Unit 1 - Lesson 2

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Unit 101: Introduction to the Built Environment

Public Buildings

Multiple Choice

What is a public building?

• A structure that is privately owned and restricted to specific individuals.

• A structure that is only accessible to government officials.

• A structure that is primarily used for industrial purposes.

• A structure that is accessible to the general public and is usually owned by the government

Open Ended

List as many public buildings that you can think of:

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Public buildings

What is a public building?

A public building is any type of building that belongs to and is funded by
the government, council, town or city and is used by the general public.

Examples include: libraries, police stations, courts and prisons, schools,
colleges and universities, hospitals, local and central government
buildings such as council offices and town halls, places of worship,
workmen’s institutes and railway stations.

What are their differences, purpose and key design features?

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Public buildings

National Library of Wales

​

​Libraries

Cardiff Crown Court

​

​Courts

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Civic requirements

A civic building is a central landmark in the
geographical or business centre of a town or
city. They are frequently the pride of a
district and foster a strong local, regional
and national identity, as well as providing
public services and having a positive impact
on a neighbourhood. They often include
registry offices, libraries, government offices
and multi-prayer rooms. They are designed
to be multi-functional with a network of
spaces or buildings tailored to meet the
specific needs of the community, so designs
will vary across the country in size, scope
and appearance.

Swansea civic centre

Cardiff civic centre

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Police stations and prisons

A traditional local police station and
a modern regional police station

A modern Welsh prison

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Leisure

A leisure centre is a large public building that offers various facilities for leisure activities. These typically include a sports hall, swimming, gym and rooms for classes.

White Rose Community Centre, New Tredegar

Leisure Centre, Ebbw Vale

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Workmen's institute

In England and Wales, the number
of club certificates – licences
granted by local authorities – has
dropped 15% since 2008, with
many clubs now having been
demolished or converted into flats.

Traditional working men’s clubs are declining across their traditional
stronghold in the South Wales Valleys. These private social clubs were first
created in the nineteenth century within industrial communities, providing
recreation and education for working class men and their families. Clubs
have commonly been affiliated with a particular industry, such as the
miners’ institute; with the armed forces, such as the Royal British Legion; or
with political parties.

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Railway stations

Following the closure of many
rail services following the
Beeching report in 1963, there
has been little investment in
the railways in Wales.
However, Transport for Wales
are planning four new stations
across the regions of Wales by
2024.

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Arts requirements

Theatres are designed specifically
to hold plays, show films and host
music. The seating layout is
designed so everyone can see the
stage and the ceiling, and wall
configurations are designed to
enhance the acoustics so there are
no echoes and sound travels to all
corners of the venue. There are no
external windows to stop unwanted
light in the space.

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Arts requirements

Art galleries and museums need to be versatile
spaces, allowing for a range of exhibits as well as
permanent facilities, in order to meet the welfare
needs of their clientele. Some are modern
purpose-built buildings, with plenty of glass to let
in light and give a feeling of space. Others are in
old traditional buildings, giving a feeling of
grandeur and importance.

Examples of arts requirements
can include:

Administration offices
Storerooms
Security
Large exhibition space/display areas
Small amphitheatres
Foyer/Gathering spaces
Galleries
Conservation laboratories
Cafeteria / restaurant
Art and gift shops
Workshop space
Sculptural gardens
Auction rooms

Open Ended

List as many religious buildings as you can

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Places of worship

The design of places of worship is often linked
to religious beliefs and these can often be easily
distinguished by their architectural appearance.

Holy Trinity Church,
Llandudno in Wales

Mosque in Oxfordshire, UK

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Religious requirements

Religion has shaped the design of buildings for
thousands of years. Some religious places of
worship were the largest buildings in the world
before the use of steel and concrete enabled
skyscrapers to be built.

Churches: These normally face east to west,
with the altar at the east end and the façade and
main entrance to the west. Different versions of
Christianity have variations of this form, with
Catholic churches and Cathedrals laid out in the
shape of a cross, while Methodist churches tend
to be less ornate, both externally and internally,
with a square or rectangular footprint.

St David’s Cathedral

Congregational chapel in Bala; a typical
example of 19th-century Methodist religious
architecture in Wales

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Religious requirements

Synagogues: These do not have any
set design layout as historically Jews
were not allowed to own their own land
and so any elaborate architectural
build would have been unlikely.
Modern synagogues tend to be either
square or oblong, with the only
stipulation being that they must have
windows to remind those praying of
the outside world. They also contain a
holy arc placed on an east wall to hold
the scrolls.

Abandoned Merthyr Tydfil synagogue

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Religious requirements

• A courtyard large enough to hold the entire local

male population.

• A mihrab, which is a shallow niche in a wall that

faces Mecca.

• A minaret, which is a tower adjacent to the

mosque from which the call to pray is announced.

• A dome that represents the vault of heaven.

Mosques: The architecture of a mosque is shaped most strongly by the
regional traditions of the time and place in which it was built. As a result,
style, layout, and decoration can vary greatly. Nevertheless, because of
the common function of the mosque as a place of congregational prayer,
certain architectural features appear in mosques all over the world:

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Cardiff development plan

Link to what Cardiff will look like:
www.walesonline.co.uk/business/business-news/what-cardiff-look-like-
10-12311665

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Any questions?

Multiple Choice

What is the primary purpose of a library?

• Entertainment

• Education

• Adminstration

• Sports

Multiple Choice

What type of building is in the picture?

• Prison

• Shopping Centre

• Mosque

• School

Multiple Choice

Which type of building is specifically designed for performances, concerts, and theatre productions?

• Museum

• School

• Concert Hall

• Office Building

Categorize

Options (20)

Terraced House

Bungalow

Apartment Complex

Link House

Log Cabin

Church

Mosque

Synagogue

Temple

Gurdwara

Train Station

Bus Terminal

Airport

Underground

Ferry Terminal

Library

Post Office

Community Centre

Civic Centre

College

Organize these options into the right categories

Domestic Building

Place of Worship

Transport Centre

Public Building

Multiple Choice

What is the purpose of a city hall building?

• To host weddings

• To provide administrative services

• To showcase exhibitions

• To sell concert tickets

Multiple Choice

What is the purpose of an art gallery building?

• To host cooking classes
• To sell art supplies
• To provide medical services
• To exhibit and showcase various forms of art to the public.

Multiple Choice

What place of worship is pictured here

• Mosque

• Synagogue

• Roman Catholic Church

• Temple

Multiple Choice

What place of worship is pictured here

• Mosque
• Synagogue
• Temple
• Church

Multiple Choice

What place of worship is pictured here

• Mosque
• Church
• Temple
• Synagogue

Multiple Choice

What is the function of a community centre building?

• To function as a shopping centre

• To provide medical services only
• To serve as a private residence
• To serve as a hub for social, recreational, educational, and cultural activities within a community.

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What public buildings are in the area where you live?

Poll

What area do you in?

• Ferndale

• Treorchy

• Tonypandy

• Porth