Concrete is the ?modern? construction material that has helped shape the fundamental static principles of structural load bearing. Similar to masonry, concrete effectively transmits pressure downward, but its weak point is tractive forces. Concrete has also enabled freer use of architectonic forms. This title imparts the basic knowledge every architect needs to master for planning reinforced and non-reinforced concrete construction.

Katrin Hanses, M.A. architect, research assistant at Siegen University, owner studio h, Cologne.