Customer Reviews

Transmaterial: A Catalog of Materials That Redefine our Physical Environment

5 star:		(9)
4 star:		(8)
3 star:		(1)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(2)

 

 

As a profession, architects and designers are obsessed with understanding and appreciating materials. When materials are better understood and better utilized, architects and designers typically produce better projects.

Recent innovations in material technology, design and use have come to the forefront of architectural design and have begun to question the very way in which we fabricate our built environments.

Blaine Brownell's recent book Transmaterial looks exclusively at recent material innovation in an attempt to "redefine our physical environment". Based upon Brownell's email digests and website of the same name, Transmaterial is a materials reference book subdivided into sections with material images, descriptions, and contact information for the products. The format is easily accessible, and the content is concise. Due to its ease of use and readability, the palette of materials available to the reader/designer/architect encourages current and future project introspection.

For example, why use just basic concrete when you could use translucent concrete instead? How about utilizing a collapsible, reusable textile brick system in lieu of a traditional stud and drywall partition for a project? The possibilities for integrating different, new, and innovative techniques are endless for almost any design project.

As evidence of the book's success, Brownell has already begun work on a follow-up to Transmaterial as more materials or innovations become readily available.

A resource such as Transmaterial provides more than just innovative materials for our use, but encourages potential for innovation for the environments that architects and designers create. While materials are a component of the overall design, the importance of their appropriate or innovative use is what can make or break a project. Transmaterial is the icebreaker to the typical office discussion of project materials as it proposes an alternate dialogue that is appropriate and desperately needed.

As a book, Transmaterial is limited in providing up-to-date material listings. Thus, the original email digests and website remain critical to Transmaterial's success.

While initially informative, Transmaterial lacks the necessary research and information in regards to material advantages and disadvantages, installation techniques and issues, and information relative to material costs. All of these factors need to be researched further for a respective project before they can be utilized for a project.

While Transmaterial begins a decent discussion for innovative materials that may be used for projects, it is up to architects and designers to take it upon themselves to carry on the discussion.

Although some of the items listed seem to be artist's projects that are in no way commercialized or buyable, this book is a treasure of inspiration and a good catalogue of new technologies.
It can make your project come true. I don't know how often it is put out, but I can imagine that it is very quickly outdated.

introductory book on materials. catalouge basically! no precise details. just brief information about surfaces

Not bad informations in it because it covers so wide range of architectural materials, but its depth of knowledge is rather shallow.

It might be good for a reference when you need something new but there's no special derection on it.

A wide variety of materials and its properties for you to use. Very practical.

I love this book! This is a great resource for anyone who works in a creative industry. It's not only a beautifully designed masterpiece, but it successfully brings the worlds of technology, materials, and design together in an easy to understand, helpful and above all else, inspirational and fun way. A must-have resource.

As an architecture student, I found this book to be quite useful in studio courses. Materiality is something students often struggle with, and this book opens up boundaries (as well as including some more conventional choices). For schools stressing sustainability, this book becomes an even more useful tool.

Transmaterial is a succinct review of new materials. The graphic layout makes finding new materials very easy. It is the only source book I would pick up and just flip through because it is full of quality photographs and readable summaries of the material. Transmaterial simplifies the process of material research.

This book is a thorough and interesting compilation of green materials for a wide variety of uses. I highly recommend!

I bought this book long time ago and it proved to be a great choice. Whenever I need an unusual and/or sustainable material I go back to this book!