Reference to the model of the civil engineer was one of the central paradigms of architectural modernism. Surprisingly however, up until now the relationship between civil engineering and modern architecture has been examined almost exclusively as a kind of one-way street. This is particularly true of the German offshoot of the modern architectural movement, ‘Neues Bauen’. While architects have been extensively studied, we know little if anything about the relationship between civil engineers and ‘Neues Bauen’. Within the framework of this research project, we will examine for the first time how modern civil engineers evaluated ‘Neues Bauen’ and what role they played in its development. In addition, the extent to which this far-reaching architectural movement has directly or at least indirectly influenced current engineering will be ascertained.

Researcher: Roland May