vladwf111

03.11.2020 12:18 •  Английский язык

Man has always been a builder. The kind of house he built in the beginning depended on the climate, on his enemies and on the building material at hand. The first houses in many parts of the world were made of wood, for in those days the greater part of the earth was covered with forests. In other regions the most convenient building material was stone. Although houses were built without cement, the remains of a few of them still exist. The ancient Egyptians built very simple houses by present standards.
Having dried the bricks in the sun they put up four walls and above these they placed a flat roof. The roof was flat because there was very little rain in Egypt. Although their buildings were simple in construction, the Egyptian art of building was very beautiful. Their pyramids and monuments, sphinxes and palaces arouse our wonder to this day.
The first lessons in the art of making columns were given to the world in ancient Egypt.
In our country architecture flourished for the first time in Kiev Russ. Unfortunately, only a few of the church buildings of that period have remained. The churches of the time were strong buildings with thick walls and small windows. They often had to serve as fortresses during enemy invasions. Tourists from all over the world come to see the famous Cathedral of St. Sophia in Polotsk the cornerstone of which was laid in 1037 to commemorate the victory over the Pechenegs.
Since then the architecture and structural materials have been greatly changed. A very advanced construction technique today is the use of precast concrete. According to this method the reinforced concrete units are manufactured at a factory and are then simply assembled at the construction site. This method helped our country to restore its economy after the Second World War, when many residential as well as industrial buildings were destroyed.
The first blocks made of prefabricated units appeared in the villages in the Volgograd and Moscow regions.
At present, the building industry is the largest in Belarus and it holds an important place in the National Economy of our country. Many high- ly-educated civil engineers, who are trained at Belarusian universities, skilled and unskilled workers are engaged in construction. Builders use many new materials such as reinforced concrete, precast concrete, light weight concrete, gas concrete, many decorative materials, oil paints, wall paper. Synthetics are among them. Such traditional materials as stone, brick, wood are in great use as well. Various elements and components are assembled on the site.
Now everywhere in Belarus vibro-rolled panels are being widely used in construction. The assembly method is developing into the main method of apartment and industrial construction.
All the working processes are mechanized. Modern construction can’t be imagined without building machinery. Lorries, cranes, bulldozers, excavators are available at all construction sites of Belarus. Prefabricated
structures are transported by lorries and immediately hoisted into position. Finished blocks of prefabricated flats with interior decoration are assembled on many construction sites. Transport brings a complete flat to the prepared foundations of a building. A powerful gantry-crane lifts the 18 – 20 ton flat and carefully sets it on the foundation. After the final inspection, electricians, plumbers and gas-men can begin their work.
As a result our country builds more than any other country of the former Soviet Union. Thanks to special government’s programmes thousands of Belarusian people get flats every year. Flats have all modem conveniences, such as hot and cold water supply, central heating, lifts, ventilating plants, etc.
The building industry is paid much attention in our country as it affects greatly the general level of living.​