Includes bibliographical references (pages 224-227) and index.

Introduction -- Brick Masonry -- Thin Shell Concrete -- Steel Framing -- Composite Wood.

Construction Matters are the materials through which an architectural idea finds its physical realization. Masonry, concrete, steel, wood-each have unique qualities that allow for different spatial experience and tectonic expression. As construction methods are transformed by new technologies, their architectural possibilities change as well. Construction Matters, because it is the medium of the architect, in its very essence. Understanding the properties of different materials is indispensable for the creation of architecture that is original, powerful and meaningful. Construction technology was once integral to the practice of architecture. In the age of digital rendering, it is increasingly easy to focus on the image of architecture while ignoring its substance. As architects, we do not want to be technical experts, supporting the building of arbitrary forms; nor are we image designers, generating pictures and shapes of buildings with no structural logic. We must reclaim a territory that has been taken away from us.

Text in English.