Practical advice: specifying materials, detailing, building codes, construction methods.
Practical Advice for Architects
1. Specifying Materials: Balancing Beauty, Performance, and Sustainability
- Choosing between natural vs synthetic materials
- Considering lifecycle costs and maintenance
- Sourcing responsibly and reducing embodied carbon
- When to prioritize durability over upfront cost
Mastering Detailing: Turning Drawings into Reality
- Importance of precision in construction documents
- Common detailing mistakes and how to avoid them
- Waterproofing, joints, and thermal breaks explained
- Balancing clean aesthetics with practical buildability
Decoding Building Codes: Safety, Accessibility, and Sustainability
- Why compliance is design’s invisible backbone
- Key code areas: fire safety, accessibility, energy efficiency
- How international standards (LEED, WELL, Passive House) influence local practice
- Strategies for staying up to date with evolving codes
Construction Methods: From Tradition to Innovation
- Masonry, timber, steel, and concrete—strengths and trade-offs
- Modular and prefabrication methods
- Choosing the right method for climate, budget, and timeline
- Collaboration with engineers and contractors to ensure feasibility
