TIMBER as a building material;significance in architecture

Building materials has been an integral part of the architectural field.It demonstrates the presence of aesthetic sense in a design and hence defines the practicability of the structure.

Wood is probably the first construction material used by human beings mainly in traditional folk architecture as a structural and expressive material. It is one of the completely renewable natural materials. Due to its availability, workability and good construction features, many experts consider wood to be a building material of the 21st century. Wood still has its irreplaceable position in the construction of ceilings, rafters, wood shingles for roofing, doors, windows, floors and other building elements.
Timber as a building material has certain a advantages over conventional materials like concrete and steel. Its less weight vis-a-vis steel while not sacrificing the strength ensures that less pressure in put on foundation during earthquakes. Compared with traditionally built mid- to high-rise buildings, all-timber solutions also have a lower environmental impact. Brown is confident that a timber core can be structurally sound and cost competitive, compared with commonly used concrete cores. The timber cores will also adopt low-damage seismic design technologies, so that during major earthquakes, damage to the buildings is minimal and occupancy is restored quickly, meaning minimal repair cost . Timber is one of our most traditional construction materials and has a key role to play on both sides of the net zero balance. Forest enhancement is seen by many governments as a crucial part of their emissions mitigation strategy, as trees absorb carbon from the atmosphere to grow.
Timber is also less carbon-intensive to manufacture, transport and erect than steel and concrete

To fully understand timber’s relevance today we must first consider how its use as a building material has changed throughout history. In prehistoric times when humans lived nomadically, simple, light, temporary structures were suitable for shelter. Timber was an ideal construction material, having both tensile and compressive strength, a high strength-to-weightratio, and easy workability. In Neolithic and early Bronze Age , timber was widely used for the construction of residential longhouses and roundhouses, reinforced with clay walls andthatched roofs. As humans began to settle and take up agriculture, timber gave way to stone and clay bricks to build more lasting settlements .