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Architecture And The Built Environment [closed]

Proposed Q&A site for professional and students practising the art and science of designing and erecting buildings. A place to trade knowledge, ideas, and solutions.
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At 2+ years in Area 51 we have to close this proposal. Keep this proposal alive by restarting it. See discuss.area51.stackexchange.com/q/5798. – Robert Cartaino♦ Apr 11 at 21:30

closed as not a viable proposal by Robert Cartaino♦ Apr 11 at 21:30

This proposal will not result in a useful, productive, or viable Q&A site.

45 Example Questions

active oldest votes
up vote 13 down vote
Do existing buildings need to follow ADA codes for new railings?
added by kevtrout Apr 19 '11 at 20:33
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up vote 10 down vote
I'm doing an analysis of an R8 zoned building in NYC that doesn't follow any setback or Floor Area Ratio requirements. How was that allowed to happen?
added by unusualhabit Jul 21 '11 at 15:06
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up vote 10 down vote
Does anyone have any advice on starting the LEED certification process as a recent graduate?
added by unusualhabit Jul 26 '11 at 2:15
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up vote 10 down vote
What are the defining aspects of "Pre-War" interior design?
added by unusualhabit Aug 20 '11 at 15:10
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up vote 10 down vote
What kind of factors should be taken into consideration when constructing a green building?
added by zengr Aug 31 '11 at 8:23
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up vote 10 down vote
What kind of roadblocks should be considered for buildings constructed from recycled shipping containers in the US and Canada?
added by Seiaeka Nov 24 '11 at 19:52
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up vote 10 down vote
What is the predominant architectural style in this building? (photo included)
added by Flimzy Apr 16 '12 at 20:04
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up vote 10 down vote
How does a rainscreen function?
added by megankoehler May 18 '12 at 0:39
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up vote 10 down vote
Is there any reason to still use plaster instead of drywall in interior spaces?
added by KDN Jul 12 '12 at 14:18
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up vote 10 down vote
How to determine the suitability of local soil for rammed earth walls/bricks and what amendments are needed for unsuitable soils?
added by KDN Jul 12 '12 at 14:21
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up vote 10 down vote
What's the best way to set up plot styles in AutoCAD (named vs colour, multiple style tables vs scaling lineweights, etc)?
added by jkjenner Aug 16 '12 at 20:47
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up vote 9 down vote
Why do old tall buildings in America have external metal fire escape ladders while in other countries you do not see them?
added by dumbledad Jul 21 '12 at 23:51
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up vote 6 down vote
It seems that brick walls should be stronger with thinner mortar joints; is there any advantage to thicker joints besides easier tooling?
added by KDN Jul 12 '12 at 3:34
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up vote 6 down vote
Is it better to draw in basic compenents in actual or rounded dimensions? (4" stud vs 3-5/8" or 8" cmu block 7-5/8". Benefits or particular workflow?
added by Javier Oropeza Sep 28 '12 at 23:15
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up vote 4 down vote
Has anyone had experience specifying and installing phase change materials on a project?
added by megankoehler Jun 6 '12 at 21:28
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up vote 4 down vote
What are some ways to bring natural light into rooms that are not on the outside of a building.
added by shoul25 Jan 29 at 7:01
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up vote 3 down vote
How does the brick bond affect the strength of a brick wall? Is it an important factor, or is it negligible compared to mortar joint quality?
added by KDN Jul 12 '12 at 3:45
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up vote 3 down vote
Where can I find guidelines and case studies on integrating bicycle lanes into existing roadways?
added by shoul25 Jan 28 at 19:10
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up vote 2 down vote
5/8" or 1/2 GWB on walls? when and where do you use each?
added by Javier Oropeza Sep 28 '12 at 23:19
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up vote 1 down vote
LEED Online users - what's your take on upgrading your forms from Beta? Do it for stability, or don't for fear of losing content?
added by duncancarroll Mar 8 '11 at 0:11
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up vote 1 down vote
What types of fire extinguishers are recommended for electrical fires?
added by kevtrout May 5 '11 at 17:35
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up vote 1 down vote
I need to know how big my local library is (in square feet). How do I find out without using a tape measure?
added by liz Jul 31 '12 at 19:04
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up vote 1 down vote
There are many buildings that are still standing >1,000 years after construction (eg. Newgrange). What design principles exemplify these buildings?
added by CopyrightX Feb 20 at 17:02
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up vote 1 down vote
The 'integrated design process' has long been promoted as the an improvement over the status quo. What practical steps can I take to implement it?
added by cmiller8 Mar 7 at 8:52
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up vote 1 down vote
What are some specific examples of Amory Lovin's 'tunneling under the cost barrier' concept?
added by cmiller8 Mar 7 at 9:02
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up vote 0 down vote
Describe the best instance of an architect clearly adding some value or use to a client's building through their design.
added by unusualhabit Jul 25 '11 at 2:19
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up vote 0 down vote
Why do so many buildings use bulkhead lights? These mostly shine in your eyes, and do little to illuminate. Do they have any benefits?
added by Rocketmagnet Sep 5 '12 at 13:47
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up vote 0 down vote
Has anyone had success utilizing municipal greywater on their project? Tips and tricks for smooth integration?
added by megankoehler Sep 30 '12 at 16:30
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up vote 0 down vote
Is it possible to have a two hour rated wall assembly with only one layer of 5/8" type "X" gypboard on one side? (The other side can have 2 or more)
added by saikofish Oct 11 '12 at 5:45
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up vote 0 down vote
When making architectural models, why is it important to abstract everything not part of the proposal if the building is meant to fit into its area?
added by Adam-E Nov 21 '12 at 22:26
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up vote 0 down vote
Should modern buildings be more ornamental in design to establish some character?
added by Adam-E Nov 21 '12 at 22:29
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up vote 0 down vote
I'm building on location X with naturally existing materials Y, Z, and T onsite. What to read to guide my choice on what to build with: Y, Z, or T?
added by CopyrightX Feb 20 at 16:40
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up vote 0 down vote
Which are the most well-tested of the new Building-Integrated-PhotoVoltaic (BIPV) class of building materials?
added by CopyrightX Feb 20 at 16:42
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up vote 0 down vote
First was trabeation, then corbeling, then various arches for roof support. What will be the next step in pure compression-based roof support systems?
added by CopyrightX Feb 20 at 16:56
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up vote 0 down vote
With the best modern tension-based roof support systems like steel beams, what is the longest time one can expect an unmaintained roof to stay aloft?
added by CopyrightX Feb 20 at 17:04
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up vote 0 down vote
What is an example of a project type or scenario in which a computational fluid dynamics (CFD) consultant was used?
added by cmiller8 Mar 7 at 8:53
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up vote 0 down vote
As an architect, are there situations where I'm liable for the actual performance of a building as compared to predicted from [rating system used]?
added by cmiller8 Mar 7 at 8:55
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up vote 0 down vote
As a project manager, I coordinate multiple disciplines (MEP, struct, etc). How can I more effectively manage these different mindsets?
added by cmiller8 Mar 7 at 9:00
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kind of a broad question I know -- but very important in the industry nevertheless... – cmiller8 Mar 7 at 9:01
up vote 0 down vote
What are good design principles for low-energy passive design for a building in a cold climate?
added by Daniel Knapp Mar 14 at 16:45
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up vote 0 down vote
What basic principles can be learned from the design of older buildings that were created before modern HVAC equipment was invented?
added by Daniel Knapp Mar 14 at 16:50
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