Record

Low Cost Houses for Mexicali: Construction operations

01/01/1976

Construction Works, Construction Process

40-page document outlines the twenty three construction steps of the Mexicali project, which illustrate the step-by-step construction process, and it is organized into ten major building operations. Each building operation includes the “Summary of Operation” chart, detailed drawings and description of the relevant construction steps. The document is also included in the C.E.S. Office Construction Manual draft.

Authors:

Christopher Alexander, Julio Martinez, Howard Davis, Donald Corner, Center for Environmental Structure, Berkeley, CA, U.S.A.

Content of

Construction Innovation

References

Scientific Research

Innovative Construction Systems, Techniques and Materials

Areas of focus:

Design and Building Process

Guiding idea:

Construction Innovation

One of the main topics of research, included in every building project, was to identify, early on in the design process, the material and techniques of construction. This would re-establish building as an art, and allow rapid shaping and adaptation, ...

Projects

Low Cost Houses for Mexicali 1975 to 1977

Mexicali, Baja California, Mexico

Low Cost Housing, Realized , Construction completed in 1977

Client:

Universidad Autonoma de Baja California, Mexicali - Mr. Jorge Nunez, Director of the School of Architecture

C.E.S. staff:

Christopher Alexander, Julio Martinez, Howard Davis, Donald Corner, students and families

Contractor:

Built by the families and local subcontractors under the management of the Center for Environmental Structure

Sponsor:

University of Baja California

Project cost:

$70,000

Project stages:

Pattern language for the project by C.E.S. Layout on the ground by clients and C.E.S. Preliminary Design drawings done after layout Direct Construction management along with on-site design decisions Budget and subcontractors under C.E.S. control Users in

A cluster of houses for large families, with a builders yard, built by the families themselves with the help of students from the Universidad Autonoma of Mexico, and a team of builders from the Center for Environmental Structure. Each house ...

Records

Center for Environmental Structure - Organization of Construction Manual 01/01/1981

C.E.S. Office, C.E.S. Projects Overview, Construction Manual

Authors:

Christopher Alexander, Howard Davis, Center for Environmental Structure, Berkeley, CA, U.S.A.

5-page draft document listing the nine volumes of a construction manual, explaining the terms by which a construction operation could be included and describing the required information that each building operation must fill-out in special forms. Included are three additional ...