| Pier Luigi Nervi, Attilio Lapadula: Stabilimento balneare Kursaal, Ostia, 1950
|
The Natural Form of Concrete
Ferrocemento & Concrete Experiments in Rome
Su. 18. – Su. 25.03.2018 | max. 12 Participants | Cost range D | Poster
Experimental construction was a characteristic feature of concrete structures until the interwar period. For a long time, the concrete
skeleton (Hennebique system) dominated the practice; casting as a new method of production and the old construction form were, however,
considered contradictory. From practical production, numerous designers developed new forms. One of the most groundbreaking construction
methods was proposed by the Italian Pier Luigi Nervi with his "Ferro-Cemento": Instead of formwork, the concrete was applied with trowels to
a wire mesh of any shape, which was fixed to supporting bars. In this way, the reinforced concrete not only broke away from the linear
skeleton form, but also from the rigid geometry of its formwork. The poured stone was seamless, its shape completely independent. Nervi used
the very slim, specially shaped elements extremely cost effectively as finished elements, as formwork, or - most impressively - as lost
formwork. Here, material, form, construction and architectural expression are inseparably linked. Some of the most important testimonies to
this special search for forms were created in and around Rome in the post-war years.
During the seminar week in Rome we want to understand the essence of modeled concrete. To this end, we will study the method of ferrocemento
by designing and producing seating objects in concrete ourselves. In addition, we will visit numerous buildings of the Italian Modernism as
well as the long Roman concrete history and put our ideas of construction in order.
Local partners
Prof. Tullia Iori & Prof. Alberto Meda (Università di Roma ′Tor Vergata′)
Experts
Alessandro Tellini (Raplab D-ARCH)
Chair of Structural Design
Prof. Dr. Joseph Schwartz
Dr. Mario Rinke - rinke@arch.ethz.ch
Lukas Ingold - ingold@arch.ethz.ch
Format
Various days of excursions in Rome and the surrounding area and workshop days at the Università di Roma ′Tor Vergata′. Transport,
accommodation, guided tours, visits and readers included.
last modified 4.2.2020
