Sustainable St. Louis: Recyclable construction materials

I’m John Eilermann, an architectural student from St. Louis, MO. Last semester, we had a class that focused on creating sustainable projects for the city of St. Louis. With many of us Americans becoming more aware on just how much damage the environment is taking, it’s high time we all did our part to protect what we have left.

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One of the more interesting topics we came across for sustainable development was how to use recyclable materials for construction. Here are some of those materials.

Recycled plastic

Plastic has become more harmful to the natural world than we can imagine. It takes years to decompose and it’s a threat to wildlife everywhere. Researchers have found out that recycled plastic and virgin plastic can be used to create timber, and ultimately building blocks for houses.

Bamboo

Using bamboo to build structures is as green as green gets. It’s strong and dependable, and creates more oxygen to help clean the air in many urban areas. It can easily be grown and recycled, and can be placed in several parts of a structure, from its foundation to its fixtures. Bamboo also looks cool.

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Grasscrete

Grasscrete is basically concrete flooring that helps grass grow. It absorbs water faster, which can be helpful in areas that constantly experience flooding. And like bamboo, it cleans the air and acts as a coolant during the summer time.

I’m John Eilermann. Feel free to ask me any questions in the comments section below.

John Eilermann here, an architecture student from St. Louis, MO. If you want to read more discussions about the field, follow me on Twitter.

Magnificent architectural cities series: The Big Apple

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I’m John Eilermann, and my interests lie within the architectural wonders of my hometown, St.
Louis. However, my passion extends far beyond this beloved city. There are endless places out there in the world that feature architecture that will simply blow your mind.

For this blog, I’ll be talking about some of my favorite buildings in the Big Apple. Yes, as you know, very few other cities can hold a candle to New York as far as the urban landscape goes.

Take for instance the Chrysler Building, which is unbelievably made out of brick. This skyscraper, situated on the east side of Manhattan has become synonymous with both old and avant-garde architecture. It is an of the Art Deco movement and ranks among the best buildings of New York, alongside the Empire State and Seagram Buildings. Definitely a John Eilermann favorite.

Image source: ny.curbed.com

Moving away from tall buildings, let’s pay a tribute to the New York Public Library, which is a timeless reminder of architecture from a century ago. While it has been renovated and expanded, visitors will still get to see the influences from the era it was constructed.

And just like the Public Library, the Grand Central Terminal, or Grand Central, holds so much history within its walls. Popular for being the biggest terminal in the world, visitors can spend hours, maybe even days, to fully explore its magnificent architecture.

John Eilermann here, an architecture student from St. Louis, MO. If you want to read more discussions about the field, follow me on Twitter.

Six architectural innovations that can be life-changing

Without architecture, we won’t have places to live in and enjoy life. Throughout history, we’ve seen how it has evolved and shaped our world. Every nation has its own take on architecture and design, and each structure built has contributed to the world as we know it.

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Innovations are important for our world to keep on growing. We live in a compressed society, with little space for breaths and connection with nature. Urban forests seem to be an idea we’ll be able to see in the near future. City dwellers need to be reintroduced to nature. John Eilermann sees that the only way to do it is by incorporating it with urban life. Bookcase staircases are a huge win for booklovers and history enthusiasts, as some museums and libraries in Europe already have them.

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The Royal Children’s Hospital and its designers are aiming to build a hospital that isn’t terrifying for children. With “distractions” made of interactive playgrounds, a movie theater with bean bags, and star-gazing areas, pain experienced by children can be mitigated. A wet room bathroom is a bathroom that’s virtually an all-shower bathroom, with no sliding or glass doors to separate the shower area from the rest of the bathroom.

John Eilermann considers the first wooden skyscraper and other nature-inspired structures to be his favorite among the innovations the world will see in the near future. Not only are these highly sustainable, but also provide people the right appreciation, attention, and opportunity to care for Mother Nature.

Hi, my name is John Eilermann, and I’m an architecture student based in St. Louis, Missouri. Despite the strict requirements I have to accomplish to obtain my degree in architecture, I’m having the time of my life learning about the beauty of the field I chose. Subscribe to this blog for similar reads.

Should you pursue a career in architecture?

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Pursuing a degree in architecture isn’t an easy feat. Sleepless nights finishing plates and endless readings shall become part of your routine for half a decade. While it may be difficult, an aspiring architect’s struggles will reap rewards in due time.


Architecture schools teach students to take a pile of data and information in order to interpret it to be informed as to how a building must be designed or a how a problem can be solved. Although answers may not be concluded right away, through this activity, architecture students are taught about design process and logic. Traveling is part of the job. Architects are flown to different local and foreign cities to study certain architecture disciplines.


