Summary

Skins for Buildings is a visual atlas featuring 200 of the most important types of surface materials used in contemporary architecture. It illustrates the visual and sensory impact of each of these different types of material in individual, large-format color photographs which could be considered virtual samples. Accompanying each sample are striking photographs of finished buildings that showcase the various ways in which leading international architects have put the materials to use. Materials featured have been divided into 8 families of Wood, Natural Stone, Fired Man-made Stone, Unfired Man-made Stone, Metal, Plastic, Glass and New Materials, and within each family there is an inventory to pure materials, additives and composites.