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Building Material: Significance and Impact on Architecture
Abstract
The non-materialist aspect of built environment is known as Architecture. Every element has
two qualities, one is materialistic and another is non-materialist. While calculatedly chosen
for architectural project it has to be considered both the properties of the materials. The non-
measurable and measurable values have equal importance while choosing perfect building
materials. The quality and quantity makes a major impact during selection of appropriate
building material. Along with structural importance &constructional behaviour, visual
impact with historical value of particular materials give an essence of built environment. Site
selection along with site surrounding also suggest the building types as well as help to
choosing particular materials. Symbolic Thoughts and philosophical value of materials
makes the ordinary place to a sacred place through architectural elements. Hence this paper
focuses on, to determine all the building material synthesis and analysis for the perfect.
1 Introduction
Building materials has been an integral part of the architectural field. The kind and form
of a structure is symbolized by the type of material used. The type of material selected
deduces a form to the structure. It often induces the concept or theme of the design of the
structure and hence the concept of building materials glorifies the importance of endurance
and visual quality terms of a design. Henceforth it can be symbolized as a keen requirement
of architectural aspects representing its core theme and concept in thearchitectural building
industry. Thus it gives a meaning and aesthetic nature along with being an element of
venustas(beauty) and firmitas(structure). The concept Architectural symbolism viz-a-viz
building materials clarify the distinction between execution and representation of
explorations in architecture.
2 Structural Importance
Building material signifies the structural existence.It demonstrates the presence of
aesthetic sense in a design and hence defines the practicability of the structure. The use of
building materials in designing of structure symbolizes its existence in the field of
architectural visualization. It derives the visual quality and structural stability relationship in
architecture. The building material selected by an architect generalizes the type of
architecture practised in the construction. The conceived phenomenon of architectural
symbolism is not isolated only to significance of changing trends in the architectural field. It
is rather defined irrespective of any instinct and control.
Figure 1: Altas Building at University of Wageningen
3 Constructional Behaviour
Architectural aspects have been keen about the techniques of construction as per the
kind of concept or theme of the design. These intentions are thus executed as per the kind of
construction techniques by adopting different kinds of masonry styles signifying various
kinds of architecture. The terminology or naming of some monuments or huge gigantic
structures of past have been even influenced by the kind of materials used to build it. The
history of architecture takes us back to the time when structures were being built of single
piece of building element. And today it developed to such an extent varying from every nook-
n-corner.
Figure 2 Coba-coba Gonzo (Futuristic Pavilion)
4 Visual Impact
Building material even effect the vision of a structure as it deals with the appearance
qualities of the structure. It refers to the durability of the structure too. It hence confines the
symbolism of structural architecture in the structure built. Building materials shows the
quantity and quality relationship as per the character of architecture. Therefore, building
materials is important in the regard of architectural symbolism. It even influences the
imposed theories of simplicity and complexity in the context of architectural designs. It
emphasized the impressions on interests of innovations. It hence completely revolutionized
the arena of architecture in creation of iconic structures all over the world.
Figure 3 Taj MAhal
5 Historical Value
Architectural symbolism depicts the kind of architecture used with respect to the function of the
building. It is a kind of aspect that literally describes a structure. It is an aspect helpful in
conservation n preservation of cultural and historic values. For example, in a religious structural
design, the kind or type of building material used depicts the kind of architecture. Like mosques infer
to the Islamic architecture and temples take us back to the ancient majestically dynasties’ architectural
designs depending upon the kind of material used. The kind of material used as the basic element and
its availability in the period when the structure was built and its dressing or technique of the way it
has been used, glorifies the kind of architecture and art and customs of that period or civilization over
the sands of time.
Figure 4: The Great Parthenon
6 Architectural Symbolism
In relation of sacred places with architecture, building materials symbolises the
presence of religious marks on the world map. The kind of symbols used on it shows the time
of its erection and tells us about the period in which king’s reign it was built. Hence building
materials is also acts as a time log between years defining the gradual involvement of art in
construction.The unique representation of symbolism in the design itself makes it interesting.
