Constructions as a whole are made my man, are used by man and are placed in the environment under the influence of natural factors. This is why one can state that MAN and NATURE are the two decisive factors that influence the way constructions are planned.
a) MAN– influences the way in which building is planned through his dimensions as well as through his activities and necessities.
There is a long history behind the studies on human dimensions and proportions, starting about 5000 years ago with the old Egyptians, continuing with ancient Greece and Rome, and later Japan, France, etc., and the old saying “Man is the measure of all things” applies perfectly to the field of constructions.
An accurate scale of constructions can only be settled if one starts from the proportions of the human body. These sizes were settled and divided in many ways, according to different “modules”: – length of the middle finger (Diodorus, 1st century BC), length of the sole, height of the head (Polykleitos, 5th century BC, Lysippos, 4th century BC) etc.
Knowing the proportions of human body and of the space a person takes in different positions, used generally while walking or standing, allows constructors to determine the perfect sizes for the spaces they build, for the furniture used and for the placing of this furniture within the building.
A person determines the functionality and the sizes of a building not only through his/her proportions, but also through activities that are undertaken and through physiological needs.
Therefore, the standards that any building must reach are determined by the level of comfort a person needs in the space being built:
- temperature and humidity within a closed space;
- phonic (acoustic) sealing of the interior space;
- fresh air required for breathing;
- natural and artificial illumination of spaces;
- possibility to maintain hygiene within the built space;
- aesthetic factor, meaning the harmony of shapes and colors.
Certainly, a building can be used even if it does not meet all the requirements above, yet, this will mean that it will not offer people enough comfort to lead a normal life in all aspects.
If we are to look only at certain aspects of the needs of the human body, particularly those referring to the temperature, humidity and fresh air in closed spaces, we could show that normally, due to water vapors and carbon dioxide that a person releases during activity periods or while sleeping, it is a must to respect the following:
- the ideal temperature of rooms where human activity is undertaken, or where people rest, should be around 18-22 degrees Celsius;
- the relative humidity of the air in the rooms should be about 50-60%;
- the fresh air exchange must ensure at least 0.02-0.03 cubic meters of oxygen per hour for a person of average height.
Respecting the minimum requirements of comfort of a person or not can have serious effects on the person‟s work efficiency and health.
b) NATURE is the second important factor that influences the shape and size of a building, through the action of climate factors, through the characteristics of the ground of the foundation, through the intensity of the gravitational and horizontal forces (e.g. wind, earthquake), etc.
Main Factors in Constructions Design
1. Man
- Dimensions and Proportions
- dimensions of the human body
- the space a person takes while moving or in rest
2. Physiological Needs
- temperature, humidity -lights, aesthetics -fresh air, hygiene, etc.
3. Human Activity
- work, training -rest, entertainment -health, etc.
2. Nature
- Construction Factors
-mechanical, physical -chemical, biological, etc.
2. Geographical Conditions
-hydrographic landscape
-climate (wind, temperature, rainfall) -fauna, flora
-raw material deposits
3. Geotechnical Conditions -field geology -geomorphology -seismicity
Through its components, nature can decisively influence the overall size and shape of constructions, and sometimes it even influences the way in which they are placed in an environment, so as to meet the technical requirements needed to properly function and serve in time.
What also holds a major importance in designing a construction are the materials and technology used in the building process.
The construction material, through its physical and mechanical properties and through its aspect, may determine the overall shape and size of the construction or of the elements it is built of, as well as the overall aspect of the construction.
The same can be said about the technology used, which can be a decisive factor in the design of the construction, when the specific technology is needed due to certain natural factors (landscape, climate etc.) or due to economic factors (cost, productivity etc.)
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