Monthly Archives: July 2013

Theory: Structural Systems

As we have seen so far, one of the many functions of a building is to resist the forces attempting to destroy it. In the Last post, we demonstrated that we can remove material along the Neutral Axis of the beam, Shape is more important then the quantity of material. If I wear Snowshoes, I am supported…Read More

Theory: Presenting Ideas

WM Fares Proposal for 5447 Rannie DriveThis post takes a small slide into the realm of the unbuilt.Before a building can be built, it must be approved, first by the client and then various regulatory bodies. If you are competing for a job, you need to present your idea, in a complete fashion, but cheaply…Read More

Churchfield barracks

B The ChurchField Barracks, (locally known as the 12 apostles) are a 12 unit townhouse on Brunswick street. The Churchfield Barracks originally served as married Officer living quarters, for officers stationed at Citadel hill. They were built in 1903 by the British Army.The Churchfield name comes from the fact that they were built on the…Read More

Theory: The Curtain Wall

In our post on the Canada Perminant Trust Building,B we revelealed that it was the fist curtain wall structure in Halifax. Recent renovations to the TD tower have allowed us to catch a glimpse of the system in action. In the Photo Above,B you can clearly see how slender the exterior wall is versus the…Read More

Theory: Triangles and Trusses

One of the consistently re-occurring problems in architecture is how to cover a large space, when you available materials are shorter then the gap you wish to cover. A Simple bridge can merely be a plank across a gap, But what if the planks you have are shorter then the Gap. Another example is that of…Read More

The 1945 Master Plan

The Master Plan for the City of Halifax was prepared by the Civic Planning Commission in 1945. The terms of reference for the Master Plan were issued in December 1943. The terms of reference were based on “assisting in effecting an orderly transition from wartime to peacetime conditions”. The commission was made up of 2…Read More