Concrete : The Vision of a New Architecture

Collins provides a thorough history of the new nineteenth century material and goes on to examine the theories on its architectural expression, focussing on determining role of the reinforced concrete frame. Collins provides a thorough history of the new nineteenth century material and goes on to examine the theories on its architectural expression, focussing on determining role of the reinforced concrete frame. He argues that Perret provides the first rational and effective expression of classical principles in modern construction. Published in 1959 and out of print since 1975, this new edition of Concrete includes a foreword by Kenneth Frampton, a scholarly introduction by Réjean Legault, and several additional essays on Perret by Peter Collins. From the Foreword by Kenneth Frampton: "Concrete remains a valuable historical text that in many respects has never been given its due. It is an unmatched pioneering history of the development of reinforced concrete up to 1914. It records and analyses the densely articulated, if provincial, English debate with respect to the aesthetic challenge posed by the increasing popularity of concrete from around 1870 onwards. Finally, until very recently it was the only readily available monograph on Auguste Perret in English. In this regard it is particularly valuable as a thorough and perceptive assessment of Perret's life and career, one that still stands as a point of departure for all current attempts to situate this seminal architect within the wider trajectory of twentieth-century culture." CONTENTS PLATES FOLLOWING PAGES ILLUSTRATIONS FOREWORD INTRODUCTION PREFACE TO THE FIRST EDITION PART ONE: THE DISCOVERY OF A NEW MATERIAL I. BETON II. CONCRETE III. REINFORCEMENT IV. EXPLOITATION AND DEVELOPMENT PART TWO: THE SEARCH FOR A NEW ARCHITECTURE V. THE NINETEENTH CENTURY VI. THE TWENTIETH CENTURY PART THREE: THE CONTRIBUTION OF AUGUST PERRET VII. THE STUDENT VIII. THE APPRENTICE IX. THE THEORIST X. THE CONSTRUCTOR XI. THE MASTER NOTES PREVIOUSLY UNPUBLISHED ESSAYS THE CLASSICISM OF AUGUSTE PERRET THE NEW BRUTALISM OF THE 1920s PERRET'S ARTICULATION OF REINFORCED CONCRETE FRAMES INDEX A B C D E F G H I J K L M N O P Q R S T U V W Y Z