Criticism, Design & Construction, Methods & Materials 

In recent years building with stone has gained new significance, not only because of its impressive appearance, but also in the debate that has arisen in architecture between the monumental and the transparent. Principally used in façades, but also for interior design, natural stone - and even man-made stone such as concrete and bricks - is now being appreciated for its high-quality performance. For international architects such as Michael Graves, Frank O. Gehry, Mario Botta or Richard Meier, this diverse material plays a major role. This publication examines the use of stone in contemporary architecture, drawing also on the work and experience of such great predecesors as Semper or Hoger. In thematic chapters, it presents the state of the art uses together with information on the extraction and treatment of stone. The emphasis of the book is laid on the many different kinds of natural stone, which come from a wide range of countries. Further chapters elucidate innovative applications of concrete and bricks, also illustrated by international examples. Contributions from Vittorio Magnago Lampugnani, Fritz Neumeyer and Stanislaus von Moos investigate stone as the enduring material of the town, consider its architectural expressiveness throughout history, and explore its significance as a surface material . A comprehensive appendix contains illustrations of some 70 kinds of natural stone, all of which are concisely documented, ensuring that this volume can be used as a reference for anybody interested in natural stone as a building material. - from Amzon