Building Design and Building Science: A Study of 'The Narrowest Home' in London, UK

This report provides a descriptive knowledge of 'The Narrowest Home' in London, UK, including its location, construction, structural and non-structural elements, and the behavior of materials used. It also discusses the motive of construction, design building, methodologies, and defects of the building.

BUILDING DESIGN AND
BUILDING SCIENCE

Table of Contents
INTRODUCTION...........................................................................................................................3
MAIN BODY...................................................................................................................................4
Identifying the 'Narrowest home' in London, UK........................................................................4
Structural elements.......................................................................................................................5
The non-structural elements ........................................................................................................7
The behaviour of materials-.........................................................................................................8
CONCLUSION..............................................................................................................................10
REFERENCES................................................................................................................................1

INTRODUCTION
Construction is the term that is generally used in architectural or civil engineering fields
which majorly deals regarding the formation for businesses, objects, etc. Pertaining to bygone
decades. The construction industry develops rapidly with various improved technologies plus
designs which also includes multiple stages related with construction (Pleshivtsev, 2020). In the
following report the given project regarding construction is chosen as ' The Narrowest Home'
within London, UK. This project seems to be based on 30 years-old existing low-rise housing
building that had been constructed in the year 1985 and construction time-period for this whole
building was five/5 years from the satrting which comprised many unique ideas and creativity.
Associated space between its rooms is not adequate as it accounts for 5ft 4in (162.56 cm) wide.
Such property is appealing externally too as it was painted in blue that is focus of notice, kitchen,
bedroom-area, bathroom, etc. are all well-furnished along with wooden furniture. The property
was used for photographic industry since several years.
Following report provides a descriptive knowledge that includes address regarding 'The
Narrowest Home's location, postal code, pictures of its front building and realtive construction
date of it. Multiple other features are also illustrated in the report like the motive of construction,
design building, methodologies and materials which imply upon the time of construction.
Furthermore, this report discusses both the structural plus non-structural elements of chosen
housing. Structural dimensions divides into 2 sub parts like the substructure or superstructure.
Substructure comprises a description regarding foundation or techniques which were used in
proper construction regarding this building. The superstructure mainly consists of material plus
tools needed for construction concerning entire building. Its non-structural elements display
related environmental issues regarding materials used for designing mostly based on its thermal
and mechanical features of materials that comprises ceiling, floor-finishing, windows, etc.
Finally report will also discuss defects of mentioned building and failure regarding performance
including design characteristics to prevent the same.

MAIN BODY
Identifying the 'Narrowest home' in London, UK
'The Narrowest Home' has been selected regarding particular study for this report. It's
situated in the Shepherd's Bush lane, West London. Its postal code district zone for this low-rise
building is W12 and its operational dialling code number is 020.
The procedure by which a building is created and the occupation pertaining to building things
gets regarded as construction. The construction or Building process of Constructing is that
process within which various methods and raw materials get assembled. The motive of
construction seems to create most efficient design concerning existing structural elements and
components. Proper selection regarding machinery and equipment needs to be appropriate.
Construction in its later stages seeks that its human resources and materials are efficiently
procured effectually in such way which is suitable regarding the building which requires to be
constructed. The construction motives and reasons include the quality assurance of its proper site
control and supervision including the security of workers at all relative areas. The funds need to
be handled efficiently ensuring appropriate cash flows. Its potential hazards are regulated
properly and mitigated with several effective practices of construction (Hasmori and et.al.,
2020).
The most traditional buildings belonging before the year 1992 in the UK are those ones
that were constructed even prior to 1919. Associated smallest house within Wales region that is
selected for this study could also be regarded as low-rise traditional house. Related walls of such
house are strong and built through natural materials examples of which include earth, mortar,
stone, brick, limestone, timber, and wood. Such buildings were constructed using all these (more
or less) traditional methods regarding construction. Herein within this particular method, the
terminology of traditional is vitally crucial and it is also inclusive of a broad range of styles,
structural ages and kinds of buildings. Such a specific method was generally used in particular
times regarding the construction or building of farmhouses, cottage areas, industrial/residential
and agricultural structures, township houses, terrace shaped rows, chapels, castles/manors and
even stately homes. There exist huge number concerning buildings that were listed under this
traditional category though a vast number regarding houses and businesses that are in use still
today but aren't listed under this category (Roueche and et.al., 2020).

