What materials were used in ancient houses?

In ancient times, wood was a rich and easily available resource. At the same time, wood has good plasticity and bearing capacity, which is very suitable for building houses.

The structure of ancient wooden houses usually adopts the way of mutual support of wooden columns, beams and vertical beams to form a stable frame structure. The wall is surrounded by wood boards or rammed earth walls. The roof is covered with thatch, tiles or bark to prevent rainwater from invading. In addition, ancient wooden houses also have certain seismic performance, because wood can be deformed during an earthquake, thus absorbing some vibration energy.

It is worth mentioning that ancient buildings in China have rich experience and skills in the use of wood. For example, traditional wood structure techniques such as bucket arch and mortise and tenon make ancient wooden houses both beautiful and practical. However, with the development of modern building materials, wood is gradually replaced by reinforced concrete, masonry, etc., and wooden houses are rare in modern society.

Structural characteristics of ancient dwellings

1. materials: natural materials such as wood, adobe and masonry were mainly used in ancient houses. These materials are easily available and have good bearing capacity.

2. Structure: Ancient houses were mostly wooden or civil structures with columns, beams and purlins. As a frame, walls are surrounded by adobe, masonry or wooden boards. The roof is covered with thatch, tiles or bark.

3. Layout: The layout of ancient houses usually follows the principle of "front hall and back room". The front hall is used to receive guests and hold activities, and the back hall is the living space. Functional areas such as kitchen and bathroom are usually located at one side or the back of the house.

4. Ventilation and lighting: In ancient houses, patios and courtyards were usually used to ensure indoor ventilation and lighting. At the same time, the window is smaller, reducing heat loss and preventing thieves from invading.

5. Decoration: The decoration of ancient houses is mostly displayed in the form of sculpture and painting. Such as the gatehouse, window lattice, eaves and other parts are often decorated with exquisite patterns and patterns, which are both beautiful and symbolic.