POSTURES and DESIGNERS

Post 122 -  by Gautam Shah

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Human body is continuously in some postural form. Postures are transient body positions. Some occur involuntarily such as in sleep or without one being aware or in control of it. Postures taken with intent are very important for designers. Designers design products with consideration of human postures. An interaction with a product is through perception, recognition, admiration, reach, avoidance or manipulation. Postures allow task handling. Posturing also promotes expression, communication and social encounters with individuals and groups of persons.

 

Postures are taken for change in body position, transition from place to another, for reorientation, for exercise, for relaxation and for engagement with spatial elements. Posturing is at the expense of energy and so we avoid it as much as possible, unless it is for relief of tedium or to regain equilibrium. One can reposition the objects, reshape the surroundings, change the environment, and force recast the connection with other beings or group.

Metric Live at Coachella Music Festival

Most of the body postures occur by the movement of the limbs. But these capacities differ with age profiles, physiological ailments and from person to person. Postures need tools, amenities and facilities. These help in terms of support, rest and for reach.

Similar chairs different postures

Certain body positions, patterns and movements suggest specific emotions. Postures are reinforcing so create empathetic and emphatic images, and so are exploited to gain understanding from others. Postures are also used for offensive and defensive and non-involvement purposes. Postures directly and abstractly convey the state of interpersonal relationships, social standing, personality traits such as confidence, submissiveness, and openness, current emotional state and temperament.

Posture could have many variations within a basic theme. The variations are micro postures or gestures which express or communicate complex concepts metaphorically. Gestures or micro changes of the body help tune in the sensorial perceptions. Gestures are often precursors of major postural changes.

Designers, who create utility products, be they, architects, interior designers, product designers, furniture designers, etc. use postures and posturing capacities as aids for the function system. A posture often requires physical support or an aid. But in many situations a reachable support, its indicative presence or its physical proximity (as an assurance) serves the same purpose.

Johnson Impeachment Committee each one in a different posture

Postures’ support structures of tools, amenities, facilities and architectonic elements may not be versatile enough to provide all the required proficiencies, some degrees of personal adjustments are required to achieve the intended purpose. Designers generally select anthropometric design parameters that are purposive to 90 percentile users.

waiting for Bus -different postures

 

Designing for postures is not sufficient one must perceive the behaviour happening with it. Normally a designer designs for important poses of behaviour sequences. But some flexibility within the postural pose is required. The flexibility relates to minor changes for relaxation, resetting the body rhythms and facility to conduct momentary postural variations.

 

Postures are axially balanced or skewed. A balanced posture is axially congruent, so is considered nominal position, but not necessarily longer lasting one. A skewed posture reflects the readiness to transit to another posture. This may be due to shift in interest or boredom. Both systems of postures may need some support management. In the first case the support must be subtle, almost imperceptible, but in the second case the support should be obvious one.

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TREE - COUROUPITA GUIANENSIS or CANON BALL or KAILASPATI

COUROUPITA GUIANENSIS or CANON BALL or KAILASPATI 

Post 121 - by Gautam Shah 

These trees are as amazing, as their name “Canon ball” is. Its fruits are like large brown balls held on short twigs, and so appear to grow out of the trunk. Fruits take 8-9 months to ripen, fall and burst open with a loud crack. The flowers are large (up to 60 mm) with six petals, brightly coloured from pink to crimson coloured near the base, and yellowish toward the tips. Flowers have sweet smell at night and in the early morning. The ripe and bust fruit balls give a foul stench, which attracts bees and animals.

Cannon Ball fruits

The tree, bark, leaves and flowers are used to treat hypertension, tumours, pain, inflammation, common cold, stomachache, skin conditions and wounds, malaria, and toothache, etc.

Young tree with fresh leaves April India

These are tall (35 to 50 mts) and erect deciduous trees. The leaves are long like a mango tree. They grow in clusters at the ends of branches. The leaves ripen to reddish colour, shed three times a year. The trees, however, do not remain bare for more than few days, as immediately new leaves appear giving a wonderful variegated green foliage. A tree can bear 1000 flowers per day.

