Introduction 6
How to get the most out of this book 10
Brick and stone 12
Timeline：brick and stone 14
Origins and chronology 16
Cultural and material context 20
Application 22
Grand master：Antonio Gaudi 26
Woolf Architects | Brick Leaf House 32
Eric Parry Architects |30 Finsbury Square 36
Concrete 40
Timeline：concrete 42
Origins and chronology 44
Cultural and material context 48
Application 50
Grand master：Tadao Ando 54
Zaha Hadid | The Central Building 60
Axel Schultes and Charlotte Frank |Baumschulenweg Crematorium 64
Timber 68
Timeline：timber 70
Origins and chronology 72
Cultural and material context 76
Application 78
Grand master：Edward Cullinan 84
Sean Godsell | The Carter/Tucker House 90
Glenn Howells Architects | The Savill Building 94
Glass and steel 98
Timeline：glass and steel 100
Origins and chronology 102
Cultural and material context 106
Application 108
Grand master：Ludwig Mies van der Rohe 112
Foster＋Partners | The McLaren Technology Centre 118
Grimshaw Architects | Fundacion Caixa Galicia 122
Composite materials 126
Timeline：composite materials 128
Origins and chronology 130
Cultural and material context 134
Application 136
Grand master：Charles Eames 138
Stanton Williams Architects | House of Fraser，Bristol 144
dRMM | The Kingsdale School 148
Innovation，sustainability and the future 152
Directions 154
Innovation 156
Sustainability 160
The future 164
Conclusion 168
Samples panel 170
Glossary and picture credits 174
Acknowledgements 176