INT322ECG

  The interior acoustics of a space can have a big impact on people’s general wellbeing and health, so it’s important to get it right. A great starting point is understanding how sounds react with materials. Acoustics is the study of sound. The primary purpose of acoustic design is to manage the sound within the space effectively. As a result, the acoustics of a room should be considered at the start of the interior design process. Unwanted sound is called noise. It’s our job to anticipate possible sources of noise and to design spaces that control this potential noise. The interior design team usually helps in making the perfect decisions when they know the purpose space will be used for. As a result, every space should be treated acoustically to make people feel comfortable and enjoy the space. Without proper acoustic treatment of an area, sound can become noise, which will impact people’s experience directly. Sound is generated in a pressure oscillation that produce wav...

Plumbing is one of the vital things in building and planning. It refers to the introduction and elimination of water and human by-products to and from a building, the creation of the water system for good sanitation and the drainage system like the sewer pipes. The location on plumbing lines within a building have an impact on the space planning and interior design of a space. Plumbing systems are divided into water and waste supply. Water supply systems operate under pressure, while waste systems operate by gravity, thus requiring a slope in waste pipes. The three primary water supply options can be divided into 3 groups. There is potable water (water that is suitable for drinking), Black water (water that contains sewage) and grey water (wastewater from sinks, bathtubs and washing machines). To reduce the amount of potable water being discharged into the waste stream, several items have been introduced for use in buildings. As the single biggest source of interior water use, toile...

We are surrounded by light at almost every moment of everyday.   As designers, Interior lighting is one of the most important aspects of any living space. Artificial and natural light has a dramatic impact on our body and mind as well as changes and transforms a space. It has the ability to change the mood of a room, and we can use light and shade to make a room feel comfortable but also dramatic and atmospheric. This chapter this week covered the electrical systems and the different types of lighting applications you can use in a space. Electricity is an essential part of modern life and important to the U.S economy. We use electricity for lighting, heating, cooling, electronics, machinery, and many other applications. Electrical current can be either in the form of alternating current (AC) or direct current (DC.) Electricity travels from the utility company to the user through a combination of overhead and underground electrical lines. Interior designers must have a worki...

 In this chapter of our textbook, we read how ceilings come in a variety of forms and materials. Some expose the structure of the buildings, while others are enclosed, hiding mechanical, electrical and plumbing pipes, ductwork, junction boxes and wiring. There are a variety of different ceilings to use in a space. There are cathedral ceilings that conforms roughly to the pitch (slope) of the roof. These ceilings provide a sense of spaciousness that a flat ceiling may not. You also have Directly applied ceilings. This ceiling is one that attaches to the structure of the building. Gypsum wallboard is the most commonly used for the directly applied ceiling material. Lastly, there is Suspended acoustical panel ceilings. These are very common in commercial spaces. The acoustical ceiling provides noise control in large spaces, and the suspended system allows for ductwork, sprinkler lines and electrical wiring to occur about the visible ceiling system.   Designers sometimes wants t...

 This chapter of our textbook goes into detail about the different type of flooring systems including the framing and finish materials. One common framing system they mention are wood floor framing systems. They can be divided into two basic categories: light frame construction and heavy timber frame construction. Light frame construction uses multiple small wood members to carry a load. In a wall, these are called studs, when they carry a floor load, these are called joists. As for Heavy timer, this framing relies on a structural frame consisting of columns and beams.  The horizontal beams are then used to support girders. Girders carry the weight of floor planks to the beams where the load can be transferred to the columns. We also have steel floor-framing which is either light gauge with multiple open web joists or structural steel with beams and girders. You can also use concrete as a flooring system. It is either poured in place on site or cast at a plant and assembled on...

  Walls are structural elements used to divide or enclose and in the building construction, to form the periphery of a room or building. They can be framed in several different ways. The three main systems include stud walls, masonry or concrete bearing walls and column and beam structural frame walls with infill. The interior finish of these walls is the final component of the sustainable wall assembly. These finishes include gypsum board (drywall/sheetrock) which is most used. You can also use Plaster that is applied in a 3-coat system. How the space will be used helps to determine the appropriate wall finish that a designer chooses. One of the most popular finishes are paint. The paints that add a shine/color to the raw materials play a huge role in sustainability as well. Overall, you want to find finishes that have reduced levels of VOCs (Volatile organic compounds). VOCs can cause anything from nausea to kidney damage, and they can pollute the outdoor air, too. Many finishes ...