Walls

September 22, 2023

One of the most important components of interior design is walls. What framing systems we use, what materials we use for the exterior and interior, and what kind of windows and doors we use all play a crucial role in the design and efficiency of a house. Walls help organize and interior space and depending on how you do that can effect the interior space greatly. There are many factors that go into wall placement and how they look once a house or building is finished, and today we will talk about some of those factors. 

The first steps to building a wall is called the framing systems. These systems help stablize the wall and give the wall "bones" before they start building the rest. There are three specific different types of framing systems. The first one is stud walls which are walls held up by either wood or steel by 2 by 4s or 2 by 6. The next framing system is the one pictured to the left called concrete and masonry bearing walls. These walls are incredibly stable du to the material used, however some problems arise such as; electrical wires, HVAC, plumbing, and hanging interior objects due to the lack of soft material. The final framing system is known as structural frame walls. These walls are mostly used for commercial space due to its heaving mass and large panels. This method used column and beam system filled with different materials. The panels were often insulated to ensure the effectiveness of the walls.

The different materials used not only on the outside of the house hut also the inside are great indicators of who you are and how you choose to make your house or building feel. The most popular materials used for exterior walls are wood, concrete, stucco, or siding. These materials are chosen for the outside exteriors because they are durable and can stand the test of wind, rain, storms, etc. Another element that is meant to help outside when it comes to rain or storms is a technique called vapor retarders. When the temperature is extremely different from the inside of the house to the outsind of the house, in between the walls condensation can form creating water. Therefore vapor retarders are put in between the wall to regulate the condensation and keep the walls dry so mold does not form. Usually these vapor retarders are placed closer to the warmer side depending on what climate the building is built in. 

The way we take care of interior walls is another important step. the first system that separates the inside from the outside is insulation. The materials often used for insulation are cellulose, batt, or rigid. There are other more sustainable approaches to insulation such as recycled paper or natural fiber as well. The next system placed in the the interior of the space is the substrate materials. Substrate materials are drywall or plaster. This system is the base for all interior finishings to lay on. The different type of interior finishes are paint, tile, wood, brick/stone, and wall textiles. When choosing interior finishes one of the things to remember is building codes will give the interior finishes a fire rating to ensure safety among people. 

The final systems that are place within the walls are the windows and the doors. There are many types of doors that are made for many different purposes such as the vision door that is meant to have a window in it or a dutch door that is split in two so both the top and the bottom part of the door can open. The most common materials  used for doors are wood and steel due to their durability. Moving onto windows, the materials most used for them are aluminum and steel. Much like doors, windows have their own system of opening and closing. depending on the style of window the orientation of the way it was build can change but most of the time you will see a glazing which is the glass and some sort of casing. 

Case Study: Virtual Care Hub

In this case study the purpose of this space is virtual Care centers for people to video chat with their doctors. When you are being examined by a doctor, privacy is the most important component in a room, therefore the use of walls is the most important factor when it comes to designing a space. As you can see in the picture to my right is an open space people can gather around without walls, but then the individual exam rooms are places on the back side of the wall. The devision among all the rooms benefits the people inside because they are still able to have enough privacy with also getting some sunlight in the rooms due to the glass as the materials for the walls. 

This picture is a picture from inside one of the virtual exam rooms. As you can see there is a great amount of privacy on each side of the rooms walls, however the use of transparency with the door and the wall creates natural light and efficient energy used throughout the room. The reason why this was a well thought out plan is because the exam rooms are small and the use of windows helps brighten up the room and allow the room to have efficient energy flow.