Page 55 - DP-2-1

Design+ Importance of material selection

the concepts of time, cost, and quality, which determine of these criteria often conflict with each other and the
the success of a project. Stakeholders try to select the selection of the best material for one criterion may require
1
best-performing materials based on their mechanical, disregarding other criteria. As mentioned, a material with
2
functional, and physical properties. This is where the a high initial cost can be used for many years without
2,3
cost comes into play. Various materials on the market significant maintenance costs thanks to its durability and
perform the same function but have very different initial can compensate for its high initial cost. Again, the fact that
costs. However, materials with low initial cost may, due a popular material with high esthetic properties requires
to their poor quality, degrade with time, necessitating qualified labor may cause the cost to increase, the project
replacement within a short span of usage. Therefore, to be delayed, or the application not to be of the desired
the materials’ durability against use and various quality. Ultimately, stakeholders involved in material
environmental conditions such as moisture and corrosion selection must find the optimum solution.
are also important criteria. Naturally, every user prefers While the search for the optimum solution has
the material that will serve for the longest time without probably been an ongoing process since ancient humans
losing its qualities in the conditions it will be used in. This built structures for shelter, the process has become much
is important both in terms of avoiding additional costs more complex in the past few centuries with the growing
for maintenance, repair, and renewal and in terms of the diversity of materials owing to the development of
material not losing its function and esthetics during use. ceramics, metals, alloys, and polymers. This complexity has

With globalization and the use of technology, it has been further increased in this century with the emergence
become possible to see and examine different materials of the necessity to adapt the concept of sustainability to the
produced worldwide. Although various building materials process. Sustainability addresses various environmental,
produced in distant places may be attractive to users economic, and social issues, including pollution,
in terms of various aspects, especially their esthetic overconsumption, inequality, and poverty, which the world
properties, choosing such materials is both more costly is currently facing. The sustainable development concept,
and may cause possible disruptions, especially those which was developed in the face of the rapid depletion of
requiring transportation, causing significant disruption to natural resources and the continuous increase in pressure
the construction schedule. In this respect, choosing easily on the environment, is defined as development that meets
available and local materials is often more favorable to the the needs of current generations without compromising
construction budget and schedule. Nevertheless, for some the needs of future generations. By 2056, it is estimated
4
users, esthetic concerns are more important, and they may that global economic activity will increase by five-fold,
order custom-made ceramics from Italy for a house they global population will increase by over 50%, global energy
are building in Australia, for example, despite all kinds of consumption will nearly triple, and global production
risks. Although esthetics may not be so important for every activity will at least triple, increasingly emphasizing the
5
user, it is one of the indispensable conditions that a building importance of sustainability.
must meet. Tastes vary, but human nature loves beauty, and The construction sector is one of the leading sectors
no one wants the buildings they spend most of their lives that focuses on sustainability. This is because the sector
in to be ugly. As each material is esthetically pleasing in has major negative impacts on the environment through
its distinct way, the manufacturing process of a building material and energy consumption and waste generation
could differ from others. Higher technical expertise, more throughout its lifecycle of design, construction, use, and
time and labor are required to make certain materials, demolition. Bricks, clay, stone, cement, gravel, paint, sand,
while others can be manufactured more easily. Therefore, and wood are among the primary building materials used in
tight schedules and cost pressure in a project can influence the construction sector. The continuous and intensive use
material selection decisions. In addition to the material’s of these materials consumes natural resources and causes
maintenance cost, ease of maintenance is also an important significant damage to the environment. For example,
6
factor. Easy maintenance of materials that are damaged the construction sector is responsible for about 40% of
due to usage conditions and environmental conditions or the total primary energy consumption in the European
that require routine maintenance is of critical importance. Union. Buildings consume large amounts of energy
7
For example, if glass is used on a building’s exterior, the during construction and use. Climate change due to energy
facade needs to be routinely cleaned and the owner needs consumption and the production of chlorofluorocarbons
to bear the cost and workload involved in the maintenance (CFCs) is also a critical problem. Buildings are also
8
process. responsible for about 16% of freshwater consumption and
As can be observed, there are numerous criteria to 25% of wood consumption on a global scale and for 25%
consider when choosing materials. Furthermore, all of the production of ozone-depleting CFCs using building

Volume 2 Issue 1 (2025) 2 doi: 10.36922/dp.4491