BUILDING MATERIALS

Architectural styles have developed with the usage of certain materials. Examining the use
of different materials and techniques of craftsmen, master builders and architects provides a
unique insight into the development of architectural styles.

A building, as objects that defines and encloses space, reflects the society of its time more
than any other art form. The meaning of any building is transmitted as much by the
materials in which it is built as by the function it is designed to perform.

Bounding with the complex process of design must be consideration of the materials which
are suitable for a particular purpose. An initial choice will inevitably be related to 3 basic
factors: Availability, physical properties and cost.

In a pre industrial society, the availability of natural materials such as the stone cut from a
quarry or bricks baked with local mud all determine the style of building. Many other
factors such as technique, structure, geography or appropriateness also depict the style of
the building.

Different materials have different potential both structurally and aesthetically. Clay and
bricks have been used for thousands of years as construction materials. Kiln burnt bricks of
various measurements have been used for construction of walls and domes.
The designer has to use them either individually or in combination maximizing their
qualities.

Structure: The physical properties of different materials also determine the style of the
building which is very crucial.

Geography: Position, material availability and type of land all depends on the geography of
the place. Climatic conditions dictate the design in a required manner.

STONE
Stone has been the major building material from time immemorial in different civilizations.
It is the oldest type of building material known to mankind. Different varieties of stone are
used based on availability and functional use.
CHARACTERISTICS

Available in different colours igneous, sedimentary, metamorphic

Can be used as rubble or ashlar finish

Used for structural and aesthetic purposes

Durability intrinsic compressive strength and has ability to withstand higher loads.

AVAILABILITY AND MANUFACTURE

Naturally available

Needs to be quarried, dressed and finished by machine or hand.

AESTHETIC POSSIBILITIES

Maybe used as building material, cladding, flooring, paving

Furniture

Ornamentation

Can be rough or smooth finish

Indoor and outdoor purposes.

STRUCTURAL POSSIBILITIES

Earlier trabeated system was possible only through stone.

Used by Egyptians temples, Greeks places and temples Roman arches, Byzantine
churches etc.

Modern application: Decline of use of stone as a basic building material in the 20th Century
is mainly due to economy i.e. it is a labour intensive material. It was used more when
man power was cheap or available in plenty, and also for the smaller spans of buildings.

Stone is used in the aggregate form as one of the main ingredients of concrete.

ADVANTAGES: durable, strong, weather proof, fire proof

DISADVANTAGES: labour intensive, expensive, and difficult to make changes later
STYLES OF ARCHITECTURE: Egyptian, Greek, Roman, Hindu, Islamic, Romanesque, Gothic,
Renaissance
TYPE OF BUILDINGS: Religious places, palaces, tombs and memorials
EXAMPLES: Notredame Cathedral, Brihadeeshwara temple, Great Pyramids

TIMBER
Timber is an essential component of buildings constructed in all other materials.
generally as scaffolding, centering formwork and lining for concrete.
CHARACTERISTICS

Available in different types as solid wood or wood products

Has a rich, warm appearance

Can be finished with different polishes

AVAILABILITY AND MANUFACTURE

Naturally available

Needs to be felled, sawed and treated to give planks or boards

AESTHETIC POSSIBILITIES

Can be used as main construction material, facing, flooring, roofs

Furniture

Doors and windows

Ornamentation

Partitions

Interiors

STRUCTURAL POSSIBILITIES

Maybe used as main construction material

Low-grade timber or waste can be used to make all sorts of by products and the material
has excellent insulating properties.

Timber products such as Plywood, MDF, etc. are used in interiors.

ADVANTAGES: ease of construction, warm appearance

DISADVANTAGES: susceptible to weather, termites and fire; not environment friendly
STYLES OF ARCHITECTURE: Early Christian, Mountain Architecture, Oriental
TYPE OF BUILDINGS: Churches, resorts, houses
EXAMPLES: Horyuji temple

GLASS
Glass was first used only for decorative purpose. But now it is used in combination with steel as a
curtain material for the treatment of facades.
CHARACTERISTICS

Transparent/ translucent/ opaque

Variety of colours and finishes

Light in appearance

AVAILABILITY AND MANUFACTURE

Glass is made by 3 common materials sand, soda and lime. Could be used together by
heat to form a hard transparent material glass.

