Supertall: How the World's Tallest Buildings Are Reshaping Our Cities and Our Lives

by Stefan Al Narrated by Mike Chamberlain

Overview

The global boom in skyscrapers-why it's happening now, how they're made, and what they do to cities and people.



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.

Editorial Reviews

John Tamny

"Fascinating and extraordinarily worthwhile."

Aaron Betsky

"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."

Paul Goldberger

"A thoughtful inquiry into the new generations of skyscrapers…There is a lot of rich history here, well and concisely told (and illustrated with superb line drawings, a refreshing change)."

Gwendolyn Wright

"Stefan Al draws on the exhilarating history of skyscrapers and his own work as an architect for some of the iconic Supertall structures that are transforming cities around the globe. He then warns us about the environmental and socioeconomic repercussions of this recent phenomenon. The result is a fascinating and necessary book."

Andrew Blum

"In Supertall, Stefan Al turns the jumbled skylines of our biggest cities into a powerful story of human possibility. Looking to both past and future, this astonishing synthesis reveals how skyscrapers have made us who we are and can help us become who we want to be."

Wall Street Journal - Anthony Paletta

"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."

Kirkus Reviews

2022-01-18
An architect and urban designer reflects on the technological innovations that have enabled the construction of “supertalls” and on the advances in urbanism that help mitigate their environmental shortcomings.

Al, the author of The Strip: Las Vegas and the Architecture of the American Dream, is highly knowledgeable about his subject, even if he is conflicted. He claims that “tall buildings are an integral part of urban living for the future” but describes supertalls—skyscrapers that exceed 300 meters in height—as “gas-guzzling Hummers on steroids” and “makers of increased inequity and societal risk.” While shorter skyscrapers “have significant environmental benefits,” buildings like the Petronas Towers in Malaysia, One57 in New York City, the Shanghai Tower, and the Burj Khalifa in Dubai (the world’s tallest building) mostly create environmental costs and “alienate people from nature.” Ostensibly made necessary by urban densities that send land values soaring, supertalls only became feasible with technological advances in structural material (especially, high-performance concrete); building shapes that dampen sway and lessen the vortexes created by high winds; safer and faster elevators that ease vertical movement; and innovations in air conditioning that compensate for inoperable windows and expansive glass facades. Technology, Al proposes, is also the solution to the environmental and urban problems generated by supertalls. Green infrastructure, mass transit, passive solar design, and zoning that allows for mixed-use districts are just a few of his recommendations. Yet, further expressing his ambivalence, the author writes, “technological progress doesn’t always lead to human progress.” Consequently, when he announces that “we are witnessing another golden age…the era of ‘supertalls,’ ” some readers may be unconvinced. Although he addresses a wide array of topics, Al could have written more about the financial feasibility of supertalls, the architectural design challenges they pose, the experiences of users, and the impacts these buildings have on surrounding residential and office markets.

An informative introduction to supertalls and the global cities where they rise above the skyline.

Product Details

BN ID:	2940176260687
Publisher:	Tantor Audio
Publication date:	04/12/2022
Edition description:	Unabridged

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