Massives Material

Solid matter. Monolithic and homogeneous concepts for a circular approach to architecture

In response to climate change, architects have been seeking a contemporary expression for durable, solid and homogeneous wall structures made of clay, wood, brick, concrete and recycled materials. This book follows 25 projects to analyze construction methods that predominantly involve materials that have a single origin and can be easily dismantled. It looks at a variety of different ways and scales in which architects have dealt with issues of mass and materiality, both in terms of design and construction. Structured according to the specific materials, the book allows direct comparisons, and renders visible solid building typologies and forms. Numerous drawings, developed especially for this book, document the projects. Two essays as well as interviews with Pepe Marquez and Arno Richter examine the strategies and background of monolithic architecture and solid construction methods.

• Solid building materials and their contribution to climate protection and sustainability
• Analytical presentations of single-variety and demountable construction methods
• Insights into research and applications of the materials

Till Boettger

University of Applied Sciences and Arts (HAWK) in Hildesheim

Faculty of Building and Conservation, Professor of Representation/Design, dissertation on threshold spaces, freelance architect, also founder and managing director of the architecture firm at11 – architecture and design, author, spatial researcher, carpenter.

Ulrike Knauer

Hildesheim University of Applied Sciences and Arts (HAWK), Germany

Faculty of Building and Conservation, research assistant for presentation/design.