Solid Forms of Construction

Truly massive, monolithic buildings are becoming something of an object of the past. Heat insulation and energy saving regulations have long ensured that multi-layered, insulated wall constructions are now the norm. From the outside, however, these facades do not necessarily appear any less monolithic, as the examples in the next edition demonstrate. The range of materials used covers a broad spectrum, from exposed concrete and brickwork, to thermal insulation composite systems or natural stone. Truly monolithic constructions are still being built, though, as two projects show: a wine museum made from floor-to-ceiling sand-lime blocks, and a swimming pool with walls of rammed earth. Such constructions are also interesting from an energy perspective; the many possibilities and problems of thermo-active building systems are examined in depth in the technology section.