Tuesday, November 23, 2010

Queens Building - Short And Associates - De Montfort University, Leicester - 1993

Architect's Website: Short And Associates







Masonry Kachelofens - Jessica Steinhäuser

Photos and information provided by Jessica Steinhäuser: http://www.stonehousepottery.com/kachelofen.html

Kachelofens are traditional heating devices used in many moderate to cold climate European countries.

They exploit the principles of thermal mass and extreme wood burning efficiency to provide even consistent heat throughout the day or night.

- A Kachelofen needs only 3 to 4 split logs to heat for 8 to 24 hours
- Once the 3 to 4 split logs have burned completely, and there is only embers left, you lock it air tight.
- Hot gases travel slowly through the shafts heating up the mass which then radiate slowly through the home.
- No soot or creosote build up (like traditional chimneys) due to complete combustion.

A video on how to use/fire a kachelofen:http://vimeo.com/13994035

Kachelofen design is very versatile and can include cooking surfaces, benches, through-wall configurations, etc:








Friday, November 5, 2010

Redpath Factory Lofts - Montreal

This project includes the adaptive re-use of the redpath sugar factory. See previous post for map of location and streetview across the Lachine canal.
Photo circa 1897.

Photo circa 2000.

Photo circa 2010.

Photo (circa 2006) showing various additions to the right, now rennovated into living units.

Photo circa 2006.




Image Sources:
http://www.flickr.com/photos/redpath_sugar/sets/72157623084595987/
http://www.flickr.com/photos/31335717@N04/2935520758/
http://www.flickr.com/photos/mtl_e_man/465678249/

Thursday, November 4, 2010

Small Brick Structure - Lachine Canal - Montreal

This small building holds the equipment needed to operate the adjacent canal water lock. (Also note the adaptive re-use of the factory in the background with an adjacent modern addition).





View Larger Map

Tuesday, October 19, 2010

Brick Angled Corner Details

Bricks forming an obtuse angled corner. Frank Lloyd Wright Home and Studio, Oak Park, Illinois. Image: John Delano


Photos Courtesy of Flicker

Acute Angles
"18-inch walls meet at an acute angle, the bonds shown involve a good deal of cutting, which is inevitable to form really good work, but much of it would be omitted in ordinary building, the resulting gaps and spaces being filled in with bits of brick bedded in mortar."


Obtuse Angles
"18-inch brick walls meeting at an obtuse angle. There are several ways of forming the bond, but the arrangement shown is a good one. The bird's-mouths a and d and the squints e e, may be cut and rubbed as axed fair, or specially moulded. The squints ff would be rough cut."


Drawings Sourced here:
http://chestofbooks.com/architecture/Building-Construction-3-2/Various-Bonds-Not-Mentioned-In-Part-I.html