Which architect is associated with the introduction of thin-shell construction in architecture?

Which architect is associated with the introduction of thin-shell construction in architecture?

• A. Felix Candela
• B. Bernini
• C. Minoru Yamasaki
• D. Agrippa

Answer: (A)

Thin-shell construction relies on curved, thin concrete membranes that carry loads efficiently through membrane action, allowing large spans with relatively little material. Felix Candela is renowned for introducing and advancing this approach, pushing reinforced concrete into elegant double-curved shells—often hyperbolic paraboloids—that create spacious, economical roofs. His mid‑20th‑century experiments in Mexico popularized thin-shell architecture and influenced many later designers. The other figures belong to different eras and styles—Bernini with Baroque sculpture and architecture, Minoru Yamasaki with modernist high-rise design, and Agrippa as an ancient Roman figure—so Candela is the one most closely associated with the introduction of thin-shell construction.

Thin-shell construction relies on curved, thin concrete membranes that carry loads efficiently through membrane action, allowing large spans with relatively little material. Felix Candela is renowned for introducing and advancing this approach, pushing reinforced concrete into elegant double-curved shells—often hyperbolic paraboloids—that create spacious, economical roofs. His mid‑20th‑century experiments in Mexico popularized thin-shell architecture and influenced many later designers. The other figures belong to different eras and styles—Bernini with Baroque sculpture and architecture, Minoru Yamasaki with modernist high-rise design, and Agrippa as an ancient Roman figure—so Candela is the one most closely associated with the introduction of thin-shell construction.