Transstudio

If there were any doubt about the viability of the tall building after the 9/11 attacks, it no longer exists. Five skyscrapers surpassing the 415- and 417-meter core heights of the original World Trade Center towers have been constructed since 2001, including the Burj Khalifa, which, at a breathtaking 828 meters, is presently the world’s [...]

In order to surmise the extent of a problem, a little homework is typically required. In the case of material resources, for example, it is common knowledge that material consumption and disposal can have far-reaching environmental, social, and economic consequences. But it is difficult to comprehend the full repercussions of material use, given the complexity [...]

The magnitude 9.0 earthquake and resulting tsunami and nuclear disaster that hit Japan last March created an unthinkable tragedy that devastated Japan’s northern Tohoku region. According to the Japanese National Police Agency, the triple-sided cataclysm killed more than 15,000 people, displacing some 100,000 children, and caused tens of billions of US dollars in damage. Although [...]

Synthetic materials play increasingly complex roles in prosthetic applications. In a recent paper published in the Journal of Biomedical Materials Research, a team from Brown University describes its development of a process to modify the surface of titanium leg implants to accelerate skin-cell growth.

Japanese approaches to light have long fascinated Western audiences. Novelist Junichiro Tanizaki’s 1933 book In Praise of Shadows articulated the unique qualities of Japanese light found within the shadowy recesses of traditional Japanese dwellings. Tanizaki claimed that the Japanese approach to illumination prioritized subtlety, smoothness, and depth—in contrast with the West’s stark treatment of light. In [...]

Fabric is one of the oldest materials humans have used for shelter; it remains an important material with diverse applications in design and construction today, and it will play an even more important role in the constructed environment in the future. Predictions of energy scarcity and resource depletion, exacerbated by the burgeoning middle class in [...]

The massive tornadoes that hit the southern U.S. this spring left more than ruined neighborhoods in their wake. Questions about climate change have resurfaced, as has speculation about how to prepare for future disasters. The frequency and severity of natural disasters is sound cause for concern. “By now, most people get that you can’t attribute [...]

The low cost and durability of plastic has made it a popular choice for disposable materials. Plastic’s ability to be easily molded into complex shapes has also been a critical factor to its success. Plastic does not withstand impact fracture well, however, so its structural capabilities are limited. For applications that require greater resilience, metal [...]

A future of diminishing petroleum resources will serve as a stark contrast with our generous oil-based diet today. A nonrenewable resource with limited reserves accessible with today’s technology and facing accelerated global demand, oil will continue to become more expensive in the long-term—it’s simply a question of how much and when. For a glimpse into [...]

Verity Magdalino’s interview with Blaine Brownell appeared in London-based Stylus magazine on April 14, 2011. Entitled “Conversations on Material: Blaine Brownell with Japanese Architects and Designers,” the interview focuses on Brownell’s book Matter in the Floating World, published by Princeton Architectural Press in 2011.