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 marvelous and
underappreciated 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 fibers 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.