Structural elements
This particular construction of 'The Narrowest House' was commenced in the year of
1985 and this project was under proper construction for almost 5 years since its initiation plus it
is one narrow home thus basically it is consisted of small rooms, kitchenettes, small areas,
parquet floors and much more other areas seem to also be present in its housing. The use of
structural elements of building are mainly based upon the characteristics and components upon
which the basic outlook regarding the building could be formed at the stage of its beginning level
of building design/construction (Hopkinson and et.al., 2018, August). This building mainly
works on a segment of constriction that includes the beam (I and S beams), segmented low
column, the floor, ceiling, stairs, etc. The building's elevation amounts to approximately 15.0 m
and lower space floor consists of 9ft and 11in (3.02 m) that implies other floors can be of average
3 metres that indicates 5 floors including lower ground space, ground floor, 1st floor, 2nd floor and
3rd floor. These three floors are minutely above the ground floor surface and 2 are below the
ground surface. Its lower ground surface is widest amidst all other floors within terms regarding
space that is of 9ft 11in (3.02 m) plus all other floors have approximately 9ft that is 2.74 metres.
The construction stages for building or designing the 'Narrowest Home' is followed
through six particular setps:
Finding suitable site- Appropriate site plays a very vital role in the construction regarding new
building which comprises a proximal gap among boundaries and the large space garden-area and
has almost profitable returns post the costing of raw materials required.
Architecture- Related architecture plays a major role within construction of buildings, some
areas possess their own environmental problems that could be remedied by architecture plus
good quality regarding building might also be made (Korol and Pleshivcev, 2018).
Proper Planning- For small housing structures there is zero need of large-scale planning
regarding construction.
Neighbours- There seems little need of consultancy needed for construction that include
neighbours because they might get affected by procedure which results in abrupt cancellation of
project.
Construction- Post planning there exists requirement of able builders, labourers, etc. who
construct the building in accurate manner.
Cost- Proximal expenses of price structure should be there.

There are various components which was very important for the construction as well as
can be acknowledged as structural elements of the housing. Here elements or even components
are as follows:
Plinth-
It is a portion between the surface of floor as well as surrounding is quantity as plinth. This area
mainly present just above the foundation area that is also provided strength to building. Walls are
also helps in decreasing the load from above floor.
Foundations-
Foundation part are play a very essential role in the construction on new building because it is
the lowest part of the building on that maximum amount of load is been there in particular. A
foundation is generally a lower portion of the building structure which transfers their gravity
loads to earth. A quality base need or required a detail study of specific area's climatic condition
through which placement, shaping did not get forceful affected by any type of external
disturbance. Generally the raw material requires or needs in making of foundation part is mainly
concrete which normally transfer load from the entire building to underlying soil (Cabrera, and
et.al., 2020).
Wall-
Wall generally protect them from the external environment as United Kingdom mainly has low
temperature in whole year. So it divides a hall into various section which generally used for
many purposes. The wall is particularly made up of different materials but primarily by bricks,
stones and concrete which normally provide strength to the entire building.
Shear Wall-
Shear wall is an structure which is upright placed that usually resist the force that are normally
acted horizontally. Mostly natural calamities that are affect the building such as earthquake as
well as wind. This generally reduces the loads which arisen normally by the earthquake or wind
in horizontal direction as well as transfer that load to foundation and minimum mixed with
underground soil so it reduces the load of the building.
Column-
It is vertically placed at distance which normally helps in reducing loads of the higher floor.

