In architecture, nothing is ever truly new; everything has been tried before. And nowhere is this more evident than in the architecture of housing. Each proffered solution to a specific architectural problem is actually an amalgam of predecessors' ideas and new approaches, which itself contributes in turn to a great global 'pool' for succeeding concepts. For twenty years, this philosophy has driven the activities of Zurich-based cooperative Pool Architekten, with a special focus on the research and design of residential buildings. Poolology of Housing is an up-close look at the collective's body of work and a potential font of inspiration for others interested in letting this philosophy guide the creation of innovative architecture. At the core of the book are two hundred floor plans, designed by members of the collective and students during Pool Architects' tenure from 2013 to 2016 at Technische Universitat Berlin. Direct comparison of these floor plans demonstrates the incredible scope an architect has for residential buildings despite the many constraints imposed by external factors. Richly illustrated with both built and unrealised projects by Pool Architekten, as well as of model replicas of iconic historic interiors, Poolology of Housing reflects a novel social culture of housing design.

Recent years have seen the construction of buildings made of plastic, structures that are as attractive as they are unusual. After initial experiments in the 1970s, plastic is currently experiencing a tremendous boom. Originally used for temporary structures like the BMW Pavilion in Frankfurt, it is now employed in many permanent buildings as well, including the recent Catholic church in Radebeul by Staib/Behnisch. Prominent international avant-garde architects such as Shigeru Ban and Herzog & de Meuron frequently use transparent plastic for their structures. Transparent plastic seems ephemeral and thus captures the spirit of the times. Its various qualities between transparent and translucent make it possible to achieve fascinating effects with light and color. Projects presented include the Allianz Arena in Munich by Herzog & de Meuron, the Rocket Tower in Leicester by Grimshaw & Partners, the Paper Art Museum by Shigeru Ban in Shizuoka, Japan, and the public housing development Cite Manifeste in Mulhouse by Lacaton Vassal. Seit einigen Jahren entstehen ebenso attraktive wie ungewoehnliche Bauten aus Kunststoff. Nach ersten Versuchen in den 1970er Jahren erlebt der Baustoff derzeit einen ungeheuren Boom. Zunachst fur temporare Bauten wie dem BMW Pavillon in Frankfurt genutzt, entstehen mittlerweile auch zahlreiche bleibende Gebaude (wie kurzlich die Katholische Kirche von Staib/Behnisch in Radebeul). Bekannte Architekten der internationalen Avantgarde wie Shigeru Ban oder Herzog & de Meuron verwenden gerne transparenten Kunststoff fur ihre Bauten. Das Material scheint ephemer, transitorisch (ohne es zu sein) und trifft damit den Nerv der heutigen Zeit. Seine unterschiedlichen Qualitaten zwischen transparent und transluzent erlauben faszinierende Licht- und Farbeffekte. Zu den dargestellten Projekten gehoeren die Allianz-Arena in Munchen von Herzog & de Meuron, der Rocket-Tower in Leicester von Grimshaw & Partner, das Papiermuseum von Shigeru Ban in Shizuoka, Japan, und der soziale Wohnungsbau der Cite Manifeste in Mulhouse von Lacaton Vassal.

The "old" material of wood has been used to construct dwellings of different types since the dawn of mankind. And not without reason. Its low density combined with high rigidity, good processability, and its resistance makes it an excellent building material. There is currently a pioneering renaissance of the timber construction, for two distinct reasons: first, wood is increasingly being rediscovered as one of the most important renewable raw materials for sustainable construction. Moreover, a revolution in the construction of timber structures began several years ago with the ever-progressive use of three-dimensional CAD models for digitally controlled robot manufacturing. The book documents these developments, in particular the engineering bonding techniques, the introduction of digital production techniques, and the innovative material developments of this material. The chapter on composite structures and experimental structures specifically address trends toward the future-oriented dimensions of timber construction. In the final section, outstanding designs are documented in detail, such as the Club House of Haesley Nine Bridges Golf Course designed by Shigeru Ban in Yeoju, South Korea, and the double gymnasium in Borex-Crassier, Switzerland, by Graeme Mann and Patricia Capua Mann .