CE-304 Building Planning and Architecture - Jun 2024 Question Paper

Under each question, How to answer lists the points an answer should cover, outlined by CampusPrep from the syllabus. Check the details against your textbook.

1. 7 Marks
   aWhen drawing lintels and arches, what specific features and measurements should be noted to convey the design accurately?
   How to answer

   • Key features of lintels: span, bearing length, thickness, reinforcement details, materials.
   • Key features of arches: span, rise, intrados/extrados, crown, springing line, keystone, voussoirs.
   • Dimensioning conventions and detailing standards for architectural presentation.
2. 7 Marks
   bExplain the techniques and guidelines for illustrating stairs and staircases in building drawings, including the proper dimensions and labels.
   How to answer

   • Standard dimensions: tread width (250-300 mm), riser height (150-180 mm), headroom, landing width.
   • Drawing conventions: break lines in plan, up/down arrows, numbering of steps, handrails, balusters.
   • Sectional views showing structural support, waist slab thickness, and landing details.
3. 7 Marks
   aWhat are the key considerations when creating a drawing of trusses used in roofing structures and how can you effectively represent their structural details?
   How to answer

   • Key considerations: span, pitch, spacing, member sizes, load paths.
   • Structural detail representation: joint connections, gusset plate details, welding/bolting symbols.
   • Supporting elements: purlins, rafters, wall plates, and bearing details.
4. 7 Marks
   bExplain in detail how do architects go about preparing sketch plans and working drawings for various types of buildings, including residential, institutional and commercial structures?
   How to answer

   • Stages of design: conceptual/preliminary sketches, schematic design, client review.
   • Development of working drawings: plans, sections, elevations, site plans, structural integration.
   • Specific considerations for residential, institutional, and commercial structures (zoning, circulation, codes).
5. 7 Marks
   aWhat is the importance of site plans in building planning and what information should they typically include?
   How to answer

   • Importance: orientation, statutory approvals, site utilization, integration with surrounding context.
   • Key contents: boundary lines, setbacks, North point, roads/access, existing utilities, contours, landscape features.
6. 7 Marks
   bExplain the various presentation techniques used in architectural design, including pictorial drawings, perspective drawing and rendering.
   How to answer

   • Pictorial drawings: axonometric, isometric, oblique projections.
   • Perspective drawing: 1-point, 2-point, 3-point realistic human-eye views.
   • Rendering techniques: pen & ink, watercolor, digital rendering, shadows and shading to depict materials.
7. 7 Marks
   aDiscuss fire-fighting systems in building services, including fire suppression methods, fire safety standards and their importance in building safety.
   How to answer

   • Fire suppression methods: active systems (sprinklers, hydrants, extinguishers, gaseous suppression) and passive systems (fire doors, fire-resistant walls).
   • Fire safety standards: NBC norms, egress requirements, travel distance, refuge areas.
   • Significance in safeguarding life and property.
8. 7 Marks
   bWhat are the various building safety and security systems and how do they enhance the protection of occupants and assets within a building?
   How to answer

   • Physical security: access control systems (biometric, RFID cards, turnstiles).
   • Surveillance: CCTV monitoring and recording.
   • Intrusion and hazard detection: burglar alarms, gas leak detectors, emergency communication.
   • Role in crime deterrence, life safety, and asset protection.
9. 7 Marks
   aDescribe the principles and considerations for effective ventilation and lighting systems in building design, emphasizing their impact on indoor air quality and occupant comfort.
   How to answer

   • Ventilation principles: cross ventilation, stack effect, mechanical ventilation, air changes per hour.
   • Lighting principles: orientation, window-to-wall ratio, shading devices, glare control, energy-efficient fixtures.
   • Impact on IAQ and thermal/visual comfort of occupants.
10. 7 Marks
    bWhat are the essential elements of architecture based on their functions? Discuss pragmatic utility, circulatory function, symbolic function and physiological function.
    How to answer

    • Pragmatic utility: accommodation of human activities and spatial adequacy.
    • Circulatory function: movement of people, goods, and vehicles through horizontal and vertical channels.
    • Symbolic function: meaning, cultural identity, aesthetic expression, status.
    • Physiological function: shelter, environmental comfort, health, and psychological well-being.
11. 7 Marks
    aDifferentiate between the physical structure and perceptual structure of buildings and how they impact architectural design.
    How to answer

    • Physical structure: load-bearing skeleton, beams, columns, materials, stability.
    • Perceptual structure: visual organization, rhythm, scale, proportion, sensory experience.
    • Interplay and impact on space realization and user experience.
12. 7 Marks
    bExplore the concepts of positive and negative space in architecture and their role in defining and shaping architectural volumes.
    How to answer

    • Definitions: positive space (solid mass, built forms) vs negative space (void, courtyards, openings, unoccupied areas).
    • Figure-ground relationship and spatial balance.
    • Application in creating visual interest, functional circulation, and voluminous hierarchy.
13. 7 Marks
    aDiscuss the significance of planning standards for density distributions and density zones in urban development and land use planning.
    How to answer

    • Concepts: gross density vs net density, FAR/FSI regulations.
    • Significance: infrastructure load management (water, transport, sewage), open space preservation.
    • Role in mitigating congestion, environmental sustainability, and zoned socio-economic growth.
14. 7 Marks
    bExplain the concepts of one-point and two-point perspectives in perspective drawing, providing examples of when each is typically used.
    How to answer

    • One-point perspective: single vanishing point on horizon line, parallel lines converge; used for interior rooms, corridors, street views.
    • Two-point perspective: two vanishing points, viewing an object from a corner; used for building exterior views, street corner compositions.
    • Examples and diagrams illustrating station point, picture plane, and vanishing points.
15. 14 Marks
    Write a short note on any two: i) Various types of footing ii) Various types of buildings iii) Acoustics of buildings iv) Land acquisition
    How to answer

    • Types of footings: shallow (isolated, combined, strip, raft) vs deep (pile, well/caisson).
    • Types of buildings: residential, commercial, industrial, institutional, assembly (NBC classification).
    • Acoustics: reverberation time, Sabine's formula, sound absorption, echo control.
    • Land acquisition: legal framework, compensation, public purpose, rehabilitation and resettlement.