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Building construction is an ancient human activity. It started with the wholly functional need for a controlled environment to cope with the effects of climate. Constructed shelters were one way by which human beings were able to adjust themselves to a wide variety of weather conditions and become a worldwide species.

Human abodes were in the beginning very simple and probably lasted only a few days or months. Over time, however, even temporary buildings developed into such highly refined forms as the igloo. Gradually more stable structures began to arise, particularly after the beginning of farming, when people began to remain in one place for long periods. The early shelters were {homes, but later other functions, such as food storage and ceremony, were housed in separate structures. Some structures began to have symbolic as well as operational value, marking the beginning of the characteristics between architecture and building.

The history of building is recognised by several trends. One is the increasing durability of the materials used. Early building materials were flimsy, such as leaves, branches, and animal hides. Later, more hardy natural materials—eg clay, stone, and timber—and, finally, modern materials—such as brick, concrete, metals, and plastics—are used. Another is the desire for buildings 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 is 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 elements that affect human comfort has been made possible. Yet another trend is the change in energy available to the building process, starting with human muscle power and moving into the powerful machinery used today.

The present state of home construction is complex. There is a large range of building products and systems which are aimed specifically at areas of building types or markets. The design process for buildings is highly organised and uses research establishments which study material properties and performance, code officials who develop 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 hire and coordinate the work of the craftsmen, and consultants who specialise in such areas as construction 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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