“The Fabric Formwork Book: Methods for Building New Architectural and Structural Forms in Concrete” is the first comprehensive monograph on the emerging technology of flexible molds for reinforced concrete architecture. 

Mark West’s 298-page book published by Routledge examines fabric-formed concrete techniques from technical, historical and theoretical aspects. The inventor of many fabric-formed concrete techniques for architecture and engineering structures, Mark West won a LafargeHolcim Awards Bronze in 2005 for his “Material Reduction: Efficient Fabric-Formed Concrete” project that enables both substantial materials and cost savings together with rich aesthetic possibilities.

Concrete is the most widely used man-made material in the world by tonnage, and is the fundamental physical medium for most of the world’s buildings and infrastructure. The character of concrete is largely the product of the rigid molds that have shaped it since its invention in antiquity. The advent of flexible molds, however, marks a radical break from conventional practice – and conventional concrete architecture.

Illustrated with 398 color images, diagrams and technical drawings, “The Fabric Formwork Book” both informs and inspires – featuring case studies from around the world. Speaking directly and plainly to professionals, students and academics, the language used is both clear and precise, and care is taken to avoid opaque technical or academic jargon. Technical terms, when used, are clearly described and a special glossary is included to make the book as widely accessible as possible.

Publisher: Routledge

ISBN: 9780415748858

Routledge bookstore