If you’re studying to become an architect, there are a lot of terminology and concepts to familiarize yourself with. One of these concepts is the common building materials you should use as an architect. Keep reading to learn some of the most common building materials you’ll be using in the field and a few surprising ones you might encounter as well.
Stone
There are many unique kinds of stone in the architecture world. Concrete, brick, marble, granite, quartz, limestone, and more are all common types of stone found in architecture. Each type of stone has its own unique strengths, resistances, and other properties. It’s important to understand these differences before committing to a material type for building or architecture.
Plastics
The applications of plastic in the architectural and industrial industries often surprise early architecture students. In construction and architecture, plastic materials look and act very differently from those we use for the food packaging of which we’re so accustomed. Plastic materials are used for 3D printing, creating bioplastics, thermoplastics, and more. These forms of plastics go through unique manufacturing processes which help create stronger, more durable materials for construction, decoration, architecture, and more.
Metal Fabrics
We often think of “metal fabric” as an oxymoron; however, this material is very real and crucial in modern architecture. You can commonly find metal fabrics in architectural pieces that require strength and flexibility. Compared to traditional textiles, metal fabrics offer the increased strength of metallic materials with the flexibility of a fabric. Metal fabrics are created by weaving together metal strands to create a sheet of intertwined metal. Some metal fabrics are more flexible than others, which depends on the size of the metal strands and tightness of the weave. This flexibility allows them to be used in a variety of applications such as safety installations, decorative pieces, exterior design, and more.
Carbon Fiber
Steel is a common material in the building and architectural world, but there are many examples of stronger materials. One of these examples is carbon fiber, which is five times stronger than steel and twice as stiff. This makes it slightly less flexible, though it still has a higher tensile strength. Carbon fiber is also highly resistant to chemicals and heat. This makes carbon fiber a natural choice for automobiles, air travel, construction, architecture, and more.
Now that you’ve familiarized yourself with some of the common materials every aspiring architect should know, you’re ready to start digging into the meat of your architectural studies. Familiarize yourself with these materials and their properties for future reference.
