EVENTS
Zaida Davids, the event organiser, assisting delegates with their registration.
switched-on, technologically advanced, and flexible kind of architecture. There is going to be a lot of development with surfaces, textures, angles and curves, he says.
“ If you imagine a surface that is twisting and moving, you can’ t look at it and instantly understand what ' s happening – it ' s almost like you have to adjust your eyes and senses to the surfaces to get a sense of it. The forms become an implicit element of time so what we ' re actually doing is that we ' re moving from architecture specifically spatial, and we ' re introducing a time element into it, which is a further conversation for another day,” Struthers closed.
BIM BOOSTING MODERN TIMBER CONSTRUCTION
Building Information Modelling [ or Management ]( BIM) incorporates design, engineering, manufacturing and supply. Phillip Zumbrunnen, director of Urban Limited, took delegates through the BIM technology and benefits.
BIM is a prominent force of delivery of better buildings especially with timber, as timber is seen as the main driver and leader in becoming a greener society, as engineers work with designers and installers with the materials in mind. This model also goes back to the basics, which is how many have learnt their trades. Working together allows instant feedback to correct things that are wrong or are not working and helps younger members of the team to learn, which is essential for development.
“ Without CAD or CNC technology there wouldn’ t be the inspiration to build advanced projects and we are now able to process faster and are more efficiently, and therefore computer technology is a huge step. It adds onto the traditional skills that many people feel will be lost, however this is not true. Traditional skills and computer skills together are a really powerful tool that create many opportunities,” Zumbrunnen said.
BIM software is a great tool that can do the job quickly, and collaborative working is really important to avoid duplicate mistakes between different projects. However, industry cannot grow as quickly as needed when companies work independently from each other, especially in system development. This slows down progress by unnecessarily duplicating errors and failures.
‘ Old school’ is something that gets a lot of reference, but the reality is that we need to consider that the construction industry is a little bit old school. Sometimes, what is required is that we need a push to get away from the old ways of thinking and doing. It’ s modernise or die, and this is what the timber industry has done.
“ Going back to the basics, pick up the phone, meet and talk to each other and understand all the requirements and ideas because this starts everyone off at the right point. We need to involve the knowledge of our industry, work with each other to create huge success,” Zumbrunnen ended.
DESIGNING FOR THE VALUE CHAIN
Talking his way through his career and dealing with all aspects of building from brickwork to timber, Andre Eksteen, a South African architect of Earthworld Architects, said that,“ Architects are passionate craftsmen and should be involved in making – they are makers of buildings and makers of things.”
In the architecture space there is the ability to stimulate innovation and downstream social sustainability, by not giving the financial institutions all the benefits of projects when skilled labour who do all the hard work and take all the risk. Training is required to empower all participants in the value chain by including them and giving them the context of their roles in the process, such as from the BIM stage that allows a greater visual understanding.
Tools and value chains need to be thought through and the design process needs to change to create a market for
See more on page 12
10 APRIL / MAY 2018 //