Giveaway: Engineered Transparency
by Harry / June 3, 2009

"Glass is both a substance and an ideology." - Francois Roche

Words to write a book by and Engineered Transparency: The Technical, Visual, and Spatial Effects of Glass is the book. This one is for the architects, as it concerns itself primarily with glass as a building material and cultural phenomena. "Engineered Transparency brings together an extraordinary multidisciplinary group of international architects engineers manufacturers and critics to collectively reconsider glass within the context of recent engineering and structural achievements. In light of these advancements glass has reemerged as a novel architectural material offering new and previously unimaginable modes of visual pleasure and spatial experience."

Projects featured include SANAA's Glass Pavilion at the Toledo Museum of Art, Yoshio Taniguchi's MoMA expansion in New York City and Steven Holl's Nelson-Atkins Museum in Kansas City. With contributions by noted thinkers in the field of architecture and design including historians Kenneth Frampton Antoine Picon and Detlef Mertins; cultural critics Beatriz Colomina Joan Ockman and Reinhold Martin; engineers Werner Sobek Guy Nordenson and Richard Tomasetti; and architects Kazuyo Sejima, Steven Holl and Elizabeth Diller. "Engineered Transparency redefines glass as a 21st century building material and challenges our assumptions about its aesthetic structural and spatial potential."

And it could be yours, we're giving away our copy of the book. We will randomly select a commenter or twitterer on Friday and send them the book. Please leave a comment here with what you see right now outside your window. It's available at Amazon for $40.95 where you can also Look Inside.

UPDATE: @_plasmo_ in Melbourne, AUS is the random pick - she gets the Engineered Transparency book. Thanks to all who replied and commented! And special thanks to Princeton Architectural Press who will also be sending a copy to Architecture for Humanity.


Pine: Colorado pines, pine siding, pine fencing and pine trim. The overcast sky above the furthest roof and tree top is the yin to a gradual rock-covered slope at the base of the closest building. The front tires and grill of a Toyota X-runner appears to be flirting with me as it peaks out from behind the furthest pine structure. The truck's attempt to fit in with the scenery, with it's pewter and silver hues, creates a smug look on my face as I'm thinking, "give me a break gas guzzler." The scene is quiet, still, patiently waiting for the clouds to break in rain or sun. Ah, there. There's a gradual wind stirring the scene. And the Guzzler has a twinkle on it's hood. It's another still life moment here in Breckenridge.

Anita Prins / June 3, 2009 at 5:52 PM / Flag

Downtown Chicago illuminated by the late afternoon sunlight.

brad / June 3, 2009 at 6:27 PM / Flag

I see a pile of shale tiles and a pool in rainy weather. Cheers!

Jonathan Crisman / June 3, 2009 at 6:33 PM / Flag

I NEED this book!

BPLewis / June 3, 2009 at 6:42 PM / Flag

sun shining on cars
full lot of dirty windshields
faded parking lines

V / June 3, 2009 at 6:51 PM / Flag

a hummingbird feeder gently rocking on a branch, and a mourning dove pecking the ground for thistle seeds that the finches dropped.

Diane S / June 3, 2009 at 8:24 PM / Flag

Whoa! im in the process of designing my new home.. i simply MUST have this book.. inspiration and imitation is the greatest for of flattery and i want my new domain to be eco friendly and visually non invasive.

what a fantastic book to draw inspiration from.

Jono / June 3, 2009 at 8:28 PM / Flag

a dirty glass roof, tree, grey sky

damian / June 3, 2009 at 8:45 PM / Flag

torrential rain and bodega lights

rob / June 3, 2009 at 9:32 PM / Flag

i see the new melbourne rectangular stadium in construction together with the cloudy blue sky, just like out of the simpsons cartoon episode.

Wendy Lee / June 3, 2009 at 9:39 PM / Flag

I see Chevron's number 2 refinery in El Segundo, CA with the Pacific Ocean behind it.

Evan Thomas / June 3, 2009 at 10:10 PM / Flag

Parked cars glowing pale under sodium vapor lamps.

slr / June 4, 2009 at 4:53 AM / Flag

In Bandung, the sky is grey with heavy cloud hanging above. However the afternoon sunlight still manage to get through my window. The sunlight enhances the colour of red flowers that grow spontaneusly on my neigbour brick wall.

