myself why was it so tough? Did it need to be? Why is architecture school so hard?

Architecture school can be very hard for several reasons. First is the sheer volume there is to learn – everything from design theory to calculating structural stresses on a wall. Then there is the very time consuming nature of the degree. Almost all classes are project based, which is inherently very time consuming, with few or no shortcuts. To top this off, the student body is typically very competitive, which forces professors to grade harshly.

March 21, 2022March 18, 2022

Why do Architects Make so Little?

Despite the skills required, and the responsibilities architects hold, architects make relatively little money. This is due to a difficulty quantifying what architects do, an environment of too many architects and not enough jobs, and issues with scaling the business side of the profession. This mixed with the stress and long hours associated with architecture can lead many to frustration.

Quantifying What Architects Do

Often in a project, it will suddenly occur to the client that the quantifiable aspects of the project are not done by the architect. The shop-drawings (often the only drawing that a contractor will build from) are drawn by a construction administrator, the structural calculations are usually done by a structural engineer. The HVAC layout is designed by a mechanical engineer. The furniture layout is designed by an interior designer. The electrical layout is designed by an electrical engineer. Usually the landscaping is designed by a landscape architect or design – and so much of the specificity of the project is given over to consultants. There are curtain consultants, theater consultants, school consultants, security consultants – the list goes on. The long list of names and professions attached to a project will often leave the client asking what, if anything, is the architect doing?

The long list of names and professions attached to a project will often leave the client asking what, if anything, is the architect doing?

March 16, 2022

Why is my Window Leaking?

Recently I noticed water seeping through my window sill. This was very worrying! After a bit of research I found some common reasons as to why this might happen. Why is my window leaking?

Window leaks can be caused from poorly installed windows, or parts that were faulty when installed or have worn down over time. A leaking window can lead to mold, rotting, or possibly even structural issues.

A Broken Window Seal

The most common cause of a window actually leaking is a broken window seal – also called a glass seal. If you look at your window you will see actual sealant between your window pane and the frame of your window. If this sealant dries out and cracks, or loses its connection to the window, it can let water seep in and make its way around the window, into the interior of the house.

March 13, 2022March 13, 2022

Why Are Air Vents Near Windows

Almost all my windows in my house have air vents over them. As soon as I noticed this I was stumped. What is the reason for placing air vents near windows?

Air vents are placed near windows to help prevent “drafty” rooms. Windows are the coldest part of a room, and as air near a window is cooled it drops and creates uncomfortable drafts near the floor of the room. Air vents help prevent this by warming up the air before it has an opportunity to circulate. Air vents can also help to warm any air leaking through a badly installed window, as well as “washing” windows to prevent condensation.

Preventing Drafts

The biggest reason air vents are placed near windows is to prevent drafts. Windows are the coldest part of any room, especially in older buildings. Even in new buildings, with double pane glass, the r-value (a measure of how insulative something is) of the window is around 3 to 3.7. In comparison, a typical 2×4 stud wall with batting insulation will have a r-value of about 12.03. It’s easy to test this, just put your hand on a window in your house during the winter and you’ll feel how cold it is. Naturally any air touching this window is cooling down fast. And if we remember our high school physics class, hot air rises and cold air falls. This cold air is going to fall from your window to the floor, and be pushed along the floor by the air that is coming right behind it. Very quickly a draft will be sucked straight along the floor. Having cold air pulling around our feet and ankles is very uncomfortable, as our bodies naturally want to have cool heads and warm feet. This effect reverses that, creating uncomfortable conditions for the inhabitants of a room.