Ecology of Building Materials

by Bjørn Berge, translated by Filip Henley. First published in Norwegian in 1992, revised and expanded English edition published 2000 (hardcover), 2001 (paperback) by Butterworth-Heinemann, a division of Reed Educational and Professional Publishing Ltd. 480 pages, paperback, $49.95

Ecology of Building Materials is an ambitious book.

It surveys the entire spectrum of materials used in construction, including their origins, manufacturing methods, and uses in buildings. It addresses environmental considerations at every stage, but does so within the context of a more general discussion of each material. Author Bjørn Berge has an explicit preference for traditional and minimally processed materials over modern and highly processed materials, and he devotes much of the book to traditional construction methods from northern Europe. By including modern materials, however, he is able to compare them with traditional materials in terms of environmental and performance factors, and make the case for the advantages of the more natural alternatives.

Due to the breadth of the material, many subjects are covered only cursorily and with limited context. In breezing through these topics, Berge frequently presents as statements-of-fact positions that could benefit from more explanation and evidence. For example, he notes that wall-to-wall carpet harbors 100 times more bacteria than a smooth-surface floor. Comments like this one are not footnoted or explained, although there is a list of references, including materials in several languages, at the end of each chapter.

Although the explanations are necessarily brief, Berge exhibits a sophisticated understanding of the science behind many of the issues. One advantage he points to for many natural materials is their ability to store and release moisture, thereby reducing the likelihood of condensation and mold. He notes, for example, that historically bricks were fired at different temperatures depending on the application. Softer, low-fire bricks were used indoors and where high structural strength was not needed. In addition to needing less energy for their manufacture, these softer bricks are more effective at regulating moisture.

While Berge provides a table showing the existing reserves of minerals, he pays surprisingly little attention to resource issues with renewable materials such as wood and peat. Although he criticizes modern plantation forestry, Berge’s selections, consistent with much of the research from Europe, consistently favor wood over metals and cement-based materials. He does not specify whether this preference applies to all wood or only to wood from well-managed forests.

The usefulness of

Ecology of Building Materials to the North American audience is, unfortunately, somewhat limited due to contextual and language barriers. The book is translated from Norwegian to British English, introducing many terms that are unfamiliar in the U.S. and Canada, and only metric units are provided for all measurements. Nevertheless, it is an amazingly comprehensive and thorough resource, full of gems of wisdom, and anyone seriously interested in exploring alternatives to mainstream materials will find a great deal of useful material.

– NM