Reinforced concrete became one of the most important materials in the construction industry during the early 20th century. It has a great variety of uses and a high load-bearing capacity.
The architect Jörg Rehm deals with the early years of this revolutionary construction method in his book "Eisenbeton im Hochbau bis 1918", now published in German by TUM.University Press. With a focus on the Munich area, he illuminates the role of planners, architects and authorities and their influence on the development and building history of reinforced concrete.
The author documented numerous Munich buildings, which were created in the early 20th century with reinforced concrete and which remained prominent in the urban landscape until today. With his work, he provides planners and owners, who are currently involved with such buildings, with tools they need to ensure their long-term preservation. The publication closes the gap between art-historical and engineering considerations and thus represents an important compendium for historical building research.
At the same time, the book is a Munich city tour of a special kind, which is also exciting for the interested reader. You would expect a lot behind the magnificent facades of Munich's old buildings, but no concrete!
The 528-page doctoral thesis was written at the TUM Chair of Structural Design (Prof. Barthel) and was published this October by TUM.University Press. It is available in bookshops and online.
