RIKI VIAN COETZEE'S PORTFOLIO (WEST COAST ARCHITECTURE)

REFLECTION

Architectural Technology

I believe the keys to achieving one’s goal is effective time management, hard work and determination. Continual development of one’s skills and keeping up to date to the latest principles can also help one accomplish one’s achievements. I’ve learnt a lot in my first year and genuinely believe I can reach my goals with persistence and determination. Below is reflection of my 1st year’s study at CPUT and how I’m continuing development to achieve my goals.

 As I’ve studied at other institutions before, my expectations about Technology was quite similar to what we were taught. We learned more about the forces that act on a structure, the structural integrity of certain components and materials – and where its function is best used (See right). In the beginning, we learned how various framing of a structure can support various functions, e.g. to carry a vertical load, withstand lateral loads or to support the tallest structure. We also learned about how a house is put together, in particular the roof and how the beams work – that they can be located in the ground as ground beams  or around a room (ring beams) and which materials may be used to create beams.

We also had to draw a window and door schedule. This broadened my perspective of how schedules work that learned more about how to use line thickness to represent certain objects in an elevation. In terms of time management, while I was studying at CPUT I was also doing contract work throughout the year and I normally spend time with other believers on Saturdays. I found I did fine with my schedule but I believe that with a better balance of work/ college hours I should have additional time for projects. I also aim to get up strictly at 6AM every morning and believe if I keep to this schedule, and work as late as needed, I can add more detail to the projects I do.

 Personally, I learned about the unity and power of teamwork and that every team member has an important role to play in a team and that each person possesses a unique skill to be able to make a team function properly. One part of the body can’t function properly without the other and that one can learn from each other’s ideas. I also learned more about how to use line thickness to show depth in an elevation and thickness of materials, doing decent sketch drawings and about planning a layout.

Having said that, the project I enjoyed most was the Strip Section (see left). I genuinely enjoyed working on this project as I have been familiar with this type of detail from working in a firm. I really enjoyed working with the line weights and hatching and it taught me more about how a house is put together and I believe I will be able to use this knowledge in the workplace. The only exercise I did not enjoy too much was “Living, Buildings and Technology in Africa”. In this group project we had to research how living and technology in buildings for the Nubian people are done. We had to use the research done by another group and felt the information was limited and not everyone in the group could cover their part of the project. On the other hand, we really did enjoy the assignment and we learnt that Nubian structures are put together, how the structural components function, what materials they used and that they are closely related Egyptian buildings.

My biggest academic challenge I had during my first year would be the “Brick House Project” (Tiny House) we did. Not only did we have to consider the technology and design of the overall structure but we had to incorporate brick designs and patterns from what we learned from previous assignments to the building. It taught me how to complete a design within timeframe and within a certain sqm space. It also taught me how to make a building to be functional and to be mindful of how the environment affects the interior of the structure.

I’ve genuinely worked hard in my first year and learned a lot about line work and the technological function of components and I do believe I will be able to use this experience to achieve my goals of becoming an Architectural Technologist. I also believe I will be able to use the experience I’ve learned to support others in the workplace and to help with design ideas.


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