Final Report Summary - FMWK 1870-2008 (The surfaces of cement and reinforced concrete. A history of the formworks and processing of the surface, 1870-2008)
The surfaces of cement and reinforced concrete. A history of the formwork and processing of the surface, 1870-2008
Roberto Gargiani
Since the nineteenth century, the reinforced concrete has been generating a vast specialized literature anywhere in the world. However, none of it has ever tried to make a first assessment of the evolution of one of the most fundamental element in the processing of the reinforced concrete: the formwork; nor have been reconstructed the various ways of processing the surfaces after removal of the formwork in order to get special effects of polished or rustic surface. Therefore, on the subject of manufacturing of the formwork and processing of the surface, there is a true gap in the studies on reinforced concrete that the research "The surfaces of cement and reinforced concrete. A history of the formwork and processing of the surface, 1870-2008" intends to fill. Whether historical or operational, this gap lacks not only of the context of the evolution from the nineteenth century, but also of a comprehensive outline of the recent production.
The purpose of the ERC research is to offer the most comprehensive documentation and of the most significant examples of the international architectural production on the subject of formwork and concrete surfaces within the time span considered.
Drawing up the outline of the various types of building and processing of the surfaces will be extraordinarily useful for the historiography of architecture, which will hence have a scientific instrument to evaluate the works in terms of connections between form and material in relation to concrete, as well as for the modern formwork in which the technical and artistic issues of reinforced concrete processing at sight still remain fundamental. The results of the ERC research will be collected in books with an important written part and an extremely rich iconographic documentation (project drawings, photographs of construction sites and tools, etc.); they will be structured as a synthesis between the technical manual and the historical critical essay.
The various books will be part of a series entitled "Treatise on Concrete". The publication of the books is guaranteed by the EPFL Press of Lausanne.
"Treatise on Concrete"
Tracing the rise of concrete from antiquity to the modern era – including its fantasy-laden origins as "artificial stone" of 18th century Europe to the material of choice of the most innovative architects of the 21st century – this encyclopedic work constructs a complete cultural context for artificial stones, cements and reinforced concrete. Applying a rigorously scientific approach, founded on the analysis of often neglected primary sources, this collection provides novel insight into the manufacturing and molding of concrete across its long and varied history. Among the perspectives studied: construction of vaults and cupolas by the ancient Romans; origins in the formulations of artificial stone; fortresses of the Renaissance; foundations of sea walls and bridges; bunkers of the Second World War; aesthetic quality of exposed concrete in modern construction; use of concrete as sculptural medium.
Each book is intrinsically innovative, with the ambition to provide an analysis that bridges architectural perspective and the technology of concrete. Based on exhaustive archival research, enriched with hundreds of drawings and photos, and placed into a compelling cultural context, the volumes are intended to guide architects, engineers, historians – and even construction professionals – to a new understanding of their vocation. On a more practical level, the collection will provide a tool to orient modern experimentation by companies, engineers and architects that work closely with concrete by providing the technical context that has too often been left unexplored. This historical record of experimentation with concrete will thus provide an invaluable resource to those that look to develop and apply concrete in innovative ways. The Collection is directed by Roberto Gargiani of the EPFL and has been launched with: "Concrete: Between Archeology and Invention, 1700-1769", by Roberto Gargiani; "Louis I. Kahn, Exposed Concrete and Hollow Stones, 1949-1959", by Roberto Gargiani; "Louis I. Kahn, Towards the zero degree of concrete, 1960-1974", by Anna Rosellini; and "Pier Luigi Nervi rhetoric: form in concrete and ferro cemento", by Roberto Gragiani and Alberto Bologna.
Volumes in preparation: "Concrete Constructions in Germany, 1798-1877, The Science of Cements, from Trass to Portland"; "American Architectural Concrete’s New Era from Wright to SOM"; "New Archaisms in Concrete, 1980-2015"; "From opus caementicium to 17th-century concrete"; "Research on Roman concrete, 1770-1779"; "Natural and artificial pozzolanas, 1780-1817"; "Concrete from Vicat to Coignet, 1818-1879"; "The concrete of Perret and his disciples"; "The modular concrete of Tadao Ando".
