TIME Magazine content is available exclusively for TIME subscribers.

Current subscribers for full access. Not a TIME subscriber? .

Art: FELIX CANDELA: ARCHITECT OF SHELLS

CEMENT was known in ancient Crete; both Romans and Phoenicians used concrete. The shell as a form has fascinated man since he first learned to crack an egg. But it was not until mid-19th century engineers first reinforced concrete with iron ribs that concrete-shell construction suddenly opened up an exciting array of new architectural solutions to the age-old problem of providing shelter that is both economical and sound. Today, after decades of experiment and mathematical computation, concrete-shell constructions are at last coming into their own.

One of the best of the new magicians of...

Time.com on Digg

POWERED BY digg

Quotes of the Day »

DAVID CAMERON, British Prime Minister, on England's soccer manager, Fabio Capello, who resigned after challenging the FA's decision to strip John Terry of the captaincy; Terry denies a charge of racially abusing QPR's Anton Ferdinand
For use in rail of Articles page or Section Fronts pages. Duplicate and change name as necesssary to distinguish.