Sky High: Vertical Architecture »

Monuments to power and prestige; supreme achievements of engineering and design; reassuring landmarks; phallic symbols; testimonies to the human spirit—no other building form arouses as much controversy as the skyscraper, which is getting taller every day. After a century during which Chicago and New York went unchallenged as home to the world's tallest modern buildings, the crown has been snatched by Kuala Lumpur's twin Petronas Towers, soon to be trumped in turn by Shanghai. This race for the clouds obscures the profound changes taking place in the design and construction of skyscrapers; a new-generation model is energy-efficient, radically designed, and an essential component of sustainable urban design.This striking book accompanies renowned architect Norman Foster's selection of the most exciting current and future skyscraper projects. Chris Abel examines the cultural and technological changes behind the emergence of this new breed of tall building. The illustrations include drawings, models, and plans.

Author Bio: Chris Abel is an internationally known architecture writer and educator. He is a principal contributor to a definitive series of monographs on the complete works of Norman Foster.