Fresh leaves almost like Mango tree leaves

 The flowers’ bundle resembles “Shiva-lingam” a hooded snake or a Chhatra of Sheshnag. And for the same reason it is also called " Nag-lingam" or “Shiv-ful” (flower of Shiva). The tree is found in Shiv temple complexes and also Buddhists holy places across Asia.

Flowers of Cannon Ball or Kailaspati / Ling-ful

The tree is of Guinea origin, but is found in many parts of the world. Its popular name is Cannon ball tree. Its botanical name is Coroupita guianensis. In India it is known for 3000 years and known by Kailaspati, Shiv-fal, Shiv-lingi, Nag-lingam, etc. 

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METALWORKING

Post 120 - by Gautam Shah

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Metals are very important materials, because these can be easily deformed into useful shapes, and several times over and over again. The shape, function, and appearance of metal objects are largely determined by the type of metal used. Metals as pure material and as alloys or in mixed states offer innumerable variation of properties. Metals show a wide range of unique characteristics when ‘worked’ over. These ‘working over the metal’ are related to temperatures and stress inductions. Metals also show varied behaviour under different use conditions.

Rusting is an indication How a metal is stressed

Metals begin to change during the conversion processes like casting, forging or rolling. Casting is a melt process but its environment, and cooling-period affect the quality of material. Forging and Rolling, are hot as well as cold processes, which stress the metal and cause alteration in its constituents and their arrangements. In cold working some temperature rise is inevitable. In hot conversion processes the reheating conditions, in-line scale removal, temperature maintenance, and cooling rate, all determine the quality of the product.

Welding heat can cause stresses in metals

There are several processes where unintentional heating of metal occurs. The heating conditions, local or total, include heavy stamping, shaping, forming, shearing, grinding, cutting, welding, and exposure to fire, change the quality of metal material. As these processes are unintentional, the effects cannot be foreseen, and realized in later part of the life of a metal. At such a late stage the section or component is not detachable and replaceable. Unintentional stresses are induced in existing structures when 1. one tries to cutout or attach a component, 2. allow consistent exposure of a structural member (like beam, truss, column, bracket) to fire (of kiln, stove, etc.), and 3. when rusted or damaged parts (such as in automobiles) are removed and replaced with fusion welding.

Toyota Tundra Chassis -is de stressed after assembly

 

Stresses in metal, existing (leftover of earlier processes) or newly set-in, affect the rate of corrosion, paint-ability, metal plating. Sometimes the final pass in hot-rolling generates specific surface patterns, for example, the protrusions on reinforcing bars or checkers on floor plates, ribs. In cold-rolling a specific surface roughness is rolled into strips at the temper mill to improve the deep-drawing operations and to assure a good surface finish on the final product.

Retro-fitting of Oakland bridge

 

Hundreds of metalworking processes have been developed for specific purposes, but these can be divided into SIX broad groups: casting, rolling, extrusion, drawing, forging, and sheet-metal forming. The first five processes subject a metal to large amounts of strain. However, if deformations occur at a sufficiently high temperature, the metal will re-crystallize, that is, its deformed grains will be consumed by the growth of a set of new strain-free grains. For this reason, a metal is usually rolled, extruded, drawn, of forged above its re-crystallization temperature. This is called hot working, and under these conditions there is virtually no limit to the compressive plastic strain to which the metal can be subjected. Other processes are performed below the re-crystallization temperature. These are called cold working. Cold working hardens metal and makes the part stronger. However, there is a definite limit to the strain that can be put into a cold part before it cracks.

 

Scrape Containers

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CLEAR COATINGS

CLEAR COATINGS

 Post 119 - by Gautam Shah

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Clear coatings are primarily used to reveal the surface grain, colour and pattern, which however, are not always perfect or decent. Conditioning of the substrate surfaces is needed before application of a clear coating.

The most common problems with surfaces are like:

• uneven colour
• unsuitable tone
• uneven grain or pattern
• patchy absorbency
• uneven texture
• bleeding or soluble constituents
• waxy or oily deposits
• alkalinity
• acidity
• galvanic sensitivity
• moisture content and transfer

Shellac toning over pine wood stripe

Such problems with man-made surfaces are controllable, at industrial production level, but with natural surfaces like the Wood, have to be tackled on the site. To overcome the surface related problems in clear coatings, many types of surface treatments are used. Most of the surface conditioners or treatments are fast drying, easy to apply, non destructive for the substrate and insoluble in the subsequent coat material. Surface conditioners are of following types: Fillers (transparent or opaque), levellers, sealers, stainers (soluble and insoluble colourants), printed patterns, patterning tools, etching agents, bleaches, and reactants.

