History of Building Construction
Building construction is an ancient human activity. It developed with the purely practical need for a controlled environment to cope with the effects of climate. Constructed shelters were one way by which people were able to adjust themselves to the wide variety of weather conditions and become a global species.
Human abodes were at first very simple and probably lasted only a few days or months. Over time, however, even semi-permanent buildings developed into such highly refined forms as the igloo. Over time more stable structures began to arise, particularly after the beginning of agriculture, when people began to remain in one place for long periods. The first houses, but afterwards other functions, such as food storage and ceremony, were placed in different buildings. Some buildings began to have symbolic as well as functional value, denoting the beginning of the distinction 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 building materials were flimsy, such as leaves, branches, and animal hides. Later, more durable natural materials—eg clay, stone, and timber—and, finally, synthetic materials—such as brick, concrete, metals, and plastics—were used. Another is a quest for structures of ever greater height and span; this was made possible by the development of stronger materials and by knowledge of how materials behave and how to use them to better advantage. Another major trend involves the degree of control exercised 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 human comfort has been made possible. Yet another element is the change in energy available to the building process, starting with human physical strength and moving toward the powerful machinery used today.
The present state of home construction is complex. There is a large range of structural products and systems which are aimed primarily at classes of building types or markets. The design process for buildings is highly organised and draws upon research establishments that study material properties and performance, code officials who develop and enforce safety standards, and design professionals who determine user requirements 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 assemble them on the construction 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 mastery of natural forces, which can produce a widely varied built environment to serve the diverse needs of humans. This article first outlines the history of building construction, then portrays its development at the present time.
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