(The cover is so fabulous, reflecting on the glass. All of the project inside are all my favorite. This book is to die for.)

medina / June 4, 2009 at 5:07 AM / Flag

top of a really beautiful stone wall, with tree in the background

V / June 4, 2009 at 6:17 AM / Flag

a grocery store, diner, hardware store, japanese bakery, and chinese restaurant but mostly just the leafy green leaves of a large tree

AMT / June 4, 2009 at 7:38 AM / Flag

Right now I'm surrounded by walls without windows....if I were at home though, I'd look out and see lots of trees and blue sky, birds fluttering in the morning dew and the sun just starting to reach the top branches.

Carrie / June 4, 2009 at 7:53 AM / Flag

really my email and name alone should garner sumthin'

reformed hairshirt modernist / June 4, 2009 at 8:50 AM / Flag

the book

nur / June 4, 2009 at 8:55 AM / Flag

sea and an ugly guy.

yok / June 4, 2009 at 8:58 AM / Flag

A bunch of trees, a church, and an empty highway.

Rashid / June 4, 2009 at 9:23 AM / Flag

Abandoned business across the street, graffiti, dreary rainy sky. Blah.

Kyle / June 4, 2009 at 10:40 AM / Flag

The furious, ceaseless ingestion of grass and bugs by the family of geese who have taken up residence in the yard. The five babies are beginning to lose their fuzz, beginning to figure out what their still-featherless wings are for. In the meantime, they eat and eat and eat. And, of course, put a lot of stuff out the other end.

Eric / June 4, 2009 at 12:45 PM / Flag

Outside my window is the stuccoed blank wall of a row house next door.

lindsey k / June 4, 2009 at 3:05 PM / Flag

midday cloudy gray skies of a typical Edmonton Spring, the first sign of budding leaves dancing just above the second story window, set against a backdrop of highrise buildings. and muddy reflections.

Carla / June 4, 2009 at 3:28 PM / Flag

Some pine trees that have just got their bright green new needles, the sunset is lighting up everything with an orange tinge. The hills and mountains in the background with a few little white spots (sheep) moving around. the sky is blue gradually turning orange. its been a great day so far.

kieran Molloy / June 4, 2009 at 4:03 PM / Flag

A world of opportunity and an open gate.

howman / June 4, 2009 at 6:08 PM / Flag

Almost burnt out barely green grass, sun, birds, dogs frolicking and playing with the tssht tssht tsshting of the sprinkler. A crow watches eerily as if waiting for the night.

Rey / June 4, 2009 at 7:49 PM / Flag

me myself and my book :F

fecsx / June 5, 2009 at 1:52 AM / Flag

visible and non-visible borders for transparant architecture.

mattias / June 5, 2009 at 5:11 AM / Flag

I can see a lilac bush that I need to go out and cut off the dead flowers.

rsgrandinetti@yahoo.com

Renee G / June 5, 2009 at 10:11 PM / Flag

Give me the book. I want it.

CWEarl / June 5, 2009 at 11:19 PM / Flag

just myself behind my monitor. it's dark outside, so my window is a mirror..

andré / June 6, 2009 at 4:57 PM / Flag

A wall of buildings and, far to the right, islands, and a lighthouse.

Matthew / June 8, 2009 at 8:53 AM / Flag

a path leading to who knows where. . .

sharon bakos / June 8, 2009 at 10:24 AM / Flag

Would like to study "Engineered Transparency" in order to be able to give
any comments about it.

Rui Sousa / June 8, 2009 at 11:06 AM / Flag

I am an unpaid intern working at a full scale design magazine that incorporates architecture-interiors-fashion and more into one binding. I do not have a window to look through from my desk, but would certainly be looking outside if I could.

Eleanor / June 8, 2009 at 11:28 AM / Flag

My neighbours, a really great garden and an apartment building.

Jamie / June 8, 2009 at 7:20 PM / Flag

an empty pool, due to repairs.

Matt L / June 11, 2009 at 3:32 PM / Flag

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