The Ecology of Building Materials (2nd ed.)
About this book
The Ecology of Building Materials by Bjorn Berge, originally written in Norwegian and subsequently translated into English by Chris Butters and Filip Henley, represents one of the most thorough and intellectually grounded explorations of the relationship between the built environment and ecological systems. First published in 2000 and significantly expanded and revised in its second edition of 2009 by Architectural Press (an imprint of Elsevier), the book spans 448 pages and addresses a question that lies at the heart of sustainable construction: how do the materials we choose to build with affect the health of human beings, non-human species, and the planet as a whole? Berge approaches his subject from a perspective shaped by decades of practice as an architect and researcher in Scandinavia, where traditions of vernacular construction with natural materials have always existed in close dialogue with ecological thinking.
As one of the founders of Gaia Architects — a Norwegian practice recognized internationally for its pioneering work in sustainable building — Berge brings both technical expertise and a philosophical commitment to the principle that buildings should be conceived as participants in, rather than adversaries of, natural cycles. The book is structured in three principal parts, each with its own conceptual framing. The first part, dedicated to environmental profiles and assessment criteria, lays out the theoretical and methodological foundations for evaluating building materials ecologically.
This section examines resource depletion, pollution across the full life cycle of a material (from extraction through manufacture, use, and disposal), the concept of local production as a means of reducing transport energy and supporting regional economies, and the human ecological dimension — which includes the effects of materials on indoor air quality and occupant health. A particularly valuable chapter explores the chemical and physical properties of building materials that are relevant to ecological assessment, offering practitioners a framework for thinking beyond simple energy metrics. The second and most extensive part of the book is devoted to raw materials and basic material families, organized by the primary substance or origin of each group.
Berge examines water and air as material contexts; reviews mineral and stone resources including their geological formation, quarrying impacts, and performance characteristics; addresses soil-based materials such as clay, earth, and adobe; analyzes fossil oil derivatives including bitumen, synthetic polymers, and petrochemical-based insulation products; devotes substantial attention to plant-based materials encompassing wood, natural fibers, cork, and straw; and covers materials of animal origin such as wool and leather. The part concludes with an analysis of industrial by-products — slag, fly ash, and similar residuals — that occupy an ambiguous ecological position between waste and resource. For each material family, Berge provides a structured ecological profile that covers resource availability and renewability, energy consumption in processing, pollution potential at each life stage, recyclability and disposal pathways, and effects on indoor environment quality.
The assessment is notably holistic: Berge does not reduce ecological evaluation to a single metric such as carbon dioxide emissions, but instead weighs multiple dimensions of environmental and human health impact. One recurring theme is the moisture behavior of materials — Berge argues that many traditional natural materials such as wood, clay, and lime-based products have superior capacity to buffer indoor humidity compared to modern synthetic alternatives, thereby supporting healthier interior environments and reducing the risk of condensation and mold. The third part translates the material analyses into practical construction guidance, examining how different materials perform in specific building applications: roofing, wall construction, flooring, insulation, and finishes.
This section is particularly valuable for design professionals because it connects abstract ecological data to real decisions about detailing, specification, and durability. Berge consistently demonstrates a preference for materials that are minimally processed, regionally available, and capable of returning safely to natural systems at the end of their useful lives — an early articulation of what would later be formalized in cradle-to-cradle thinking. The second edition adds substantial new content reflecting developments in the building sector between 2000 and 2009, most notably a greatly expanded treatment of climate change as a framing issue for material selection, updated numerical data across all material categories, and new sections on additional materials and construction methods.
The relationship between material choice, building energy performance, and the indoor environment is also explored in greater depth, responding to the increasingly integrated understanding of sustainability in the built environment. The book won the Silver Award at the Chartered Institute of Building's Literary Awards in 2001 for its first edition — recognition that underscores its significance not only as a scholarly reference but as a genuinely useful professional resource. For architects, engineers, and construction professionals seeking to move beyond superficial green labeling and understand the real ecological credentials of the materials they specify, Berge's work remains an indispensable foundation.