Challenge
The impetus for the Transmaterial series came from experience selecting materials in architectural practice. I recognized the disparity between the perceived importance of material innovation and the lack of practical knowledge and resources needed to accomplish this goal. I felt compelled to provide an alternative to the purely commerce-driven literature populating office and school resource libraries—what Christoph Grunenberg calls “the anesthetizing stream of bland, monocultural products”—by presenting only materials with significant potential to enable innovative design outcomes.
Strategy
Transmaterial delivers critical information about new materials to architects and designers who seek to transform the structure, spaces, and surfaces of their projects with the latest high-tech and environmentally friendly products. Each volume in the critically acclaimed series presents approximately two hundred emergent materials, products, and systems that have significant potential to transform the constructed world. The Transmaterial series provides a broad synopsis of the state of technological advances in contemporary materials such as smart materials, renewable energy technologies, and repurposed waste.
Impact
The Transmaterial series has been received positively by both academic and practicing architectural communities. The first book was the recipient of an international book award nomination by the Royal Institute of British Architects in 2007 and sold over 20,000 copies in its first four years—necessitating a reprint and prompting the publication of the second and third volumes. Together, Transmaterial 1, 2, and 3 have been reviewed in over 25 journals and have sold nearly 38,000 copies.
Award
International Book Award Nomination, 2007, Royal Institute of British Architects, London, UK (Transmaterial)
Copies Sold
37,823
Selected Reviews
“Truly innovative… Transmaterial will be of interest to all involved in the design arts who seek a greater understanding of emerging materials and to all who are committed to expanding the traditional classifications of materials within the building industry.”—Journal of Architectural Education
“From fully recyclable architectural resin panels to self-cleaning glass, Blaine Brownell has pretty much seen it all when it comes to sustainable building materials.”—Building Design & Construction
“(Transmaterial) identifies products that make a difference—aesthetically, environmentally, socially, and, yes, structurally.”—Architect
“From concrete that absorbs carbon dioxide to scratch-and-sniff wallpaper, the innovations compiled in this book are transformative, multi-functional and ultra-performing… The pages that fill Transmaterial cover 10 categories in the conversational yet informative tone of a material fanatic.”—Azure
“Show(s) potential for replacing some standard materials by providing better performance while not harming the planet as much.” —Engineering News Record
“Its exciting because it absolutely is the right idea.” —The Bulletin
“An illustrated compendium of environmentally friendly materials.”—The Kansas City Star
“Avoids obsolescence by structuring itself around categories configured to provide architects some breathing room in the under-appreciated realm of new materials… Transmaterial is useful as a materials book for the architect who would never think of leaving such matters to a consultant, but instead would rather dive into the research directly.” —Architectural Record
“The definitive compilation for discovering the materials that are reshaping our world. A must-have for designers of all walks… From concrete to mineral, metal to wood, plastic to glass, our material futures are bound to be lighter and brighter, thanks to this book.”—Res
“Fulbright-winning architect Blaine Brownell brings the material world to the virtual, blogging about innovative building materials at Transstudio.com. His book… is a catalog and exploration of some 200 global eco-techno hybrids, an emerging field that has the attention of designers and scientists alike.” —Fast Company
“Through his research, his writing, and his design, architect Blaine Brownell is changing the profession’s awareness of building products and materials.”—Architectural Lighting
“Colorful and stimulating, and you don’t have to be an architect or even a home improvement enthusiast to appreciate it… There is endless inspiration here.” —New Scientist
“This is a treasure for material enthusiasts.” —International Design
“The book is not the kind that’ll stay pristine for long. It’s not a coffee table book. It’s not a flip-through-and-look-through-the-pictures-type book. It’s not even a bookshelf kind of book. (The author) says ‘It should be like a portable, very accessible travel guide that you would carry with you… This book is going to be on a designer’s desk, and it’s going to have pages folded and marked.’”—Daily Journal of Commerce
“If you think you’ve seen it all when it comes to concrete construction, then you haven’t sat down with Blaine Brownell.” —Building Design & Construction
“The third volume of the Transmaterial series features over 200 emergent materials, products, and systems that have significant potential to transform the constructed world. Within the fast moving world of materials, we consider Transmaterial 3 a good way for architects and designers to keep up with the current trends in the field of materials.” —Core77
“This catalog is an essential tool for any architect or designer interested in keeping up with the rapid developments in the field of materials, looking for a source of inspiration of their designs, or just eager to get their hands on real materials in an effort to understand the incredibly innovative palette now available to us.”—MAC International
“Transmaterial 3 just came out! If you are not familiar with this series, you should definitely pick one up. A great resource and inspirational guide to all kinds of innovative materials, techniques and applications.” —Because We Can
