Heinz Isler
Built Experiments – Entrepreneurial Networks
Thin structures of reinforced concrete are the trademark of Heinz Isler (1926–2009). The Swiss engineer’s experimental approach and entrepreneurial attitude enabled his enduring success as one of the most prolific shell designers of the twentieth century. With an impressive portfolio of over one thousand reinforced concrete shells, he stands as an internationally significant designer of spatial structures. Isler’s practice was based on experimental methodologies that differed vastly from conventional engineering approaches of his time. This same pioneering spirit led him to explore innovative materials and techniques in the building industry. The success of the ‘Isler shells’ was not only fostered by the political and economic conditions of the prosperous years after World War II. It was also based on a strong network of clients and cooperation partners.
Through essays, a catalogue of selected projects, a list of all realised projects, archival materials and current photographs, this is the first book to comprehensively investigate Isler’s work from both an engineering and cultural-historical perspective and to make his complete oeuvre accessible.
Edited by Giulia Boller (
@giuliaboller ), Matthias Beckh (
@structuraldesign_tud ), Rainer Schützeichel (
@akoeln_thkoeln ), Joseph Schwartz, Laurent Stalder (
@stalder.gta )
Contributions by Bill Addis, Kouros Azar-Pey, Matthias Beckh, Alessia Bertini (
@alessia_snd ), Giulia Boller, Heinz Bösiger, John Chilton, Yvan Delemontey, Elke Genzel, Hans Glanzmann, Franz Graf, Sascha Gsell, Lukas Ingold (
@lukasingold ), Duks Koschitz, Toni Kotnik, Egor Lykov, Leo Müller, Sarah Nichols, Ekkehard Ramm, Rainer Schützeichel, Joseph Schwartz, Cyrille Simonnet, Laurent Stalder, Pamela Voigt (
@kunststoffbauten ), Georg Vrachliotis (
@georgvrachliotis )
Translated by Thomas Skelton-Robinson, Jill Denton
With photographs by Georg Aerni (
@georgaerni ), Hannes Henz
Designed by Studio NOI (
@studionoi )
Image editing: Marjeta Morinc (
@marjetamorinc )
2025. 22.5 × 30 cm, hardcover
332 pages, 254 illustrations
ISBN 978-3-85676-477-7
Text in English