Figure 5: Typical Churches
7 To create Sacred Places
Let it be the sacred places or the structures of religious importance, building materials
have contributed greatly in retaining the true aesthetic pleasure of the theme and function of
the structure. It is also keeping in firm with the customs and traditions without tampering the
pleasing philosophy of the design.It leads a sense of function in utility regularising the pace
of aesthetic pleasure with practicability. This sub-merging had made people experience
amazing mystic features in a design to a great extent.
Figure 6 Sacred Place
8 Architectural Building Elements
The elements of a building structure are typically based on the kind of materials used
in it. Every division of a space designed includes the main theme or concept of the structure.
Every element of the building is related to the other in terms of concepts of colour or the
dressing and outlook of the element depending upon the building materials. The architectural
elements are unique enough to themselves with respect to the elements of architecture on the
foreground of building materials. There is some particulate material generally used for a
typical element. The materials often used for an element also sometimes contribute to its
terminology and hence takes essential aspects in the kind of architecture practised. It brings
out the theme and concept of the design of the elements of construction of the building
project and hence is also of keen importance as building materials as a part of Architectural
building industry.The unique representation of selection in the elementsof the design itself
makes it interesting.
Figure 7: Historic fire Station, Tacluda
9 Site and Site Selection (Type of Project)
It is important to be informative about the site details before undertaking a building
project for an architect. It is because an architect has to integrate the design of the building
with its surroundings with the help of his aesthetic knowledge. The intellectual ability of
building materials is used while the process of site selection. The availability of materials and
need of the kind of materials used in construction greatly influences the architectural
designing of a space. Hence it is the important aspect of site selection as in relation to the
architectural building project. Therefore, building materials selected according to the
availability of them in accordance to the site also affects and impacts the design.
10 Low cost Building Techniques
The total expenditure of the construction of a structure is very much connected to the
materials used. An architect selects the kind of materials used according to the budget of the
building project. The cost of the total building construction can be increased or reduced in an
impactful manner depending upon the techniques of construction. It is again in terms of the
masonry kind adopted appropriate with the way of type of architecture practiced which is in
pact with the building materials.
Therefore, according to the requirement of the client, an architect manages the cost of
building project by the type of building techniques in terms of the type of architectural
masonry he adopts by choosing the appropriate and adequate building materials. And hence,
it may also say that building materials influence and affect the budget and cost of a building
project depending upon the building techniques adopted by the architect.
11 Inter-relationship betweenQuantity and Quality
The buildings materials inter-relate quantity with quality. The choosing of materials
refers to the quality of the elements but in relation with the quantitative aspects depending
upon the kind of design. It influences the qualitative as well as the quantitative assurance of
the design of a building project. It creates an impact of aesthetic sense with respect to the
endurance and creation of a structure and hence relates the technical aspects and structural
aspects of a design of a built environment all together. Hence, it relates the philosophy of
view along with the structural stability of the Architecture.
12 Conclusion
In a tool of relation between culture and society which implies the perception and
interpretation of notion of symbolism in architecture. The way of approach to innovations in
the architectural context can be incorporated via Building Materials. The delight of
architecture can be enhanced through the retrieving executions of these inter relationships.
The efficient implementation of these concepts can accommodate astonishing outputs in a
particulate design.
References
http://www.topboxdesign.com/atlas-building-at-university-of-wageningen-by-rafael-vinoly-
architects-netherlands/
http://cobagonzo.blogspot.in/2011/10/temporary-pavillion-structures-2.html
http://www.townandcountrygazette.com/community-directory/churches/
http://www.rgbstock.com/bigphoto/mSmxVec/historic+fire+station
http://english495multigenre.blogspot.in/2010/03/sacred-places-outline-for-presentation.html
Author: Ar. Partha Sarathi Mishra
He is working as Asst. Prof. in GITAM University; previously he has done his Master
in Architecture in IIT, Roorkee. He has done his master’s thesis in “Shape and Geometry of
Orissan Temple Architecture”. He has a keen interest to exploring the lost architectural
elements in terms of design and planning issues and their hidden geometrical aspects.
Co-Author: Aseema Das
She is pursuing her B Arch Degree Program in GITAM University. She has a deep
knowledge of understanding Architectural Philosophy.
