Böcker av Stefan Al

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.Cities around the world are racing to build the first mile-high building, stretching the limits of engineering and design as never before.In this fascinating work of urban history and design, TED resident Stefan Al-himself an experienced architect-explores the factors that have led to this worldwide boom. He reveals the marvellous and under-appreciated feats of engineering that make today's supertalls a reality, from double-decker elevators that silently move up to 50 miles per hour to the sophisticated blend of polymers and steel fibres that enables concrete to withstand 8,000 tons of pressure per square meter. Taking readers behind the scenes of the building and design of remarkable megastructures, both from the past (the Empire State Building, St. Paul's Cathedral, the Eiffel Tower) and the present (Dubai's Burj Khalifa, London's Shard, Shanghai Tower), Al demonstrates the impact of these innovations.Yet while the supertall is undoubtedly a testament to great technological victories, it can come at an environmental and social cost. Focusing on four global cities-London, New York, Hong Kong and Singapore-Al examines the risks of wealth inequality, carbon emissions and contagion that stem from supertalls. And he uncovers the latest innovations in sustainable building, from skyscrapers made of wood to tree-covered buildings, that promise to yield a better urban future.Featuring more than thirty architectural drawings, Supertall is both a fascinating exploration of our greatest accomplishments and a powerful argument for a more equitable way forward.

The transformations of the Strip--from the fake Wild West to neon signs twenty stories high to "starchitecture"--and how they mirror America itself.

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

As cities build more flood-management infrastructure to adapt to the effects of a changing climate, they must go beyond short-term flood protection and consider the long-term effects on the community, its environment, economy, and relationship with the water.Adapting Cities to Sea Level Rise, by infrastructure expert Stefan Al, introduces design responses to sea-level rise, drawing from examples around the globe. Going against standard engineering solutions, Al argues for approaches that are integrated with the public realm, nature-based, and sensitive to local conditions and the community. He features design responses to building resilience that creates new civic assets for cities.With the right solution, Al shows, sea-level rise can become an opportunity to improve our urban areas and landscapes, rather than a threat to our communities.