. The argumentation of previous studies demonstrated the historical evolution of the materials in architecture and the position of the materials in the design process. The purpose is to recognize the role of materials in architectural design, and the materials are a core element of the design process. This paper is about the way materials can be used to create personality and character of the designed buildings. The research finds two overlapping roles for materials which are providing technical functionality and building personality. Thus building materials were one of the major factors for new innovation forms through the history of architecture and the key for future re-generations.

1. The Role of Building Materials
in Architectural Design
Hafedh Abed Yahya , and Muna Hanim Abdul Samad
The 4th International Malaysia-Ireland Joint Symposium on
Engineering, Science and Business (IMiEJS) 2014
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2. Historical introduction
Architectural design process
The role of materials in architecture
Conclusions
The Role of Building Materials in Architectural Design2

3. Historical introduction
“The subject of material is clearly
the foundation of architecture”
William Morris (1892)
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4. Historical introduction
Before
19th
Century
After
1800s
Late 20th
Century
In the
Future
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Stone
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Steel & Glass
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Metallic Surfaces
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Smart Materials
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5. Architectural design process
Architectural design is
“The method of organizing materials and forms
in a specific way to satisfy a definite purpose”.
Kurt Dietrich, (2008)
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6. Space
Shape
architectural
design
elements
Architectural design process
Materials
Colour
Line
1
2
3
4
6
Texture 5
Mass 7
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7. Architectural design process
1. 2. 3.
Form is driven in the
first proposal by the
architect. The materials
are then explored to
realize the shape.
Form Material Selection
Materials selection
can drive the design
process selection.
Material Selection Form
The basic approach
for designing, driven
both form and
material together, is
pure creativity and
intensive effort.
Material Selection & Form
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8. Architectural design process
Buckminster Fuller’s
‘Bucky Balls’ is a good
example shown in
figure.
Fuller developed
structures that
postulate the
possibility of unknown
elements.
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9. Architectural design process
The three design processes, materials are the
criteria which finalize the design. Architectural
design moved forward by pushing the limits through
which the materials, new and old, can be
assembled, shaped and formed to provide a new
awareness in the design process.
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10. Objects had
The role of materials in architecture
functional purpose
the water wheel, the steam engine,
the gas turbine.
symbolic ordecorative
the cave painting of Lascaux, the
wooden masks of Peru, the
marble sculptures of Attica
Combine functional with symbolic and decorative
Combination is perhaps most obvious in architecture.
the Coliseum of Rome, the Empire State Building of
New York, and the Pompidou Centre of Paris; each an
example of combination the technical and aesthetic.
1
2
3
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11. Technical functionality
The forms of these structures are directed by
the brittleness of the stone, making it strong in
compression but weaker in tension and bending.
Brick like stone is strong only in compression.
Stone
The role of materials in architecture
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12. Technical functionality
High tensile steel cables with truss-like compression
members supporting a glass reinforced (PTFE)
room membranes. A rubberized nylon membrane
supported by internal pressure.
Steel cable & Nylon membrane
The role of materials in architecture
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13. Technical functionality
Here the forms reflect the high strength to
weight ratio of wood, and its ability to carry both
tensile and compressive loads almost equally
well.
Wood
The role of materials in architecture
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14. Technical functionality
Reinforced, and pre-stressed, concrete allows great
freedom of shape delicacy of form. The materials, a
composite of steel and concrete, carry tensile,
bending, and compressive forces equally well.
Reinforced concrete
The role of materials in architecture
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15. Technical functionality
1 2 3 4
Compression
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Tension Bending
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Combination
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16. Aesthetic functionality
1 2 3 4
Touch
Optically clear -
Transparent -
Translucent - Opaque
Reflective - Glossy-
Matte- Textured
Sight Hearing
Bitter - Sweet
Test&Smell
Muffled - Dull - Sharp
Resonant - Ringing
Low pitched – High
pitched
Warm – Cold
Soft – Hard
Flexible - Stiff
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17. The
tactile
attributes
Aesthetic functionality
Steel and Glass
-Not scratch easily -Accept high polish
-Resist distortion -Durable
Rubberand Polymerfoam
-Defect when handle – Squashy but when
it is released it returned to its original
shape
Design processHard materials can be made soft by forming
them into shapes in which they bend or twist:
hard steels shaped into soft spring: glass drawn
into fibres and woven into cloth
Hard
Soft
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18. The
tactile
attributes
Aesthetic functionality
Ceramics, stone and metals are cold and hard;
so is glass
Cold
Warm
Polymer foams and low density wood are
warm and soft; so are balsa and cork
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19. The visual
attributes
Aesthetic functionality
Opaque and transparent
Metals are opaque. Most ceramics are either opaque or translucent,
because they are poly crystalline and the crystals scatter light.
Glasses, and single crystals of some ceramics, are transparent.
Colour
A more effective method is one of colour charts such as those
provided by Pantone, which provide detailed advice on colour
selection, including colour matching charts and good
descriptions of the associations of colour.
Reflectivity
Reflectivity is depending partly on material and
partly on surface detail. Like transparency, it is
commonly described by ranking: dead matt,
eggshell, semi gloss, gloss, mirror.
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20. Reflectivity
Diffuse Mirror Retro
light strikes rough surfaces,
such as pavement, foliage,
and clothing. These surfaces
cause the light beams to
scatter in all directions. Only a
small amount of the light is
reflected back toward the
source
light strikes surfaces that
are smooth or glossy.
The light reflects off the
surfaces at an equal, but
opposite angle to the
source
surfaces return a portion
of directed light to its
source. This is why retro
reflective materials
appear brightest to
observers located near
the light source
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21. Conclusions
Conclusion
Functionality
depends on the choice of proper material to
meet the technical requirements of the design
safely and economically.
Aesthetic
influenced by the visual and tactile
properties of the materials to convey
information and respond to user action
Design process
In the three design processes materials play
crucial role to formalize the final design
1
2
3
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22. Conclusion
As a result, recently the designers consider the materials
as a part of the design process from which materials can
be chosen and applied as compositional and visual
surfaces. The impact of a design solution may be
enhanced or destroyed through the manner by which the
architect uses materials in the composition.
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23. Form, you may say, follows materials.
Conclusion23

24. References
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Elsevier, (2005).
• K. Dietrich, A design for architectural education, Canada, (2008).
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http://www.atilim.edu.tr/~ktur/mate410/Dosyalar/40-CES_Materials&Product_Design_Ashby.pdf , (2008).
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product designers, Material and Design, 29 (2008), pp. 1081-1089.
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architects, Oxford: Butterworth-Heinemann, (2009).
• J. Vitásek, P. Koudelka, J. Látal, F. Dostál, and K. Sokanský, Indoor optical free space networks-reflectivity of light on building
materials, Przeglad Elektrotechniczny, 87(4) (2011), pp. 41-44.
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25. Thank you
The 4th International Malaysia-Ireland Joint Symposium on
Engineering, Science and Business (IMiEJS) 2014
25