Reader

“In a time of great need of architectural quality and knowledge, this reader contributes by addressing an important aspect of architecture. Spanning from classic texts from architectural history to recent writings, it gives an excellent overview of the topic from the industrial to contemporary digital revolutions. A very welcome book.”

Fredrik Nilsson
Professor of Architectural Theory, Chalmers University of Technology, and Head of Research in Practice, Älvstranden Utveckling AB.

“Reader on Tectonics in Architecture is an essential manuscript for anyone considering creative and scientific aspects in the conception and construction of structures. Isak Worre Foged and Marie Frier Hvejsel raise critical questions that have long
concerned those of us in the field of architecture education. Read this book and stimulate your thinking with an inspired journey to a curated set of texts that are central to the theory and practice of tectonics in architecture. This well-written book provides coverage of a number of important issues not commonly treated in most tectonics textbooks. It features several key reads on the subject, including contributions from Bötticher, Semper, Sekler, Frascari, Frampton and many others.”

Paulo J. S. Cruz,
Professor at the School of Architecture, University of Minho, Portugal – President International Association of Structures and Architecture

“The plea for a tectonic culture faded all too quickly into design proposals to support conservative strategies. The essays assembled in this reader restore the original complexity and significance of the concept, from the first, erudite studies of German theorists to recent contributions of international scholars.“

Ákos Moravánszky
Professor Emeritus of Architectural Theory, ETH Zurich

This reader on Tectonics in Architecture forms a hitherto non-existing common point of reference from which to expand and continue the discourse on tectonic theory as a vehicle for innovation in the built environment. The reader presents the notion of tectonics as a critical and methodological entrance to the broader field of architectural theory by gathering a selection of key readings on Tectonics in Architecture covering the span from mid-18th century German architectural theory through to state of the art recent research on the topic. The collection addresses students of architecture and engineering while simultaneously providing an overview as a foundation for further research on the topic.