BUILDINGS AND THEIR MATERIALS

BUILDINGS AND THEIR MATERIALS Origins of cities. First dwellings. History of construction materials. INTRODUCTION From ancestral times, human beings have looked for places where they could shelter from the wind and cold and in which they could protect their possessions. Mankind has always used those materials surrounding it to construct its homes. Throughout the course of History, religious beliefs have driven man to build impressively-sized buildings and they have influenced in many different architectural styles. THE FIRST DWELLINGS Man’s need to find shelter was what first drove him to seek refuge in caves. The first artificial dwellings were huts and easy-struck tents. When ancient nomadic hunters discovered agriculture and cattle-raising, they converted themselves into sedentary people who needed longer-lasting constructions. Mesomotamia and the Nile: people built houses made from adobe in fluvial areas. Egyptians constructed huge stone buildings. Buildings with two-sided, sloping roofs. Stone buildings in Europe were mainly for fortresses and temples. In Ancient Rome they achieved important technical achivements, such as toilets, drainage or central heating. MATERIALS Bricks. Their characteristics. Stone is used for covering and decorative purposes. Wood is used in rafters, door-frames, windows and floors. Concrete. Portland cement. Characteristics. Reinforced polyester, plastics, steel. STEEL Characteristics of steel. The Eiffel Tower. Reinforced concrete. Problems high buildings must withstand: their own weight and the wind. Flexibility of the materials. Buildings must sway without breaking. The foundations of a building are important. Sky-scrapers. The Empire State Building. “Intelligent” buildings. SUMMARY