Aesthetics and Technology in Building

by Pier Luigi Nervi

Here is a verbal and pictorial illustration of the credo that has guided one of the world's most distinguished architects throughout his career. "Architecture is, and must be, a synthesis of technology and art."

Using nearly 200 drawings and photographs, including plans, interesting details, various stages of construction, and both interior and exterior views of some of his major works, Mr. Nervi shows how his philosophy is put into practice. Referring to most of his important projects, he discusses solutions to various functional and construction requirements where he used precast and cast-in-place concrete, emphasizing the richness of this material. Mr. Nervi stresses the advantages of reinforced concrete, which, he says, allows greater flexibility and makes it easier to satisfy his triple demand of economy, technical correctness, and aesthetic satisfaction.

In predicting the future of architecture he stresses the necessity of architectural solutions that are functionally and technically sound. His final remarks concern his ideas about the proper course of study for architecture students, training that will produce architects with a "far greater technical sense than in the past, a technical sense which results in a constant search for economic efficiency."

Genres: Architecture

201 pages, Hardcover

First published January 1, 1965

About the author

Pier Luigi Nervi was an Italian engineer. He studied at the University of Bologna and qualified in 1913. Dr. Nervi taught as a professor of engineering at Rome University from 1946-61 and is widely known as a structural engineer, an architect, and for his innovative use of reinforced concrete.

Reviews

[Ozgur Senogul]

I always love the gothic-inspired modern structures of Nervi which can be thought as parametric piece of these days’ design trends. To be able to generate such kind a fluent and monumental structural forms needs a great creavity in both architecture and engineering. He is a good example of this intersection. And this book is a short introduction of his way of making edifice.

[jw468]

Composed of a series of lectures given by Nervi, this book is a quick, but informative read. The central two sections of the book deal with cast-in-place concrete and precast concrete. Each section begins with Nervi’s lecture, which references illustrations of his work that follow. The illustrations include force diagrams, drawings, construction photos, and photos of the finished building.