Roberto Gargiani
Since the nineteenth century, the reinforced concrete has been generating a vast specialized literature anywhere in the world. However, none of it has ever tried to make a first assessment of the evolution of one of the most fundamental element in the processing of the reinforced concrete: the formwork; nor have been reconstructed the various ways of processing the surfaces after removal of the formwork in order to get special effects of polished or rustic surface. Therefore, on the subject of manufacturing of the formwork and processing of the surface, there is a true gap in the studies on reinforced concrete that the research "The surfaces of cement and reinforced concrete. A history of the formwork and processing of the surface, 1870-2008" intends to fill. Whether historical or operational, this gap lacks not only of the context of the evolution from the nineteenth century, but also of a comprehensive outline of the recent production.
The purpose of the ERC research is to offer the most comprehensive documentation and of the most significant examples of the international architectural production on the subject of formwork and concrete surfaces within the time span considered.
Drawing up the outline of the various types of building and processing of the surfaces will be extraordinarily useful for the historiography of architecture, which will hence have a scientific instrument to evaluate the works in terms of connections between form and material in relation to concrete, as well as for the modern formwork in which the technical and artistic issues of reinforced concrete processing at sight still remain fundamental. The results of the ERC research will be collected in books with an important written part and an extremely rich iconographic documentation (project drawings, photographs of construction sites and tools, etc.); they will be structured as a synthesis between the technical manual and the historical critical essay.
The various books will be part of a series entitled "Treatise on Concrete". The publication of the books is guaranteed by the EPFL Press of Lausanne.
"Treatise on Concrete"
Tracing the rise of concrete from antiquity to the modern era – including its fantasy-laden origins as "artificial stone" of 18th century Europe to the material of choice of the most innovative architects of the 21st century – this encyclopedic work constructs a complete cultural context for artificial stones, cements and reinforced concrete. Applying a rigorously scientific approach, founded on the analysis of often neglected primary sources, this collection provides novel insight into the manufacturing and molding of concrete across its long and varied history. Among the perspectives studied: construction of vaults and cupolas by the ancient Romans; origins in the formulations of artificial stone; fortresses of the Renaissance; foundations of sea walls and bridges; bunkers of the Second World War; aesthetic quality of exposed concrete in modern construction; use of concrete as sculptural medium.
Each book is intrinsically innovative, with the ambition to provide an analysis that bridges architectural perspective and the technology of concrete. Based on exhaustive archival research, enriched with hundreds of drawings and photos, and placed into a compelling cultural context, the volumes are intended to guide architects, engineers, historians – and even construction professionals – to a new understanding of their vocation. On a more practical level, the collection will provide a tool to orient modern experimentation by companies, engineers and architects that work closely with concrete by providing the technical context that has too often been left unexplored. This historical record of experimentation with concrete will thus provide an invaluable resource to those that look to develop and apply concrete in innovative ways. The Collection is directed by Roberto Gargiani of the EPFL and has been launched with: "Concrete: Between Archeology and Invention, 1700-1769", by Roberto Gargiani; "Louis I. Kahn, Exposed Concrete and Hollow Stones, 1949-1959", by Roberto Gargiani; "Louis I. Kahn, Towards the zero degree of concrete, 1960-1974", by Anna Rosellini; and "Pier Luigi Nervi rhetoric: form in concrete and ferro cemento", by Roberto Gragiani and Alberto Bologna.
Volumes in preparation: "Concrete Constructions in Germany, 1798-1877, The Science of Cements, from Trass to Portland"; "American Architectural Concrete’s New Era from Wright to SOM"; "New Archaisms in Concrete, 1980-2015"; "From opus caementicium to 17th-century concrete"; "Research on Roman concrete, 1770-1779"; "Natural and artificial pozzolanas, 1780-1817"; "Concrete from Vicat to Coignet, 1818-1879"; "The concrete of Perret and his disciples"; "The modular concrete of Tadao Ando".