As the speed of technological progress continues to accelerate, innovation threatens to outpace architects' and designers' working knowledge of materials, thereby limiting their applicability. In order to stay at the cutting edge of design, a knowledge of the uses, properties, and sources of new materials is essential. A sequel to the critically acclaimed and best-selling book "Transmaterial, Transmaterial 2" is a clear, concise, accessible, and carefully edited resource that provides information about the latest and most intriguing materials commercially available. Based on a compilation of Blaine Brownell's "product of the week" electronic journal, "Transmaterial 2" includes more than two hundred materials and is indexed in multiple ways for maximum convenience. An excellent ideas generator, "Transmaterial 2" is an indispensable tool for any architect or designer looking to keep up with the current trends in the field of materials.

This catalog of the most common architectural materials in our immediate environment uses photographs, structural data, physical properties, environmental concerns and application in each of the approximately 200 entries. Editor Brownell, a noted architectural journalist, divides these compounds into simple categories such as metals, concrete, mineral, wood, glass and fabric, and even offers data on digital and light-oriented applications. Contact information for manufacturers has been included in this guide, which has been designed for architects, builders and designers. Annotation ©2008 Book News, Inc., Portland, OR (booknews.com)