Hidden joints: Emil Mörsch’s Reinforced Concrete Factory and Le Corbusier’s Maison Dom-ino

The article delves into the origins and technical implications of the Maison Dom-ino project, exploring the underlying principles that shaped its design. The architectural qualities of Maison Dom-ino’s minimum unit lie in its proportional relationships and construction system, influenced by Engineer Emil Mörsch’s seminal work. Mörsch’s book, Der EisenbetonBau, provided insights about the continuous beam and expansion joint, which significantly influenced the Dom-ino project. The article analyzes Mörsch’s text and graphic representation. The article explores the influence of Mörsch’s Daimler factory on Maison Dom-ino’s structural configuration, particularly the setback columns, highlighting differences such as the flush floor-slab and the omission of haunches. These differences stem from the patent’s objective of separating the functions of load-bearing structure and lightweight partitions. By shifting the focus from formal similarity to equivalent static arrangement, the article unveils the deeper implications of the patent. It explores the poetic and architectural convictions underlying Jeanneret’s dedication to the project, emphasizing the quest for a system that integrates the formal and proportional system with the structural and constructional elements. Ultimately, the Maison Dom-ino represents a synthesis of the visible architectural aspects with the non-visible, technical ones, reflecting the essence of reinforced concrete as a material.