Building construction is an eternal human activity. It began with the wholly practical requirement for a controlled environment to withstand the effects of climate. Built shelters were one means by which people were able to adapt themselves to a wide variety of climates and become a global species.
Human homes were in the beginning very simple and perhaps lasted only a few days or months. Over time, however, even temporary structures developed 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 early houses, but later other functions, such as food storage and ceremony, were placed in separate buildings. Some buildings began to have symbolic as well as functional value, denoting the beginning 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 building materials were perishable, such as leaves, branches, and animal hides. Later, more hardy natural materials—eg clay, stone, and timber—and, finally, synthetic 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 behave and how to exploit them to greater advantage. Another major trend is 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 that affect our comfort has been made possible. Yet another factor is the change in energy available to the construction process, starting with human muscle power and moving toward the powerful machinery used today.
The current state of building construction is complex. There is a large range of structural products and systems which are aimed specifically at areas of building types or markets. The design process for buildings is very well organised and uses 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 buildings to meet those needs. The construction process is also highly 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 a significant 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 serve the diverse needs of people. This article first shows the history of building construction, then portrays its development at the present time.
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