Friday, February 8, 2013

Cantilever



            “A cantilever is an overhanging beam or floor supported at only one end” (Sporre 91).  Prestressed concrete and steel play an important role in the design of a cantilever. The overhang is only supported on one end so they supporting material needs to be very strong.  A cantilever appears to be a very modern design of architecture.  It is interesting to look at, and I think it provides the architect with more opportunities to be creative and think outside of the box when designing a structure.  

Skeleton Frame



            A skeleton frame is the interior framework of a building that can be made of wood or steel.  Often houses skeleton frames are made of wood and the frames of tall buildings like sky scrapers are made of steel.  Walls are later built around the skeleton frame to create the structure. “The walls attach to the frame, forming an exterior skin” (Sporre 92).  Learning about the skeleton frame in architecture makes me imagine that every building is much like the human body.  The structure needs the skeleton frame or bones to support the entire building or body!  The walls are the skin of the structure as Sporre described, and design elements are essential to the success of structure just as organs are essential the body. 

                                                  
                                            
http://www.photoxpress.com/photos-building-skeleton-frame-7893404



Sporre, Dennis J. Reality Through the Arts. 8th ed. N.p: Pearson, n.d www.coursemart. 2013. Web 6 Feb. 2013

Bearing Wall



            A bearing wall is a wall that supports the majority of the weight of a structure.  Bearing walls support the floor and roof (Sporre 91).   Every house, building, and structure has one or more bearing walls.  

             
                                                                            

http://www.renovateyourworld.com/HowTo_Library/Load_Bearing_Walls-Miscellaneous_Walls-A1815.html
http://www.homeadditionplus.com/framing-info/Load-Bearing-Walls.htm




Sporre, Dennis J. Reality Through the Arts. 8th ed. N.p: Pearson, n.d www.coursemart. 2013. Web 6 Feb. 2013