Materials used to construct buildings not only shape the structures themselves but also our perception of them. The St. Basil’s Cathedral in Moscow is recognized for its boldly colored exterior made of painted bricks and wood. Frank Lloyd Wright’s Guggenheim museum is shaped by one-of-a-kind plywood forms filled with gun-placed concrete to create the iconic curves of the building. The Empire State Building combines Indiana limestone and granite, 10 million bricks and 730 tons of aluminum and stainless steel to form its imposing exterior.
Yet, apart from the aesthetics, the various materials used in the profession affect how we experience buildings. From the cool tones of aluminum and glass to the warmth exuded by wood and red bricks, materiality exists alongside form and function to create a building’s quality and atmosphere. Here is a compilation of the most used materials in the profession that all architects and design-lovers alike should know about.
Brick
Brick is one of the most commonly used building materials and has been used in construction for thousands of years. It is also one of the most eco-friendly materials in the profession. Bricks are used in equal measure for their visual appeal and their durability. They retain heat easily, making them energy efficient.
Famous Brick Structure: The Great Wall of China was made from 3.8 billion bricks.
Terra Cotta Tile
Terra cotta tile is a form of ceramic tile and is often used when the designer of a structure is aiming for a rustic and/or weather appearance. Like brick, this material also dates back thousands of years — it was originally created using a sun-drying process, whereas today the tiles are created through oven firing. The Italian term terra cotta translates to “baked earth.” These tiles range in color from yellow to dark brown, with dark, reddish hues being the most popular shades.
Famous Terra Cotta Tile Structure: The Flatiron Building in New York City illustrates the flexibility and durability of terra cotta tile in architecture.
Steel
The use of steel in architecture exploded during the industrial revolution as skyscrapers sprang up in major metropolitan areas. It is an extremely expressive material, and is often used to create the exterior and interior forms of buildings. Steel is lightweight, durable and has an incredible stiffness and strength-to-weight ratio, allowing the architect to have more flexibility in the design of the structure. Famous Steel Structure: The Eiffel Tower — it stood as the world’s tallest structure for nearly 42 years.
Glass
There are a variety of forms of glass that can be used in architecture, including cylinder glass, crown glass, drawn sheet glass and reinforced glass, as well as dozens more. From windows and internal partitions to exterior platings and canopies, the architectural opportunities for glass are vast. The glass types most commonly used by architects are safety glasses, which are reinforced, toughened and laminated glass. Glass provides light and color reflections within buildings, allowing for natural light to permeate buildings and add to their beauty. Famous Glass Structure: The Louvre Pyramid is made of metal and glass and serves as the main entrance to the Louvre Museum in Paris, France.
Concrete
Concrete is commonly used in construction, yet it has significant environmental impacts with an estimated carbon footprint of 5 to 7% of worldwide emissions. This negative consequence has led concrete to become the center of experimentation, as scientists, architects and engineers work to find more sustainable uses for the material. It is relatively versatile, with the ability to take almost any form, shape or color to create a building’s shape or exterior. Famous Concrete Structure: The Pantheon in Rome uses concrete to create its iconic dome center.
Carbon Fiber
Carbon fiber, also known as graphite fiber, is one of the most innovative materials included in this list. It is five times stronger than steel with a high load-bearing capacity and weighs significantly less. The material’s flexibility allows it to take a variety of forms, from surface sheets to stiff rods. Carbon fiber is most often used to build bridges and reinforced construction contexts. It is also important to note that carbon fiber has good electrical conductivity. Famous Carbon Fiber Structure: The Technical University campus in Dresden, Germany, called Carbonhaus is a concrete building that is the first in the world to be reinforced with carbon fiber.
Many factors go into choosing materials for buildings. Architects must work with construction engineers and to ensure that they can design buildings that meet their clients needs while also being structurally sound and feasible. As innovation in the industry continues to progress, the opportunities for unique and sustainable, material solutions are endless.
References
Australian Steel Institute. (n.d.). Steel in architecture. Retrieved from https://www.steel.org.au/focus-areas/steel-in-architecture/.
BassTech International. (n.d.). 5 interesting facts about bricks. Retrieved from http://basstechintl.com/blog/chemical/five-interesting-facts-about-bricks/
Bill Whittaker Architecture. (2017, November 14). The (often ignored) advantages of glass in architecture. Retrieved from https://www.billwarch.com/blog/the-often-ignored-advantages-of-glass-in-architecture/
Lewitin, J. (2019, November 17). Types of terracotta floor tiles. The Spruce. Retrieved from https://www.thespruce.com/terracotta-floor-tiles-overview-1315086
The Constructor. (n.d.). Carbon fiber fabric as building material — properties and uses. Retrieved from https://theconstructor.org/building/building-material/carbon-fiber-building-material-properties-uses/38893/.
Walsh, N.P. (2019, October 23). What is the future of concrete in architecture? ArchDaily. Retrieved from https://www.archdaily.com/926854/what-is-the-future-of-concrete-in-architecture