Fillers - Sealers are used to fill in pores so that coating material does not sink into it, and provide an even finish. Fillers generally consist of an extender, a binder and occasionally a colourant. Extenders are fine grade powder of materials like gypsum, chalk, china clay, precipitated calcium carbonate, lime, asbestine, colloidal silica, barytes and talc. Binders could be water, gums, oils, alkyds and poly vinyl emulsions. Solvent bound fillers are better compared with water bound fillers which raise the grain or fibres of the surface. Colourants provide the necessary tint, to white extenders. Fillers, made of pigment powders, serve the purpose of filling as well as staining. Transparent fillers (low viscosity NC lacquer, shellac, etc.) are used to fill the pores and provide a sealing coat to the decayable material in the grains and vessels filled with gum exhudents.

Stains provide a correct transparent tint to the surface. Stains are generally dye-materials, soluble in water, oil or solvents. Water soluble stains though of many different varieties raise the fibres and are difficult to penetrate. Oil soluble stains are heavy bodied, take longer to dry out and interfere in the subsequent coating application. Solvent soluble stains are costly, dry out immediately and may bleed residual gums and other exhudents. Stains have one important drawback that they darken the existing colour of the substrate. Where timber surfaces need to be of lighter colour, surfaces have to be bleached or toned with opaque materials.

Clear coating on Leather

Bleaching process include a treatment with hydrogen peroxide followed by an alkaline accelerator like lime, caustic soda, sodium silicate or ammonia. Bleaching affects adhesion and toughness of coating, it also provides an amber hue to the coating on aging. 

Imposed patterns: On surfaces where there are very irregular grains, patterns are screen-printed, pressed or embossed using stains. Such patterns may emulate a wood grain pattern, or are just very fine mesh or lines. Staining is also done by micro spray guns, singeing, burning or carbon deposition from flames.

Post application treatments: Clear finishes often require some post application treatments. These are mainly burnishing and waxing. Burnishing is mainly done to NC lacquer, acrylic and melamine coatings to provide a glossy surface. Burnishing is not done to slow drying coatings, because such coatings, though are dry on outer face, take days to thoroughly dry out. Burnishing is done with a Carborundum like rubbing material with a waxy or oily base. Waxing provides a dull sheen and a protective coating. Waxing is also done to renovate old coatings. Waxing compounds also include a small amount of oils and sometime silicone materials.

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FLOOR FINISH SYSTEMS -types

Post 118 -by Gautam Shah

Floor spread for exercise

Floor finish systems classified by the method of laying or fixing are FOUR basic types.

1.  simply laid on
2.  mechanically keyed
3.  adhesive bonded
4.  cast in situ

1-SIMPLY LAID-ON FLOORING SYSTEMS

These flooring systems remain fixed due to the gravity. The materials are broad-based and often their sheer packing (tight conglomerations of several pieces) provides the stability. Such floorings do not work properly on inclined gradients and in vibratory conditions. Thin or low mass materials get blown off by winds, or get upset due to the moving traffic on it. These floorings are always demountable or removable, re-installable, so preferred for streets to facilitate alteration of service lines. These flooring systems are often secondary systems laid over a hard floor. Some gravity stayed floors are sparingly fixed or keyed by mechanical fixers (e.g. carpets by cleats, zippers, Velcro, etc.). In some instances backing materials like rubberized coating also improves staying by increased friction.

Large pieces of floor stayed by gravity

Cobble stone Floor

Examples: cobbles, brick lays, gravels, sand spreads, carpets, rugs, floor spreads, Daris, Chattais, woven mats, foot’s dusters, wooden boards, synthetic flooring mats, plastic and rubber tiles and rolls, lawn blocks.

