Supertall
How the World's Tallest Buildings Are Reshaping Our Cities and Our Lives
Published on 31. May 2022
Book
Hardback
320 pages
978-1-324-00641-1 (ISBN)
Description
We are living in a new urban age and its most tangible expression is the "supertall": megastructures that are dramatically bigger, higher, and more ambitious than any in history. In Supertall, TED Resident Stefan Al-himself an experienced architect who has worked on some of the largest buildings in the world-reveals the advancements in engineering, design, and data science that have led to this worldwide boom.
Using examples from the past (the Empire State Building, St. Paul's Cathedral, the Eiffel Tower) and present (Dubai's Burj Khalifa, London's Shard, Shanghai Tower), he describes how the most remarkable skyscrapers have been designed and built. He explores the ingenious technological innovations-in cement, wind resistance, elevator design, and air-conditioning-that make the latest megastructures a reality. And he examines the risks of wealth inequality, carbon emissions, and contagion they yield while arguing for a more sustainable, resilient, and equitable built environment for everyone.
Using examples from the past (the Empire State Building, St. Paul's Cathedral, the Eiffel Tower) and present (Dubai's Burj Khalifa, London's Shard, Shanghai Tower), he describes how the most remarkable skyscrapers have been designed and built. He explores the ingenious technological innovations-in cement, wind resistance, elevator design, and air-conditioning-that make the latest megastructures a reality. And he examines the risks of wealth inequality, carbon emissions, and contagion they yield while arguing for a more sustainable, resilient, and equitable built environment for everyone.
Reviews / Votes
"Lighter concrete, faster elevators, and even faster-growing cities are part of the formula architect Stefan Al lays out in this foundational book. Rather than describing the latest supertall skyscrapers, he shows us what makes them possible and why cities and companies think they are necessary. Mixing personal experience, history lessons, and explanations of technology that are clear and simple, Al's book shows how and why a new generation of skyscrapers is now under construction around the world." -- Aaron Betsky, author of Architecture Matters "Stefan Al's Supertall is a thoughtful inquiry into the new generation of skyscrapers, which are taller and more ubiquitous than their predecessors... There is a lot of rich history here, well and concisely told (and illustrated with superb line drawings, a refreshing change from the big, splashy photographs of coffee-table books)." -- Paul Goldberger - New York Times Book Review "The sheer volume of calculation required to build and keep [supertalls] aloft and functioning is astounding. Al...explains these esoteric technical challenges in lucid fashion...[T]he story of what's come about in the age of the supertall is gripping." -- Anthony Paletta - The Wall Street JournalMore details
Language
English
Place of publication
New York
United States
Illustrations
40 black-and-white line drawings
Dimensions
Height: 239 mm
Width: 163 mm
Thickness: 28 mm
Weight
555 gr
ISBN-13
978-1-324-00641-1 (9781324006411)
Copyright in bibliographic data and cover images is held by Nielsen Book Services Limited or by the publishers or by their respective licensors: all rights reserved.
Schweitzer Classification
Other editions
Additional editions
E-Book
04/2022
W. W. Norton & Company
€16.49
Available for download
Person
Stefan Al, a licensed architect who holds a PhD in urban planning from the University of California, Berkeley, is the author of Supertall and The Strip, among other works. Originally from the Netherlands, he now lives with his family in a 100-year-old house in New Jersey.