Different surface finishes like matte, glossy, textured, coloured can be achieved

AESTHETIC POSSIBILITIES

It is most typically used as transparent glazing material in the building envelope, including
windows and doors and in the external walls.

Partitions

Interior details

STRUCTURAL POSSIBILITIES

Glass is also used for internal partitions and as an architectural feature. When used in
buildings, glass is often of a safety type, which include reinforced, toughened and
laminated glasses

Glass brick, also known as glass block, is an architectural element made from glass used in
areas where privacy or visual barrier is desired while admitting light, such as underground
parking garages, washrooms etc.

ADVANTAGES: ease of construction, light appearance

DISADVANTAGES: fragile, not climate responsive
STYLES OF ARCHITECTURE: Gothic, Modern, Contemporary
TYPE OF BUILDINGS: Churches, office buildings, residences, museums
EXAMPLES: Crystal palace, Louvre

BRICK
Brick is durable with good insulating qualities. Brick was the first building material made by man.
CHARACTERISTICS

Characteristic red colour

Available in preset sizes as modules

Rough and warm appearance

AVAILABILITY AND MANUFACTURE

Locally made in kiln using clay

AESTHETIC POSSIBILITIES

Brick may be used as paving material.

Wire cut brick may be used as main building material without plastering.

Arches

STRUCTURAL POSSIBILITIES

Strong in compression but weak in shear-hard to crush but easy to snap.

Brick masonry is most widely used in external walls, retaining walls, stucco or surface
decoration, arches etc.

It may be used for load bearing construction or as an infill for famed structures.

ADVANTAGES: easily available, ease of working, warm appearance

DISADVANTAGES: weak in shear strength, needs plastering unless wire cut
STYLES OF ARCHITECTURE: Mesopotamian, Modern, Contemporary
TYPE OF BUILDINGS: office buildings, residences, museums, institutions
EXAMPLES: IIM building, Ahmedabad, University of Pennsylvania, law school

IRON and STEEL

Iron and steel are very different from all types of material used before. Very strong and easy to
work with. It rusts and decays after prolonged exposure in a damp atmosphere.
First used in Renaissance buildings as tie rods across arches and for chains around domes.
CHARACTERISTICS

Typical grey metallic appearance unless painted or powder coated.

Can be made to any size

Polished appearance

AVAILABILITY AND MANUFACTURE

Iron has to be mined and processed before it can be used for construction purpose.

AESTHETIC POSSIBILITIES

Wrought iron used in facades, grills and balustrades

Gates

Mild steel windows

Ornamentation

STRUCTURAL POSSIBILITIES

Strong as a building material

Steel used as reinforcement rods or steel columns

Stainless steels resistance to corrosion and staining, low maintenance, relatively low cost,
and familiar luster make it an ideal base material for a host of commercial applications.

ADVANTAGES: Strong, durable

DISADVANTAGES: susceptible to rust
STYLES OF ARCHITECTURE: Modern, Contemporary
TYPE OF BUILDINGS: office buildings, residences, museums, industrial
EXAMPLES: Eiffel tower, Empire state Building

CONCRETE
It was first used by the Romans for arches, domes, vaults etc
CHARACTERISTICS

Typical grey appearance

Plastic, can be cast in any shape

Different finishes possible

AVAILABILITY AND MANUFACTURE

Concrete is made of cement, aggregate and water in required mix as per the standards
forms a workable mixture

AESTHETIC POSSIBILITIES

Free flowing forms

Decorative concrete

Exposed concrete

STRUCTURAL POSSIBILITIES

Today it is one of the predominant construction materials which have a wide variety of
applications. Mass Concrete structure include dams, bridges etc.

Reinforced concrete used for larger spans and requires less maintenance costs.

Prestressed concrete is a form of reinforced concrete which builds in compressive stresses

during construction. This can greatly reduce the weight of beams or slabs, by distributing
the stresses in the structure to make optimal use of the reinforcement.

Concrete hollow and solid blocks are used as masonary blocks

ADVANTAGES: Strong, durable, plastic

DISADVANTAGES: low in tensile strength
STYLES OF ARCHITECTURE: Roman, Modern, Contemporary
TYPE OF BUILDINGS: office buildings, residences, museums, industrial
EXAMPLES: Pantheon, Ronchamp