{Re}habitat

With the advent of high rise buildings, fire safety has been of particular concern for architects over the last 100 years. Architects must understand the basics of fire and smoke and the risks associated with creating tall buildings. The spread of toxic smoke that results from fires has been shown to often cause more damage than the fire itself, and it is responsible for more injuries and fatalities.

These are lessons learned from installing laminate flooring in my own home, along with my wife and a few friends. Laminate flooring is a relatively new and innovative product, well suited for home owners and do-it-yourself individuals who are looking for a weekend project. Fitting that description, my wife and I started our quest to redo our 12'-0" x 18'-0" family room.

Since the Roman Empire, concrete has been used as a construction material because of its versatility. Concrete can take on several forms and serve many functions. Unité d’Habitation, by Le Corbusier, is an example of using concrete to easily transition from floor to wall and from rooftop to pool. Concrete can also be formed into geometric and organic shapes, as demonstrated by Richard Meier in the Jubilee Church.

Flush wood doors may be provided with wood veneer, plastic laminate, or paint-grade faces, and constructed as hollow or solid-core doors.

Selecting the proper floor finish can be a difficult task for any project, especially educational facilities.  Almost every school you enter today has a cafeteria or multipurpose room that functions as an eating area.  The eating area is usually equipped with cafeteria tables that have attached seating.  These tables are large, can weigh several hundred pounds, and can contribute to damaging the selected flooring material.  If sheet vinyl flooring was selected, the vinyl would become dented and/or compressed at each table leg location.  Sheet vinyl does not have the have compressive strength to withstand such high point loads.  In just a short period of time, the entire floor would become visibly scared and unattractive.  Vinyl composite tiles would have the compressive strength to withstand the weight of the tables.  However, over an extended period of time, the tiles expand and contract, allowing dirt and grease to accumulate in the joints.  Virtually impossible to remove, the dirt and grease quickly become noticeable.   Ceramic tile is another viable option, but can become a slip hazard when wet.  Also, the grout will stain with repeated exposure to liquid, dirt and food.