Detail Drawing

Detail drawing is very important for Architecture study.  Drawing detail is also a vital skill for us Architecture students. By learning to draw detail drawings, we can better understand how different materials are joined together. In addition, we can also understand the functions of different layers of walls. In this assignment, I choose four different types of walls to study and document. Timber frame wall, concrete frame wall, masonry wall, and rammed earth wall.

a. Timber frame wall

Wood structure is considered to be the most environmentally friendly way to build. Wood is a natural and renewable raw material with high heat insulation. Wood construction has some advantages, such as light weight, easy to transport and install; It has strong heat insulation, and can reduce energy consumption. But at the same time there are some disadvantages, such as poor fire resistance, easy corrosion, and so on. 

Timber frame wall section

There are many different layers in the timber frame wall. Like the outside surface, cladding, timber batten, sheathing board, stud cavity, batten cavity, plasterboard, and the inside surface. Sometimes there are might also some other layers and materials depending on the specific need and requirement.

b. Concrete frame wall 

The construction of concrete walls is a crucial phase in building construction. It is constructed as a load-bearing structure to transfer loads from the floor to the wall below or to the foundation, in addition to dividing spaces in multi-story buildings. The advantages of concrete walls are very durable, strong bearing capacity, strong fire resistance, and a certain ability to resist earthquakes. However, concrete also has some disadvantages, such as it often needs to be reinforced, requires professional installation, and can crack over time.

Concrete frame wall section

Concrete wall also has many different layers inside. Like plaster, polystyrene board insulation, wood sheathing, and aluminum siding, etc. 

c. Masonry wall

Masonry walls are the most durable part of any building or structure. Masonry consists of building structures from single units that are laid and bound together with mortar. Brick, stone, and concrete blocks are the most common materials used in masonry construction.

Masonry wall section

The advantage of brickwork is that brickwork does not require specialized labor because the blocks are uniform in shape and size. Second, bricks are light and easy to transport. Bricks are also cheaper than concrete and stone, which helps keep costs down. Masonry also has some disadvantages. Bricks have a low resistance against tension and torsion loads, making them more susceptible to seismic damage. Compared with stone and concrete blocks, bricks are also less strong and durable and limited in sizes and colors.

d. Rammed earth wall

Rammed earth has been used in buildings for thousands of years, with evidence of its use dating back to the Neolithic Age. The technique is particularly common in China, where it has been applied to ancient monuments and vernacular architecture, such as the Great Wall. Some people today continue to advocate the use of rammed earth on the grounds that it is sustainable compared to more modern construction methods. 

Rammed earth wall section

Compared with other modern materials and construction methods, rammed earth has certain advantages. 1. Low construction cost and easy access to materials; 2. Construction is low in difficulty and does not require a professional labor force; 3. Good quality, more durable; 4. High moisture resistance and fire resistance. But rammed earth has some disadvantages. Inflexibility is one of the disadvantages of rammed earth. Once built, rammed earth walls are difficult to modify. Rammed earth also has some limitations and can only be used to build ground-floor buildings. Rammed earth also has a high requirement for climate, and is prone to damage in places that are too wet and have high rainfall.