Traditional materials continue to play a significant role in many rural settings. However, renovation and innovative use are necessary to keep these traditional building materials relevant to modern occupants’ aspirations.
Bricks can be made either using mud alone or with a fibrous binder and are then air dried. Bricks can also be compressed into blocks. Researchers have found that plank wall construction is the dominant mode of traditional building in much of western North America.
Wood
Wood has been a staple of construction since prehistoric times, but has fallen out of favor in the modern world with the rise of concrete and steel. Nevertheless, there are many reasons why architects and builders are once again drawn to this ancient building material.
One of the most obvious is that it is natural and renewable. Also, it is energy-friendly because it requires less energy to heat. Furthermore, wood is a carbon-capture material; it takes in carbon during its lifecycle and returns it to soils and the atmosphere when it decomposes.
Another reason is its resilience and strength. Wood has a great compressive capacity perpendicular to the grain, which means that it can stand up to loads of a magnitude far greater than concrete or steel.
Moreover, wood can be harvested in a way that avoids deforestation. For instance, a community might have its own wood-lot, where trees are harvested and tended like a garden. Additionally, reclaimed wood is increasingly being used in new buildings. Lastly, engineered woods—like glue-laminated (glulam) beams, laminated veneer lumber, and nail-laminated timber—are making it easier than ever to use wood in large-scale structures.
Stone
Stone, whether in the form of quarried blocks or shaped into wall units and other elements, has been a mainstay for centuries. But it was largely supplanted by concrete, steel and brick after the Industrial Revolution. Today, advocates are promoting the idea that solid stone can return to play a vital role in building, in part because of its strength and beauty but also for its environmental benefits.
Some modern stone companies are deploying new quarrying and production techniques that reduce the material’s environmental footprint. These include using diamond wire saws to minimize waste and dust; machining with CNC (computer numerical control) that maximizes output; and developing thinner, lighter products that replace larger slabs.
Other new materials are beginning to compete with stone for builders, including rammed earth and clay bricks made from in-situ earth; cellulose from wood and other plants; and prefabricated composites that can be used for walls, roofs, floors, and foundations. But for many architects and designers, nothing can match the look of a solid-stone building.
Mud
Mud has been a vital building material in many parts of the world. It is used in walls, floors and roofs along with a variety of other materials to construct structures that are functional and attractive.
Mud is a naturally occurring substance that can be manipulated into various forms. It is used for construction purposes because of its durability and ease of use. It also provides an excellent barrier against the elements.
Historically, mud was hand-moulded into bricks that were left to dry in the sun. Mud bricks were sometimes combined with straw to create wattle and daub or cob walls. This type of construction was common throughout the world as an alternative to wood.
Mud was also a vital resource in the formation of public works such as bridges and roads. A muddy environment provided shelter for a wide range of animals such as frogs, snails and other shellfish. It also helped to sustain agriculture by providing fertile soil.
Clay
Clay has long been considered an important material in building. It can be shaped, dried and fired to produce bricks. It is also used to make pottery. Its ability to distribute pigment evenly is used by the paint industry.
Clay is found all over the world. It is odorless, mold resistant and has a low density. It is very light to handle, easy to clean and is a great insulation. It has an extensive list of uses and is mined all over the world for industrial purposes.
Clay is formed when water reacts with existing rock. It removes the feldspar and forms kaolin. This process takes place all over the world, but it is especially common in granite areas. Homes built with dirt and clay, such as cob, adobe, and rammed earth are very thermally efficient. They keep temperatures cool in the summer and warm in the winter. The walls change temperature slowly, so heating and cooling use less energy than in wood or metal structures. The houses are also more durable than those built with modern materials.
Metal
Metals are opaque, lustrous elements that conduct heat and electricity well. They are also malleable and ductile and hard. They are very important for conventional lumber construction, as well as for structures such as bridges and the rockets used in manned and unmanned space flights.
People all over the world have traditionally built homes out of mud, stone and fibrous plant materials. These were the most common building materials until modern cement became available in the 12th century. Cement is still widely used today but it’s not considered traditional.
As urbanisation continues to push rural settings into townships, renovation and innovative use of traditional building materials and designs can keep them relevant at the community level. For instance, rammed earth and compressed earth blocks are affordable building materials that can be used to construct low-cost but high quality houses in Africa and India. Other innovations like water-cooling envelopes and Mediterranean design principles, as well as traditional Chinese practices of building orientation and interior space organisation can also stay relevant. These practices and technologies reduce energy consumption, minimise carbon emissions and comply with new regulations set for each region.