ABSTRACT
The relationship between materials and humans began with the first attempts to build shelter. Building materials were the product of human work, their 'evolution' occurring through manual processes and the material itself acting as the medium through which accumulated knowledge was passed from one generation to the next. Traditional materials offer several significant advantages over contemporary building products. The multifunctionality of various traditional materials often simplifies construction, making it easier for non-experts to understand and actually take part in the building process. Thus, community participation frequently plays a key role in projects incorporating traditional materials. Tradition is often understood as something that is passed down through action and in this case specifically, through the act of building. Tradition and contemporary development need not be seen as diametrically opposed to one another. The application of traditional materials in building construction often relies on low-tech methods using manual labor, reducing reliance on expensive power tools and equipment.
