Discussion: A Plea for Concrete Construction in Keeping with the Nature of the Material
Strangely enough, the same typical details come to mind for both steel and timber construction, whereas nothing occurs to us when we consider monolithically cast concrete. Prefabricated columns and beams often clumsily imitate the characteristics of rolled steel and naturally grown timber, with the disadvantage, however, that connecting precast concrete elements is not as simple. Instead of exploiting the unique natural qualities of concrete and allowing it to set into any required three-dimensional form on site, it is deprived of its monolithic character. Admittedly, there are outstanding examples of precast concrete construction; but it is a pity that by turning to prefabrication, we avoid coming to terms with monolithic concrete forms and thereby sacrifice the opportunity of building with this material in an honest way. We have gone so far today that we treat in-situ concrete structures in the manner of prefabricated unit construction - through the rationalization of formwork, for example. We have forgotten how to detail reinforced concrete in keeping with its material properties, as Eduardo Torroja, Robert Maillart and Pier Luigi Nervi were able to do.
