Rathdowne street public estate This week we were given the opportunity to venture onto a construction site located on the corner of Princess street and Rathdowne street. This site holds several apartment blocks and one of the buildings are intended to complete in February 2014. The building consists of many floors and is designed ergonomically and systematically suitable for individuals who suffer from Alzheimer’s. Not only was it interesting to actually be able to interact with the structural materials and see the framework for the entire operation, we were also shown a demo of what the room was planned to display. Initially, we were led around the site that was aimed to become an apartment block that anyone can purchase. There were buildings of similar to same features next to the site and we were told that the aim was to provide a theme for the surrounding areas of modern aesthetics. Computer Generated model of the buildings Floor plan of Level 1 Construction site
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Rathdowne street public estate
This week we were given the opportunity to venture onto a construction site located on the
corner of Princess street and Rathdowne street. This site holds several apartment blocks
and one of the buildings are intended to complete in February 2014.
The building consists of many floors and is designed
ergonomically and systematically suitable for
individuals who suffer from Alzheimer’s. Not only
was it interesting to actually be able to interact with
the structural materials and see the framework for
the entire operation, we were also shown a demo of
what the room was planned to display.
Initially,
we were led around the site that was aimed to
become an apartment block that anyone can
purchase. There were buildings of similar to
same features next to the site and we were told
that the aim was to provide a theme for the
surrounding areas of modern aesthetics.
Computer Generated model of the
buildings
Floor plan of Level 1
Construction site
As we walked down the construction site, we were
able to see the ground beneath the road. The
black tubes are pipes placed there so that water
that leaks gets drained and released into the
ground so the wall doesn’t collapse on itself.
<- This is the frame work that is placed on each
pillar so that all the pillars become interconnected
and united. As a result, the wall becomes more
stable and solid so construction workers can come
later and fill the framework with concrete to
reinforce the wall.
The reason why the site was below ground level was due to the plan to construct and
underground parking lot as it has become policy that all new high density buildings should
have underground parking.
After leaving the apartment construction site, we went to the
6 storey nursing home for individuals with Alzheimer’s. As we
arrived on the scene, I noticed a very high level of cable
management as cables for Television, phone, internet, alarms
etc were all visible.
Image of neighbouring apartment blocks
Different cables found on site
Soon we were taken to a demonstration of a room that possessed all the functions that
were going to be included in the rooms of the building. Before we even entered, we noticed
some very distinct features that were present in comparison to standard apartment rooms.
Outside the room, it had a hand rail which had lights that
can be used at a seated height for those who use wheel
chairs, and possessed a light which can lead individuals
who forgot their destination to their room. Secondly, there was a memory box in place
outside the room to remind those with memory loss that they possess ownership of that
certain room.
Walking through the different floors of the building, we were informed that the walls were
actually made of material that prevented water and fire.
The green wall is designed to prevent water so it is
water proof whilst the red wall is actually fire proof.
All of these material choices are done to maximise
safety precautions in the building and to reach certain
policies.
Hand rail along the wall leading to the room
Memory box
Green wall =Water proof
Red wall = Fire proof
As we walked around on the fourth
floor of the building, we noticed the
high level of incompletion but this was
a plus for visitors. To me, it allowed me
to see in detail how the building is
constructed and as a result, give me a
clearer picture of all the materials and
components used.
Through an incomplete section of the wall,
I was able to notice the bricks used.
Through this image, we can see that the
bricks are actually hollow concrete blocks
and this really informed me on the
construction materials and types used. We
are also able to see a steel rusted bar
there which I believe is used to hold the
bricks in place.
The fifth floor of this building is mainly
scaffolding that is used to hold the roof together
while the fifth floor is being reinforced. Without
these, the roof would collapse due to lack of
support from the dead and live loads from the
roof.
4th
floor of the building
Bricks used are hollow
5th
floor of the building
The roof of the building is also far from
complete as many different things are
scattered across the roof including the steel
cords. These steel cord ditches are placed
and filled with concrete and eventually
pulled with around 1 tonne of force to
stretch and strengthen the concrete.
Caps are placed on the steel rods sticking out of
the ground for a safety precaution. As a result, it
prevents workers from tripping and being
impaled by the rod.
Overall, this site visit was very educational in terms of personal experience and interactions
with the materials rather than learning through descriptions.