Architecture
The Architecture domain of this GATE XH guide tests building science and planning reasoning: load paths, structural form, environmental control, and development controls. Questions often combine a simple formula with a practical building decision.
Core rules and concepts
- A load path must be continuous: slab to beam, beam to column or wall, then to foundation.
- Trusses carry primarily axial force; arches carry compression; beams carry bending and shear.
- Thermal transmittance U measures heat flow through a construction; lower U means better insulation. R-value is thermal resistance, and U = 1/R for a simple layer.
- Ventilation and daylight depend on opening area, orientation, and obstruction, not only on room volume.
- Floor area ratio (FAR) or floor space index (FSI) = total built-up floor area / plot area. Ground coverage = footprint area / plot area.
Worked example
A plot is 1000 m². The permitted FAR is 2.0 and ground coverage is 40%. Maximum total built-up area = 2.0 × 1000 = 2000 m². Maximum footprint = 0.40 × 1000 = 400 m². If each floor is 400 m², the maximum number of full floors is 2000/400 = 5. The answer is 5 floors, not 2 floors; FAR limits total floor area, while coverage limits the footprint.
Traps that cost marks
The most common error is swapping FAR and ground coverage. Setbacks reduce the buildable footprint, so using the full plot area for coverage can overstate the permitted building. Do not treat U-value and R-value as the same quantity. In structural diagrams, a discontinuous load path or a missing support reaction invalidates the whole answer. Check whether the question asks for gross or net floor area.