The capability of human beings to construct buildings and shelter by means of different processes and materials enables them the unique ability to adapt to a much wider range of environments. Houses back then were made conducive for moving tribes. Through the years, agriculture grew and the durability as well as the overall structure of homes were developed overtime since people were starting to stay in one place. Buildings became more than just residential, but religious and political.
5 Amazing Construction Processes in History
The Primitive Stone Age
The Stone Age held the earliest dated shelters built by man. Of course, it is very different from the structure we build today. Instead of modern processed materials like concrete and steel, hunter-gatherers used raw materials that are more easily accessible. Back then, tents of animal skin propped up by a strong stick would stand as their home.
Stone in Egypt
The land of Egypt had great deposits of stone above ground. They extracted limestone, granite, and sandstone then transported it for use in royal mortuary buildings. It exhibited not only strength, but was also symbolic in that time. Egypt’s impressive structures are attributed to their ingenious means of mining, splitting and transporting rocks up the weight of 1,000,000 kilograms. Considering that they had no machinery to use back then, that’s impressive! By means of wooden tools, boats, and animals, the Egyptians made massive structures still remembered today.
Renaissance Period
This period is probably more concerned with the design of their buildings rather than its material. Specifically architecture taken from the Roman building forms such as the arch, vault and domed roofs. Because of the attention to design, there was a specification of roles when it came to the construction. Architects were more prominent in conceiving the form of the building while the builders executed their idea. Architects usually held a different occupation like a mathematician, painter or astronomer.
The Industrial Age
This is where iron comes into the picture. The industrialisation of building materials like brick were also a notable addition in the industrial age. There was progress in the science of buildings. This meant that they used more mathematics and technology to construct more complex buildings. Architecture also began to change due to the emerging demand of the market for more large-scale buildings. This called for an even further division of labour between the people who construct such buildings.
The introduction of steel came in the Second Industrial Age. Given the increasingly larger structures people began to build, the ground was not strong enough to withstand it. They began drilling to bedrock and inserting a cylindrical shaft then filling it with concrete. This provided the necessary foundation to support larger buildings. Given the limited use of electricity and ventilation, floor spaces needed to be rather narrow to allow for natural light and ventilation to come through the windows.
Modern Construction
Considering the scale at which buildings are built, there are a lot of requirements that go into building one! First, the client needs to communicate their idea to architects and engineers. They ensure the feasibility of your idea. Aside from their own personal knowledge, they need to collect data about the proposed building site. In terms of construction, usually, a different team is hired to execute it, but sometimes the two are combined.
Construction has evolved throughout the years to build the magnificent structures we live in today. The ingenious ability of man to alter their environment to suit their needs is a unique and distinguishable trait we have as a race. Our structures are symbolic, political, and religious and thus hold all-important to our history. The future may hold even more advanced technologies that would erect buildings twice the speed we do now. One thing’s for sure, the knowledge we have of building such architecture compounds over time to contribute to future generations.
For a more in-depth explanation of construction throughout the ages, check out Britannica’s article!
Know more about caring for your construction tools, read up on How You Should Be Maintaining Your Construction Tools!