Architecture is a wonderful study of history. However, it’s not all that. Architectures will be required to practice their knowledge on the field as they begin to design and build structures for clients in the private and public sectors. A career in this industry enables one to make a difference in their surroundings. Public communities can benefit from projects led by architects to alleviate unhealthy and unsafe situations in certain areas.

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If you’re a fan of teamwork and you’re great at it, consider pursuing a career in architecture. Architects spend time with contractors, builders, workers, and other professionals in developing a structure. An architect’s job complements the work of a contractor, and without the efforts of construction builders, the plan will remain on paper and will not be brought to life. A collective effort is needed to establish structures.


John Eilermann is an architecture student based in St. Louis, Missouri. He has admired the architectural structures of the city since learning about the independent city. For more updates from John, subscribe to this blog.

Best cities to visit for architecture lovers

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For those who are pursuing a career in architecture or even those who have an affinity for the field, these following cities would be great to visit:


Dubai, United Arab Emirates

One of the most expensive cities in the Middle East, Dubai is famous for its large construction projects. Almost everyone knows the Burj Khalifa, the world’s tallest man-made structure at 2,716 feet. However, it is hardly the only building worth visiting in the city rich with contemporary architectural design. Dubai has plenty of futuristic structures, a magnificent skyline, and buildings that offer awe-inspiring views.

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Rome, Italy

Aptly called The Eternal City, Rome has a wonderful blend of ancient ruins that international organizations have strived to preserve and modern buildings. Architecture aficionados should include Rome in their bucket list, and make sure to spend a couple of days in the city to see all the buildings and structures, such as the Pantheon, Colosseum, Sistine Chapel, Bridge of Music, and more.


Chicago, Illinois

The Windy City is a must-visit destination for lovers of architecture, and not just because it is the site of the world’s first modern skyscraper. The magnificent and iconic Chicago skyline can be admired from afar via a boat tour. Of course, the cityscape can also be viewed from the streets, which offers a good vantage point of the building facades.


John Eilermann here, an architecture student from St. Louis, MO. If you want to read more discussions about the field, follow me on Twitter.

Cities of Design series: San Francisco

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There are three cities in the United States which we believe showcase the beauty in and of architecture. These are Chicago, New York, and San Francisco. These three places have different personalities, with Chicago being the most avant-garde, New York having the grandest samples, and San Francisco being the most relaxing and laid back.


A huge number of architects now reside in San Francisco since it has quite a number of inspiring buildings built throughout the past two centuries. One of the best examples of these is the First Unitarian Church which features a Gothic Revival, what with the arches over the doors and windows and steep-pitched roofings.


Fans of Italianate architecture can get their fix as they pass by the residential districts. Balustrade and portico entrances and straight roofs are a dead giveaway for the Italianate lover, and so are the columnar structures, symmetrical windows, and rustic wood walls.

Image source: ArchitectureStyles.org

The asymmetry of gable roofs and conical towers with rustic wood paneling on plastered walls is credited to the influence of Queen Anne architecture.


Moving towards the Marina and Sunset districts, people can get a glimpse of the Spanish Colonial Revival, with stucco walls, ornamented arches, and red-tiled roofs.


Which is your favorite San Francisco-based architectural style? Sound off in the comments below.


My name is John Eilermann and I’m an architecture student currently based in St. Louis, Missouri. Architecture is both my passion and dream. The ability of architecture to make utilitarian and aesthetic ends meet amazes me. Know more about me and my interests here.

What you need to consider when building next to the sea

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Coastal and seaside properties are some of the most desirable real estate properties.  However, their construction and maintenance can be difficult for a lot of reasons.  Here are some considerations when building next to the sea.

Coastal properties are always the first to suffer during a major typhoon.  Gale winds can easily shatter glass and swells can enter the property, ruining the interior altogether if the property isn’t equipped with proper barriers.  Even during construction, storms can delay projects further as damages have to be assessed in their wake.

Salt is also one of the most corrosive elements on the planet.  Not only does it affect iron materials, it also does a serious number on construction materials like concrete, brocks, mortar, and plaster.  Sea water flooding can destroy a building’s foundation and cause it to collapse.  It can also corrode cavity walls and reinforcing bars inside buildings.

Image source: http://meconstructionnews.com

Wood is also a popular building material for beach side properties, but it’s not free from salt water damage as well.  Salt can cause delignification, a process whereby salt water seeps into the wood and forms salt crystals on the surface, damaging the wood overtime.

Salt in the air can also damage electronics.  Rapidly corroding metal parts can become unsafe as they can introduce risks of electric shock thus necessitating constant monitoring and replacement.


Hi, my name is John Eilermann. I’m an architecture student based in St. Louis, Missouri. Despite the strict requirements to obtain my degree in architecture, I’m having the time of my life learning about the beauty of the field I chose. To read more about architecture, check out this blog.