Despite the exaggerated news of the untimely 'death of the detail'by Greg Lynn, the architectural detail is now more lifelike andactive than ever before. In this era of digital design andproduction technologies, new materials, parametrics, buildinginformation modeling (BIM), augmented realities and thenano-bio-information-computation consilience, the detail is now anincreasingly vital force in architecture. Though such digitallydesigned and produced details are diminishing in size to themolecular and nano levels, they are increasingly becoming morecomplex, multi-functional, high performance and self-replicating.Far from being a non-essential and final finish, this new type ofhighly evolved high-tech detail is rapidly becoming theindispensable and critical core, the (sometimes iconic) DNA of aninnovative new species of built environmental form that is spawningin scale and prominence, across product, interior, urban andlandscape design. This issue of AD re-examines the history,theories and design of the world’s most significant spatialdetails, and explores their innovative potentials and possibilitiesfor the future of architecture. Contributors include: Rachel Armstrong, Nic Clear, EdwardFord, Dennis Shelden, Skylar Tibbits. Featured architects: Ben van Berkel, Hernan Diaz Alonso,Peter Macapia, Carlo Ratti, Philippe Rahm, Patrik Schumacher, NeilSpiller.

The founder of Architizer.com and practicing architect draws on his unique position at the crossroads of architecture and social media to highlight 100 important buildings that embody the future of architecture. We’re asking more of architecture than ever before; the response will define our future. A pavilion made from paper. A building that eats smog. An inflatable concert hall. A research lab that can walk through snow. We’re entering a new age in architecture—one where we expect our buildings to deliver far more than just shelter. We want buildings that inspire us while helping the environment; buildings that delight our senses while serving the needs of a community; buildings made possible both by new technology and repurposed materials. Like an architectural cabinet of wonders, this book collects the most innovative buildings of today and tomorrow. The buildings hail from all seven continents (to say nothing of other planets), offering a truly global perspective on what lies ahead. Each page captures the soaring confidence, the thoughtful intelligence, the space-age wonder, and at times the sheer whimsy of the world’s most inspired buildings—and the questions they provoke: Can a building breathe? Can a skyscraper be built in a day? Can we 3D-print a house? Can we live on the moon? Filled with gorgeous imagery and witty insight, this book is an essential and delightful guide to the future being built around us—a future that matters more, and to more of us, than ever.

Today no architect would deny that the greatest single challenge facing the profession and the most exciting opportunity it has ever faced is to reconstruct the delicate balance between human life and the health of the ecosystems we depend on. This volume presents some of the most imaginative, creative and exuberant solutions for a greener future from architects from all over the world, from both established and up-and-coming practices. Architecture for a Green Future, bursting with inspirational ideas, is an unmissable volume for practising architects, designers, students and the visionaries of tomorrow.

"On the occasion of its 150th anniversary, the American Institute of Architects asked more than 70 contributors to examine the complex and evolving of the America's architects in shaping our cities and communities. Through essays, vignettes, and profiles, illustrated with more than 560 photographs, Architecture provides a look at the breath and depth of the architecture profession and points to the significant contributions architects have made in all aspects of society. Most important, the book demonstrates the value of applying "architectural thinking" to the many serious issues - from global warming and homeland security to accessibility and diversity - facing our world today."--BOOK JACKET.

There is no denying the transformational role of the computer in the evolution of contemporary architectural practice. But does this techno-determinist account tell the whole story? Are humans becoming irrelevant to the overall development of the built environment? Bulding (in) the Future confronts these important questions by examining the fundamental human relationships that characterize contemporary design and construction. Thirty-four contributors including designers, engineers, fabricators, contractors, construction managers, planners, and scholars examine how contemporary practices of production are reshaping the design/construction process

The Future of Modular Architecture presents an unprecedented proposal for mass-customized mid- and high-rise modular housing that can be manufactured and distributed on a global scale. Advocating for the adoption of open-source design based on a new modular standard, the book shows how the construction industry and architectural practice may soon be radically reshaped. By leveraging the existing intermodal freight transport system, global supply chains can be harnessed to realize the long-held promise that housing will be a well-designed and affordable industrial product. We are on the cusp of a transformative change in the way we design and build our cities. Author David Wallance argues that modular architecture is profoundly intertwined with globalization, equitable urbanism, and sustainable development. His book addresses these timely issues through a specific approach grounded in fundamental concepts. Going beyond the individual modular building, Wallance forecasts the emergence of a new type of design, manufacturing, and construction enterprise. Written in an approachable style with illustrated examples, the book is a must read for professionals in architecture and design, city planning, construction, real estate, as well as the general reader with an interest in these topics.