STRUCTURAL REQUIREMENTS IN RESIDENTIAL APARTMENTS
Colonel. P Nallathambi. ME(Structural Engg), MBA, FIE, Structural Consultant,
M/S Sakthi Consultancy, PH Road, Chennai 600 084. Mobile: 094440 20706,
Web Site : www.sakthiconsultancy.com
Introduction.
An Architect designs a residential building to meet the client requirements,
functional aspects, vastu requirement and aesthetic criteria . Finally the structural
requirements are considered for the building. It is difficult to satisfy all the requirements
without compromising on each other. Though functional and beauty aspects of a building
are necessary but Architect and the Client of the building should not compromise the
structure requirements for any reason.
Needs of a client/owner of a residential building.
An owner of the building would always wants to maximize the benefits of land available to
him because the cost of land is very high. Even though the government authorities (CMDA/
Municipal Corporation) have laid down the rules, owner will, still try to violate and increase
the construction area above the ground floor / stilt floor. However, the Government officials
may visit the site and pass the construction . Hence owner has to follow the rules strictly as
per the norms such as set back area, number of floors, etc. But client may want to extend
the built up area in subsequent floors as much as possible . In some case, the owner may
want to build the building from edge of his land boundary by touching with neighbours
building wall. The above requirement will results in eccentric footing and floating column
above ground floor/stilt floor, which is not advisable from structural engineer point of view.
Owner of the building is always interested to minimize the material cost. If steel and
concrete quantities are less then he will be very happy. This is possible when all beams are
connected to columns and form a proper framed structure. When flow of load from slab to
beam , beam to column and to foundation is not smooth then the steel quantity and RC
member size will be high, which results to high cost of material for the same building.
The owner of the building is normally reluctant to test the soil which may be costing
Rs.25,000 to Rs.30,000. Client leaves it to structural engineer to decide and prepare
foundation design . Design of foundation without testing the soil may cause foundation
failure or settlement cracks even during later stage. Repair of foundation failure is difficult
and costly. Hence, one should not take risk in foundation of the building.
Needs of an architect in planning of buildings.
There are many professionals and trades are involved in actual construction of buildings.
The architect is responsible for the design of a building with particular regard to its
appearance and environmental qualities, and makes sure the building looks good. But the
structural engineer ensures that it will stand up.
Therefore, Architectural design must respect various constraints such as Functionality,
Aesthetics and Economy . Functionality is essential for a building to satisfy the purposes
for which the structure is constructed. The architect often imposes his aesthetic concerns
on the Engineer. This in turn can place many limitations on the structural system. Finally
economy, it should be kept in mind that the two largest components of a structure are
labors and materials. Design cost is comparatively negligible.
Architects plan the buildings functionally good, meeting all vastu requirements and ensures
that interior is excellent and elevation is very good. Invariably, car park of the apartment
is planned at the stilt /ground floor of the building. After considering all the requirements of
functional , vastu and interior then it was given to structural requirements. ie after all the
other needs are taken care before considering the strength requirement.
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