Lecture B

Environmental and Natural

Building Materials

Why do we use natural materials?

• Low energy content

Energy content of some materials

Aluminum 70,000 kW.hr / ton

Plastic 25,000  Steel 15,000  Cement 2,000  Clay brick (burned) 500-2000  

Cement brick 700-2200  Stone (cut) 150  Stone (rough) 100  Mud brick 30  Wood 30-100  

Why do we use natural materials?continued

• safe and hygienic:– Asbestos corregateg sheets vs. wood shingls or

fiber glass

• Renewable or practically non depletable– Wood , steel and Plastic

• Recyclable or Nature Absorbable– Mud brick, wood roofs, vs cement bricks and concrete roofs.

Interlocking bricks with white mortar???

Earth Architecture

Earth Architecture

Earth Architecture

Earth Architecture

Why do we use natural materials? (continued)

• Durable and efficient: – marble and Granite vs ceramic or mosaic tiles

• Sensual comfort: – Warmth (air content and thermal capacity)

• Emotional comfort:– a link with nature, past memories…

• Aeasthetic values :– Diversity, rhythm, .. – Sustainable value, not not lost as fast as fashion

materials.• does not threat ecosystem nor threatened

species

How deep is it natural?

• Massive wood Furniture• Veneered, laminated (plywood),

composed (Counter)• Painted wood• steel or plastic furniture• Textiles

– Cotton, wool, silk vs. Nylon and senthetic

How deep is it natural?

• Massive

How deep is it natural?

• Massive

How deep is it natural?

• Massive

How deep is it natural?

• Veneered

How deep is it natural?

• Painted

How deep is it natural?

• Plastic

How deep is it natural?• steel

Ethics of Nature and natural Materials

• How many creatures did you kill to get this material?

• Is it accepted to kill an Animal?– Yes, for food! and get any by-products.– No, for fun! Better Shoot with a camera– Yes, if Nature will not suffer because of

killing the Animal– No, if biodeversity is threatened, or any

negative Environmental Impact is expected.– No if the role of the Animal in the

ecosystem is much larger than the benefit of the material

Ethics of Nature and natural Materialscontiued

• It is fine to use caw leather, but not mink or fox fur

• It is fine to use sea shells (specially thrown at the shore) as inlayes in decoration, but not ethical to use Ivory

Assignments:

• design a report cover from Natural Materials:– Wood, leather, rough Natural textiles, papyrus, bound

sticks …..The Cover should express the respect of nature both in Material and design

• write a brief essay about the value and benefit of natural materials in Architecture.support your essay with illustrated examples