ABSTRACT
The subject of materials and construction concerns not only physical uses but also the production of materials and the nature of the building industry. Buildings have been built of a very wide range of materials, the most common being timber, baked and unbaked clay, stone, slate, reeds, grass or straw, glass, concrete, iron and steel. The fabric of a building, the choice of materials and constructional system sets limits as well as creating opportunities for architects and builders. Some materials such as brick, wood and stone may be very familiar but it takes careful observation to enable us to recognise particular varieties of timber such as oak or ash, and it takes experience to learn the difference between the many varieties of stone such as sandstone, limestone and granite. The best way to become adept at recognising these differences is to travel widely to look at the materials used in buildings, read a guide on the local architecture which identifies materials and indicates which are used in particular buildings, and visit geological or local museums which often display local building materials.