Specifically, it also covered greater area as well as placed end-to-end building. The Columns are
generally made by the iron roads which also placed at canter part which provide strength along
with this external vacant space also be fulfilled by Cement, concrete and sand.
Floor-
The floor is also surface laid on plinth level. So the Flooring can also be done by a mixture of
materials such as tiles, marbles, granites, concrete, and many more. Before flooring, generally
the ground has to be compacted and also leveled. The Narrowest Home have one of the lower
basement, casement, ground floor as well as two floor basically above the ground surface.
Slab-
It essentially a base of the roof that transfer the load of floor particular to the beam. It mainly
used in the surfacing of the roof as well as floor. It was also constructed perpendicularly to the
bean along with the parallel to the floor.
Beam-
It is horizontal structure which generally placed between two or even more than two which also
place perpendicular of it. Here, on upper side of such beam wall is also been constructed so the
bending particular of wall is not possible (Quinn, and et.al., 2020).
Roof-
the roof are form the top most element of building structure. It also covers top face of entire
building. Here the roofs can be either sloped or flat based on location as well as weather
condition of particular area.
Staircase-
The stairs are mainly important part that join one floor to the another one by comprising a
numerous step. Here the space which is occupied by the stair is generally called as stairway. The
Narrowest Home also has stairs which was very uniquely designed and also had point of
attraction (Brambilla, and et.al., 2019).
The non-structural elements
The non structure elements are generally those elements that are within a building are not
considered to the part of either secondary or even primary structure system. The non-structural
elements generally include electrical, mechanical as well as architectural components which is
basically according to the requirement or needs of human. This is very necessary particularly for

humans in terms of the safety purpose due to safety is very essential for constructing building.
The general need or requirement of humans being had their legal requirements, so they have to
implementation of pipeline as well as sewerage (Dhakal, and et.al., 2019).
The technologies which are generally raised the work quality by which the result of
construction of particular building is effectively improved as well as that also creates positive
image of the constructor. By the technologies the time duration particularly in constructing a
building is reduced which also leads in growth. So it is very important in the constructing line to
hold the professional as well as provide work on time as per the date. The technology is also
reduces capital which is pay for labour work such as loading of material. In the year 1980s there
are cranes which is used in UK for the construction so the time require less as well as less money
is required. However, crane is of numerous types but particular in constructing of building such
as The Narrowed Home Hammer the headed crane is used due to surface area is more which
also helps in loading of more amount of raw material as well as other elements which also
necessary for construction process. At that time there is no such advanced technology is been
used for the construction so the labour can do it. In the year 1980s time no better technologies
are use in constructing the building so labour work give an efficient as well as systematic manner
so it take more time. In the years 2000s there are some new technologies arises which give good
impact on construction industry. In current generation there are many advanced technologies are
implemented like 3D printing, machine learning, drones, etc. so that the construction of building
is improved in the effective manner that also give results in raise market value of the technology
(Von Heyl and Demir, 2019).
The behaviour of materials-
Ageing of building is said to be the process when building start getting old. The decaying and
deterioration are the another reasons that leads to the ageing of building. This is slow and the
gradual process. The field of construction is related with decaying which is bound to exist in the
buildings and that has been classified as a non – avoidable event. Materials that is used in the
construction can become durable but the durability is not permanent. The building materials that
has been used in construction process of the Narrowest Homes suffers from the different type of
decaying which is also a kind of deterioration. The reason is improper maintenance and
protection. There are reasons that has been common in all types of buildings including those

building that has been selected in the current report for conducting research (Wood, Pykett and
Stathi, 2022).
To start with the first and the foremost reason that has decayed building of the Narrowest
Home is the natural agents that decays and deteriorates material being used in the building. The
natural agents are most powerful tool. The continues wear and tear is one of them which is
natural process of deterioration in the Narrowest Home. Extreme weather conditions results to
frosting. There has been seen continuous rain for almost two years that has been also another
reason behind the decaying of the Narrowest Home. The decaying is the process that happens
over time which leads to the ageing of building. The ageing of building is natural process
because of the lack of maintenance but this is also an important process in the lifetime of the
building. There are different factors that leads to the ageing of building.
Today, modern construction has emerged which uses the part that are eco- friendly and
are not affected by the different weather conditions but Earlier timber was used and it has been
seen that is decays lot because of insect attacks and fungal attacks (Bergland and et.al., 2018).
Not only this timber can not survive in the normal conditions in the environment also affect
building of the Narrowest Home. This can also be defined as the building material that is most
open for the dry rots. Dry rots is defines as the decaying wood fungus that can be considered as
the one of the most destructive fungus in all the fundus attacks. Wet rot is another decaying
fungus that us found in the material of timber. This fungus impacts building when building its
open towards the severe moisture conditions. Further it has also been seen that UV rays direct
from the sun has been another reason that has laid to the gradual deterioration of building. The
another reason that is responsible for degradation Is the moisture in the buildings which directly
penetrates into the wood and ultimately leads to the damage wood fibres. The other materials
used in the construction besides timbers in the Narrowest Home is material such as the plaster,
concrete, brickwork and stone work which also degrades due to the condition of the exposure to
moisture. The action in which water reaches materials directly and becomes a major reason
for their deterioration is known as the capillary action which leads to the degradation of building
are also responsible for shrinkage in the Narrowest Home. Timber used in building is quite fresh
at the time of using it in the process of making a building but after years with slow and gradual
process of capillary action building deteriorates and damages the other materials of the building
as well. Deterioration and decay of building is not only reason of natural process but the

