WINTRODUCTION hat if instead of shingles and siding your house was covered with a substance similar to lizard skin which could change its color depending on the weather and heal itself from damage caused by exposure to sun wind and hail On sunny days the skin would turn dark and keep excess heat away from the house On cloudy days it would become clear to let in as much heat and light as possible This same skin would collect rainwater and condensation to use for taking showers washing dishes and doing laundry Scientists are working on making these features possible In fact self-healing paints already exist and are used in the paint on some cars When the surface of the paint is scratched tiny capsules break open to release more color Developing and adapting these ideas for use in buildings though will take time and money which many people aren’t willing to pay just yet Many architects agree that the future of building will focus on ways to reduce pollution conserve energy and save space on the planet for the world’s ever growing population Some of this new architecture will come from futuristic designs upgrades on current technology and new materials inspired by plants and animals such as weather-sensitive skin on a house At the same time architects are today finding inspiration in the past peering back into history to study how ancient builders constructed energy efficient homes suited to their location 4
Architecture’s future may include structural designs that leave traditional wood and paint far behind in favor of flexible surfaces that resemble reptilian scales
umankind has been building structures for thousands of years Architecture the science and art of building began among prehistoric farming communities when people settled in one place for long periods of time Looking at the remains of ancient struc tures scientists have been able to determine how societies lived and what they believed was important at the time Temples were among the first products of architecture Often temples were built as a way to reach toward heaven and were aligned with the sun and patterns in the stars The earliest temples such as the Ziggurat of Ur in Sumer which is now southern Iraq were shaped from sun dried clay bricks into stepped pyramids called ziggurats The early Egyptians left behind several architectural remnants of their lives The pyramids were built as tombs for deceased pha raohs or kings as well as their valuable earthly possessions which the people believed they could use again after they died A pyramid was developed with secret underground passageways and rooms as well as traps to keep out grave robbers and it was an impressive monument to the deceased Roughly 4,700 years ago Imhotep possibly the earliest known architect designed the Step Pyramid of Djoser or Zoser at Saqqara To build this 204-foot-tall 62 m pyramid laborers rafted huge granite blocks up the Nile River and dragged them on wooden rollers to the proper location These huge blocks possibly 2 5 tons 2 3 t each were pushed up mud ramps and levered into place H C H A P T E R O N E C HAPTER O N E 1 A HISTORY OF BUILDING 6
The pyramids left and ziggurats below of the ancient world were massive structures as achieving great height required huge bases under the tapered peaks