2-MECHANICALLY KEYED FLOORING SYSTEMS

In this case the floor finish is incapable of staying in place due to thin body, low weight, absence of gravity pull (such as inclined, vertical or upside down surfaces), presence of other disturbing or vibratory forces, and small extent of spread. Such floors’ finishes are mechanically keyed to the substrate or the structure. Mechanical fastening is achieved by joining systems like nut-bolt, nails, screws, rivets, seam formation, stitching, etc. and also through: friction, suction, surface-tension, magnetic pull, electro-static attraction, etc.

Examples: bus metal floors, ship decks, stage wood floors, cladding, panelling, stair carpets, industrial and performance stage catwalks, etc.

3-ADHESIVE BONDED FLOOR SYSTEMS

In this system the Floor finish is stayed by affixing in Three distinct ways:

1 several small units of floor finish are affixed edge to edge to create a larger unit, so that it can due to sheer extent stay-put in a place,

2 the flooring material or a layered composition of it, are affixed to a base or substrate.

3 The floor finish is affixed to the substrate or structure, but a part of the fixing material is allowed to float up at the edge junction to form a joint.

Ceramic tiles fixing with cementing compound

Examples of adhesive bonded floors: Natural stones (Marble, Granite, Slate, Sand stone), Cast material (cement blocks, mosaic tiles, IPS, Ironite) synthetic tiles (PVC, linoleum, Glass fiber), Ceramic tiles (bricks, terracotta, baked clay, glazed, porcelain, highly vitrified) and films, foils.

4-CAST IN SITU FLOOR SYSTEMS

Cast in situ or site systems are laid on the site as a coating. The coatings are thin films, viscous mass or spread of substantial mass. These flooring systems provide a joint-less and uniform quality surface. The major advantage is that there are no visual or application joints, except formed due to fast setting or drying of applied material. The non existence of Structural joints creates one homogeneous surface. Such systems are usually designed to develop a bond with the substrate as the surface is formed by processes such as curing, evaporative drying, cooling, oxidation, calcification, chemical bonding, polymerization, heat, radiation and moisture induced changes. The bonding with the substrate reinforces it.

Concrete cast floor

Site cast flooring

Examples: concrete floors, Cement cast floors, cow dung, Surkhi and lime combinations, synthetic or culture marble systems, fiber glass and other resin+ fiber matrix spraying composites, Organo plastics, tar-bituminous materials, Paints (Enamels, Cyclized rubbers, Lacquers, Epoxies, Polyurethane, etc.).

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BUILDING, USER and ENVIRONMENT

BUILDING, USER and ENVIRONMENT

Post 117 ⇒  by Gautam Shah ➔

Buildings, are more often designed to be inhabited by unspecified users. Many buildings in urban areas see increasing change of ownership. With every change in ownership the building is altered in various measures. The changes are extensive in older buildings surviving in upgraded or rejuvenated neighborhoods.

Style Buildings

Buildings conceived for style considerations are designed irrespective of their environmental settings. Such building’s have innumerable and excessive capacity systems to meet environmental anomalies. The systems are either irrelevant, or highly potent for many of the users.

Air Handling unit

New owners of a building (or its section) have several choices to procure systems that are permanent, replaceable as a whole or partially up-gradable. The technological up-gradation of the building as a system occurs through replacement by an efficient system. There could be elimination of several sub systems by adoption of a comprehensive system. Integration of several systems by spatial rearrangement, rescheduling, segregated or comprehensive control. New owners, if aware would want greater use of passive systems instead of active systems, as it is long term economic relief and meets the environmental concerns. Reliance on sensing mechanisms, control elements, decision elements, connecting elements, distancing elements, converters, etc. leads to lesser chances of failure, quicker detection of problems, and faster replacement of failed system. New occupants have their own perception of safety and security, depending on their family profile and lifestyle. Similarly internal arrangements or space planning requirements must match the needs of the family, and this is an area of worry for the new occupant and also associated with every major change in the body of the family.

Left or Right orientation for Kitchen is one of th major causes of change > Flickr Image by

peapod labs

Changes in buildings are Intentional such as: functional, technological upgrading, styling. Changes are Circumstantial such as: due to ageing, wear and tear of use, overuse, under-use, non use, and misuse. Environmental changes are adoptive ones, where the new user customizes the building by self-help, but changing only the familiar and easily removable subsystems, etc. For altering partially integrated or coordinated subsystems, one needs the services of crafts-persons or specialists. 

Security Devices

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