On the Future of Industrial Floors

In his paper entitled "The Industrial Revolution of the Middle Ages" Jean Gimpel looks at the difference between the building techniques used 700 years ago and the methods used for the construction of skyscrapers. He thinks that revious centuries only saw a small number of innovations in the building sector. In his paper - 50 vears ago - he writes:

I discovered for example that the building industry, whose turnover was higher than that of the automobile sector, was employing archaic methods: the brick which was produced in Mesopotamia several thousand years ago is still widely used. This building material, which has to be laid by hand, is even being used for skyscrapers. I noticed that prefabrication is no more being used for skyscrapers, as for construction of cathedrals 700 years ago…

Last Update: Feb 13, 2002