Includes index

Materials and architecture -- The surface in contemporary architecture / Christian Schittich -- The architect as building materials scout / Christiane Sauer -- The critical path to sustainable construction / Peter Steiger -- Criteria for the selection of building materials / Alexander Rudolphi -- The development of innovative materials / Dirk Funhoff -- Touching the senses - materials and haptics in the design process / Marc Esslinger -- Properties of building materials -- Stone -- Loam -- Ceramic materials -- Building materials with mineral binders -- Bituminous materials -- Wood and wood-based products -- Metal -- Glass -- Synthetic materials -- Life cycle assessments -- Applications of building materials -- The building envelope -- Insulating and sealing -- Building services -- Walls -- Intermediate floors -- Floors -- Surfaces and coatings.