New textbook for composite materials in architecture

Composite Architecture, authored by professor Quang Truong, claims to be the first ever book about composite materials used in architecture. Its goal is to educate industry worldwide about the potential of that composites offer for increased performance, design flexibility and sustainability in future buildings.

Materials such as carbon fiber and other fiber-reinforced polymers (FRPs) can lead to buildings that are lighter, stronger, more durable and better thermally performing. Their properties also allow for new possibilities in form and structural expressions.

This book describes the technology underpinning composite materials, their history, sustainability issues and unique opportunities and challenges in building and construction. 

It includes a foreword by Jan Knippers and features detailed studies of projects using composite materials by architects including: Snøhetta, Herzog & de Meuron, Zaha Hadid, Kengo Kuma, Diller Scofidio + Renfro, Morphosis, Achim Menges, SHoP and Foster + Partners (including the new Apple buildings).

“No other class of material offers high performance for so many different aspects of building.”

Author Quang Truong is a licensed architect, adjunct professor at Portland State University (Portland, Oregon, U.S.) and co-founder of the architecture/engineering/construction (AEC) technology company Polytechnica.

This book is published by Basel: Birkhäuser, 2020 with 312 pages and 80 black and white illustrations as well as 300 color illustrations. It is available for purchase at Amazon.com. For more details, contact the author at quang@polytechnica.design.