October 28th, 2011  Posted at   College University
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Interior Architecture is a bridge between architecture and interior design. It provides professionals with the proper knowledge regarding the building of structures and the importance and understanding of load bearing walls. The fields of Interior Architecture and Interior Design are quite similar. Some people refer to the two fields as one and call it Interior Architecture Design.

Interior architectural design professionals in the United States cannot call himself or herself an Interior Architect unless they have completed the educational requirements to become a fully licensed architect. The actual definition of Interior Architecture is a program that prepares people to apply the architectural principles in the design of structural interiors for living, recreational and for business purposes so as to function as a professional interior architect. This includes instruction in the architecture of heating and cooling systems, occupational and safety standards, interior design, specific end-use applications, structural systems design and professional responsibilities and standards.

If interested in a career in the interior architecture design field there are plenty of options available to the aspiring designer whether they wish to attend a college or university or take classes online. These courses explore the links and similarities between interior design and architecture. Interior Design programs will challenge you to explore creative ideas for using space and re-inventing how buildings are designed. Some areas of study include the conceptual creativity of design and the philosophy and theory behind design plus the latest technology used for interior design.

Individuals pursuing an education in interior design or interior architecture can expect to develop a wide range of skills including the use of CAD (Computer Aided Drawing) software, video and photography. Other skills will be developed in the studio such as the use of models and how to construct the models.

Interior Design programs prepare the interior architectural design student for technological, cultural and environmental issues. Students who attend a studio classroom are taught in workshops, lectures and seminars. Read more… »

October 28th, 2011  Posted at   Careers Employment
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If you are looking for a job in the field of architecture, you should check out careers in architectural design. A job as an architectural designer is especially good for people are creative and more interested in the artistic side of architecture as opposed to the engineering aspect. Architecture designers focus on designing structures that include bridges and both residential and commercial buildings. They are concerned with designing a space that is both functional and aesthetic. The type of work that architecture designers do also differs. Many designers specialize in a specific area such as designing educational institutions or residential structures.

Career Qualifications

In order to get a job in architecture design, you need to earn a bachelor’s or a master’s degree in architecture from an accredited institution. When going to school full time, a bachelor’s degree can be earned in four years while a master’s degree can take anywhere from one to five years depending on how many classes you take at a time. Most states also require some kind of licensing in order to practice architecture. It often takes a while to get established as an architectural designer, so the earlier you start getting experience the better. Many architectural designers start interning with firms while they are still in school.

Types of Work & Wages

Many architectural design workers work in architecture firms alongside other types of architects. Although most designers work for firms, some architectural designers also find work as consultants or in positions working for the government. Additionally, some architectural designers start their own firms after working somewhere to gain experience. Wages for architecture design jobs increase with experience and also differ by location; they will generally be higher in large cities. Job prospects for architectural designers look good as the field is expected to grow at least as fast as the average in coming years. In sum, starting a career in architectural design is a good career choice for people who want to combine creativity and engineering to create lasting works of art. Read more… »

October 28th, 2011  Posted at   Energy Efficiency
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Energy Efficiency Regulations for Zero Carbon Homes

Housing Minister Grant Shapps recently re-affirmed his commitment for all new build homes to be zero-carbon from 2016. He also confirmed the work, carried out last year for the previous Government, in creating the ‘Fabric Energy Efficiency Standard’.

Is the timescale realistic and what needs to happen to achieve this? The first factor to consider is the definition of zero carbon. You would think zero means ‘nil’ but, in fact, the standard being aimed for is not nil – it’s 30%!

Within the new energy efficiency regulations zero- carbon actually means a reduction of 70% from the 2006 permitted level of emission; still quite an ambitious target. To achieve this will not simply involve building homes with extra insulation; it will be about sustainable architecture designed for energy efficiency and fuel conservation – and it is complex!

Energy Assessment for Building Regulation Approval

From October 2010, energy assessment will have to be submitted as a part of the Building Regulation application. The new build design stage will involve integrating a combination of energy efficient systems and products which must perform as specified; not just in theory but in practice. Recent studies have shown that the energy performance of new homes when built often falls a long way short of that expected by the design stage energy assessments. This may be due to the modelling technique being wrong or the standard of build being poor, or both!

We need to ‘get it right’ every time. Today, it is very rare for new homes to have structural, fire risk or sound transmission problems, but when it comes to meeting building regulations for energy efficiency, so far, there has not been the same level of rigorous procedure. The house building industry needs to have a much clearer and consistent understanding of the ultimate goal and be given time to respond.

So, is the Methodology for Energy Assessments for New Build Inadequate?

The existing energy efficiency/carbon emission compliance tool – the Standard Assessment Procedure (SAP, also used for producing energy performance certificates, EPCs) compares well with other modelling processes, especially for heating, but it could be better in, for example, energy use for water heating, new technologies and innovative design.

Sustainable architecture designs for low energy homes could result in a reduction of air quality and day lighting, but as information on these is already entered into SAP calcs there is an opportunity for designers to have the energy efficiency/carbon emission information whilst also providing a check for other aspects of their design.

And what about Quality of Construction – Why is this a Concern?

One good example of how things can go badly wrong on site: The Air Pressure test results from two different examples of the same house type, built on the same site, varied by almost 100%, despite being built by the same contractor. The issue was with build quality: We have to understand whether architects are creating un-buildable design stage details or whether there is a lack of construction skills and understanding to deliver the approved design. Read more… »

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