Talking Structures: Mouton and the Under-Order in Architecture
Mouton, Bernard Wittevrongel, Jolien Naeyaert
Mouton, 2026
€58,00
An absolute must-read for architects, engineers, students, researchers, and architecture enthusiasts!
A richly illustrated book chronicling 30 years of co-creation between engineers and architects. Drawing on more than forty projects, the publication explores how structure contributes to architectural quality.
The book reflects on the design philosophy and practice of the Belgian engineering firm Mouton. Projects from the past 30 years demonstrate how structures can be more than simply load-bearing structures. As a foundation of design, they organize, strengthen, materialize, and enhance the architectural idea. Willem Koerse described this as part of the substructure: a meaningful carrier of a design.
Eighteen project narratives describe not only the challenges and results but also showcase inspirations, intermediate steps, and dialogues. The structural design, from concept to realization, is illuminated both contemplatively and technically within an architectural context. In a personal and associative essay on drawing and collaborative design, Jolien Naeyaert explores the intertwining of structural and architectural thinking. The publication aims not only to document but also to inspire. It advocates for an in-depth dialogue between structure and architecture.
The projects featured are by Coussée & Goris architects, RCR arquitectes, GAFPA, B-architects, Wim Goes Architectuur, BEEL Architects, import.export Architecture, Zaha Hadid Architects, Bureau Bouwtechniek, Dierendonckblancke architects, TETRA architects, studio MOTO, Eduardo Souto de Moura, META architectuurbureau, jo taillieu architects, NU architectuuratelier, Archipelago Architects, CRU! Architects, and Eagles of Architecture.
An illustrated glossary at the back of the book clarifies the terminology and practical implementation.
ISBN: 9789090415116
