History of Building Construction
Building construction is an eternal human activity. It started with the purely functional requirement for a controlled environment to moderate the effects of climate. Constructed shelters were one means by which human beings were able to adjust themselves to the wide variety of climates and become a worldwide species.
Human abodes were at first very simple and probably lasted only a few days or months. Over time, however, even semi-permanent structures evolved into such highly refined forms as the igloo. Over time more durable structures began to arise, particularly after the advent of agriculture, when people began to stay in one place for long periods. The first shelters were {homes, but eventually other functions, such as food storage and ceremony, were housed in separate buildings. Some structures began to have symbolic as well as operational value, denoting the start of the characteristics between architecture and building.
The history of building is marked by a number of trends. One is the developing durability of the materials used. Early construction materials were perishable, such as leaves, branches, and animal hides. Later, more durable 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 elements which affect human comfort has been made possible. Yet another trend is the change in energy available to the construction process, starting with human muscle power and developing toward the powerful machinery used today.
The present state of home construction is intricate. There is a large range of building products and systems which are aimed primarily at areas of building types or markets. The design process for buildings is very well 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 buildings to meet those needs. The construction process is also highly organised; it includes the manufacturers of building products and systems, the craftsmen who assemble them on the building site, the contractors who hire and coordinate the work of the builders, and consultants who have expertise in such areas as construction management, quality control, and insurance.
Building construction today is an important part of modern culture, a product of its diversity 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 outlines the history of building construction, then surveys its development at the present time.
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