Construction Cultures : Conversations on Structure, Materials and Tectonics in Architecture

Through in-depth discussion with seven architectural practices, this book offers a rich survey of perspectives on the different cultures and approaches to construction in the USA, Europe and Latin America. The practices were selected because they have experience of practising architecture in different contexts and continents and so have comparative insights. They reveal differences in the way societies build – for example, the building culture in Germany is rooted in craft and permanence, while the USA values speed, flexibility and pragmatism. The discussions reveal how the architects develop a building from initial concept through to completion, revealing various aspects such as the advantages and limitations of using computer-aided design and how they collaborate with engineers and contractors. They compare various institutional structures and regulatory frameworks and the economics of the construction industry. The books focuses particularly on how the architects conceive the structure of the buildings and select the materials used to complete them, including innovative ways of using standard materials and of detailing and how this increases the level of risk and potential liability. Highlighting how construction practices both respond to place and contribute to a global architectural culture, these conversations present construction as central to architectural thinking, offering architects and students a lens through which to reflect on their own work. Each section includes a full list of projects, with details on program, construction, and collaborators, along with a short biography of each practice. A glossary lists the architects, buildings, materials, and references that come up across all seven conversations.