History of Building Construction
Tuesday, November 30th, 2010Building construction is an essential human activity. It started with the purely practical requirement for a controlled environment to withstand the effects of climate. Constructed shelters were one way by which people were able to adjust themselves to the large variety of climates and become a worldwide species.
Human homes were initially very unsophisticated and probably lasted only a few days or months. Over time, however, even semi-permanent buildings evolved into such highly refined forms as the igloo. Over time more durable structures began to appear, particularly after the start of agriculture, when people began to remain in one place for long periods. The first structures, but eventually other functions, such as food storage and ceremony, were placed in different structures. Some buildings began to have symbolic as well as operational value, marking the start of the difference between architecture and building.
The history of building is marked by a number of trends. One is the increasing durability of the materials used. Early construction materials were flimsy, such as leaves, branches, and animal hides. Later, more hardy natural materials—such as clay, stone, and timber—and, finally, modern materials—such as brick, concrete, metals, and plastics—are used. Another is the desire for structures of ever greater height and span; this was made possible by the development of stronger materials and by knowledge of how materials act and how to use them to greater advantage. A third major trend involves the degree of control placed over the interior environment of buildings: increasingly precise regulation of air temperature, light and sound levels, humidity, odours, air speed, and other factors which affect our comfort has been made possible. Yet another trend is the change in energy available to the construction process, starting with human physical strength and developing into the powerful machinery used today.
The current state of home construction is intricate. There is a wide range of structural products and systems which are aimed specifically at groups of building types or markets. The design process for buildings is highly organised and calls upon research establishments which study material properties and performance, code officials who adopt and enforce safety standards, and design professionals who determine user needs and design a building to meet those needs. The construction process is also well organised; it includes the manufacturers of building products and systems, the craftsmen who create them on the building site, the contractors who employ and coordinate the work of the craftsmen, and consultants who have expertise in such areas as building management, quality control, and insurance.
Building construction today is an important part of industrial culture, a manifestation of its range and complexity and a measure of its control of natural forces, which can produce a widely varied built environment to provide for the diverse needs of society. This article first traces the history of building construction, then surveys its development at the present time.
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