The Masters of Concrete Shells

Concrete shell construction started to become popular in the mid-20th century. Technically advanced designs with conspicuous expressiveness began to appear all over the world. With three typical protagonists - Felix Candela (1910-1997), Heinz Isler (1926-2009), and Ulrich Muther (1934-2007) - the book examines this construction method. Their work - primarily in Mexico, Switzerland, and the former GDR - was carried out under very different political, economic, social, and cultural conditions.

The authors analyze the buildings and projects against the background of developments in architecture and engineering at that time. The focus is on mutual influence, shared aspects and differences in the design processes, the structural design, and the execution. In addition, the book examines how the work was received and today’s application of the building method.

Learning from Felix Candela, Heinz Isler, and Ulrich Muther and their historic shell construction buildings

Unknown material from the drawing archives

In English with summaries in German and Spanish