Methods for Selecting Building Materials: A Comparative Analytical Study

Abstract

The process of selecting building materials is one of the most important steps in architectural design. The selection process is at the core of the design process and is critical to the long-term success of an engineering project. Therefore, architects try to follow the best and most suitable methods to select building materials that match the design criteria. When selecting building materials, many criteria are related to building performance, environmental considerations, cost effectiveness, and aesthetic considerations must be taken into consideration. This research paper provides a brief overview of the methods that can be used to select building materials for architectural design. It analyzes these methods and compares them to identify the capabilities of each method and its application areas with the aim of helping architects and designers make choices that achieve the best building performance, considering criteria such as environmental impact, cost-effectiveness, and aesthetic considerations. The study results indicated that the significance of the methods for selecting building materials varies depending on the project's objectives.