chemical attack also is one of the reason behind decaying. Acid attack is one of those and that
has increased because of the pollution that has been created in air by humans. The structure of
the building disintegrates, looses colour and the major thing among them is corrosion. The
chemical attacks happened through the medium of air. The environmental factors such as the
sun, wind, water and other factors also generates chemical attacks and further leads to the
deterioration of the building. Maintenance of building and the moisture infiltration inside
building is difficult to manage and which automatically leads to deterioration of the building
(Formosa, 2021).
The another factor of decaying in the Narrowest Home is the lack of maintenance which
is sole responsibility of the owners. Furthermore, the frost decay is another term that is used in
the context of the building decaying and this has become significant challenge that need to
address while designing and constructing building nowadays. Frost decay simply means freezing
of all the material used in the building. The concrete inside the building freezes and occur
various types of cracks. Swelling into the plaster of the building. It has become easy now to use
those material that prevents building from the action of the frost.
CONCLUSION
The report above has cleared the process of construction systems before 1992 in the building of
the narrowest home. The report has also discussed both the structural and the non-structural
elements that give support and life to the building. Structural elements includes the roofs, slabs,
girders etc. and the non-structural elements includes mechanical, pipework, suspended ceilings
etc. both give shape and designs to building. The reports have also identified technologies that
are being utilized in the process of building construction with the main structural materials that is
used in the process of building. At last the report has focused on the signs of ageing and
degradations of the materials.

REFERENCES
Books and journals
Bergland, A.,and et.al.,2018. Ageing and exercise: building body capital in old age. European
Review of Aging and Physical Activity, 15(1), pp.1-9.
Brambilla, G., and et.al., 2019. Environmental benefits arising from demountable steel-concrete
composite floor systems in buildings. Resources, Conservation and Recycling. 141.
pp.133-142.
Cabrera, V., and et.al., 2020. A functional structure for state functions of moisture transfer in
heritage building elements. Journal of Building Engineering. 29. p.101201.
Dhakal, R., and et.al., 2019. Shake table tests of multiple non-structural elements in a low–
damage structural steel building.
Formosa, M., 2021. Building Evidence for the Impact of Older Adult Learning on Active
Ageing: A Quantitative Study. Andragoška spoznanja, 27(2), pp.53-74.
Hasmori, M.F., and et.al., 2020. The on-site waste minimization practices for construction waste.
In IOP conference series: materials science and engineering (Vol. 713, No. 1. p.
012038). IOP Publishing.
Hopkinson, P., and et.al., 2018, August. Recovery and reuse of structural products from end-of-
life buildings. In Proceedings of the Institution of Civil Engineers-Engineering
Sustainability (Vol. 172. No. 3. pp. 119-128). Thomas Telford Ltd.
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rise building technological construction process. In MATEC Web of Conferences (Vol.
193. p. 03042). EDP Sciences.
Pleshivtsev, A., 2020. Unconventional methods for displaying tectonic features of architectural
systems of low-rise buildings. In E3S Web of Conferences (Vol. 164, p. 05025). EDP
Sciences.
Quinn, C., and et.al., 2020. Building automation system-BIM integration using a linked data
structure. Automation in Construction. 118. p.103257.
Roueche, D.B., and et.al., 2020. Tornado-induced and straight-line wind loads on a low-rise
building with consideration of internal pressure. Frontiers in built environment. 6. p.18.
Von Heyl, J. and Demir, S., 2019. Digitizing lean construction with building information
modeling. In Proc. 27th Conf. Int. Gr. Lean Constr (pp. 843-852).
Wood, G.E., Pykett, J. and Stathi, A., 2022. Active and healthy ageing in urban environments:
laying the groundwork for solution-building through citizen science. Health promotion
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Online references
A, B., 2018. [Online]. Available through <>
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