Since the 2006 publication of his best-selling first volume of Transmaterial, author Blaine Brownell has become the undisputed master of new materials, inspiring architects and designers looking to transform the structure, spaces, and surfaces of their projects with the latest high-tech and environmentally friendly products. The third volume in the critically acclaimed series presents over two hundred emergent materials, products, and systems that have significant potential to transform the constructed world. Transmaterial 3 provides a broad synopsis of the state of technological advances in materials today with a special emphasis on new developments in the field of biopolymers and various agriculturally derived products; biomimetic products, systems, and processes that seek toemulate natural examples including low-embodied-energy and biochemically manufactured products; "grown" materials;nanoscale marvels; renewable energy technologies; "second-life" materials derived from repurposed waste; and responsive, interactive, and transformational digital interfaces that harness pervasive communication networks and are powered by low-energy illumination sources. An excellent ideas generator, Transmaterial 3 is an indispensable tool for any architect or designer looking to keep up with the current trends in the field of materials.
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"Those in need for materials inspiration, Blaine Brownell just announced the publication of `A Catalog of Materials that Redefine our Physical Environment', also known as Transmaterial 3. The third volume of the Transmaterial series features over 200 emergent materials, products, and systems that have significant potential to transform the constructed world. Within the fast moving world of materials, we consider Transmaterial 3 a good way for architects and designers to keep up with the current trends in the field of materials. For an impression of the book and some fresh materials - checkout the recently updated website at transmaterial.net which offers a free newsletter with weekly materials." --Core77: Design Magazine & Resource
"Transmaterial 3 just came out! If you are not familiar with this series, you should definitely pick one up. A great resource and inspirational guide to all kinds of innovative materials, techniques and applications." --Because We Can
"Now in its third edition the physical manifestation of the popular Transmaterialwebblog has recently been released by the publisher and is now available at your book outlet of choice. Mine arrived from Amazon Monday (to my surprise, I pre-ordered and completely lost track of time)." --Cleveland Design City
"With more than 200 materials, organized by category, described, pictured, and annotated with technical and sourcing information, this catalog is an essential tool for any architect or designer interested in keeping up with the rapid developments in the field of materials, looking for a source of inspiration of their designs, or just eager to get their hands on real materials in an effort to understand the incredibly innovative palette now available to us." --MAC International, February 2010
"Transmaterial 3 just came out! If you are not familiar with this series, you should definitely pick one up. A great resource and inspirational guide to all kinds of innovative materials, techniques and applications." --Because We Can
"Now in its third edition the physical manifestation of the popular Transmaterialwebblog has recently been released by the publisher and is now available at your book outlet of choice. Mine arrived from Amazon Monday (to my surprise, I pre-ordered and completely lost track of time)." --Cleveland Design City
"With more than 200 materials, organized by category, described, pictured, and annotated with technical and sourcing information, this catalog is an essential tool for any architect or designer interested in keeping up with the rapid developments in the field of materials, looking for a source of inspiration of their designs, or just eager to get their hands on real materials in an effort to understand the incredibly innovative palette now available to us." --MAC International, February 2010
About the Author
Blaine Brownell is an architect, sustainable building advisor, and material researcher. He is the founder and director of the design/research firm Transstudio, and has taught at the University of Michigan and the University of Minnesota. He was selected for a 2006 "40 Under 40" award by Building Design & Construction magazine, and was the recipient of a Fulbright fellowship to Japan for 2006-2007, during which time he researched contemporary Japanese material innovations at the Tokyo University of Science.
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More About the Author
Blaine Brownell is an architect, author, educator, and former Fulbright scholar. He earned a B.A. in Architecture with a Certificate in East Asian Studies at Princeton University in 1992, and a Master in Architecture from Rice University in 1998. He worked with Yung-Ho Chang, Mark Wamble, and NBBJ before establishing the design/research practice Transstudio, which focuses on disruptive material applications and emergent environmental building strategies. Brownell is considered one of the preeminent scholars of advanced materials for architecture and design, having authored the Transmaterial series with Princeton Architectural Press (2006-2010), in addition to an online material catalog that has been likened to "a 21st Century version of The Grammar of Ornament." Brownell has been published in over forty design, business, and science journals, and has lectured widely in North America, Europe, and Japan. He was selected for a "40 Under 40" award by Building Design & Construction magazine in 2006, and Transmaterial was nominated for an International Book Award by the Royal Institute of British Architects in 2007. Brownell was a visiting research fellow at the Tokyo University of Science as a Fulbright recipient (2006-07), and has taught at the University of Michigan (2007-08) and the University of Minnesota (2008-present).
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3 of 3 people found the following review helpful
By D. Steel
Format:Paperback|Amazon Verified Purchase
The latest edition of the Transmaterial series does not depart from the style or content of the two previous volumes - if you like them, you will enjoy this one. As before, new materials and applications of those materials are organized by material type in one-page summaries. I enjoy this approach, and enjoy the fact that I never know what I'll find on the next page.
Two minor criticisms of this approach - the Transmaterial series does not differentiate between "starting materials" that are a fundamental part of something built, and "finished goods" which are commercial applications of many different parts. Sometimes this book feels like a reference guide, and sometimes like a product catalog. I'd like to see materials broken down by the degree of "rawness" vs. finished polish.
A second minor criticism is that the author solicits product submissions for consideration for inclusion in the book. While his judgement is very good, I find that several companies have multiple entries in the book in which the core technology is identical in several different "market ready" products. This reflects that innovative companies find multiple uses for their technology, all of which are original and imaginative. Still, this gives the book the feel that it is disporportionately weighting certain companies - perhaps unwittingly favoring them. It's a subtle bias that I don't object to, but I'd like to bring it to attention.
I hope the author continues the work and play evident in this volume, and in the future expands to touch on more of the "unsung heros" of the material world.
Two minor criticisms of this approach - the Transmaterial series does not differentiate between "starting materials" that are a fundamental part of something built, and "finished goods" which are commercial applications of many different parts. Sometimes this book feels like a reference guide, and sometimes like a product catalog. I'd like to see materials broken down by the degree of "rawness" vs. finished polish.
A second minor criticism is that the author solicits product submissions for consideration for inclusion in the book. While his judgement is very good, I find that several companies have multiple entries in the book in which the core technology is identical in several different "market ready" products. This reflects that innovative companies find multiple uses for their technology, all of which are original and imaginative. Still, this gives the book the feel that it is disporportionately weighting certain companies - perhaps unwittingly favoring them. It's a subtle bias that I don't object to, but I'd like to bring it to attention.
I hope the author continues the work and play evident in this volume, and in the future expands to touch on more of the "unsung heros" of the material world.
By C Carbonell
Format:Paperback|Amazon Verified Purchase
I love exploring and discovering new materials and prototypes! This book is an amazing intro to the great potential we have to create, innovate and transform our very lives...
Format:Paperback|Amazon Verified Purchase
Loved it . I have Transmaterial one and two and look forward to the next. This is a very useful book as I am a designer and reference this often.
0 of 1 people found the following review helpful
By N. Stolting
Format:Paperback|Amazon Verified Purchase
This is the third edition of Transmaterial and we are happy to own so far all of them. It gives a brief insight of architectural research and materiality with a lot of chance for actual use on projects. We so much appreciate Blaine Brownell's work who I got to know once personally - a true intellectual with a strong vision. Go on, Blaine, and give us more of this!
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