Quality, durability and beauty - these are the attributes that have given metal ist great appeal. No other material develops so many different facets in the application. Whether in the form of "skin and bones" or as a high-tech façade, brilliant constructions always bring the quality of metal into focus.
Richly illustrated, Magic Metal features outstanding projects by world-famous architects and innovative work by younger designers. It focuses on modern high-tech buildings in aluminium and steel as well as on new ways of using and presenting classical materials such as copper and zinc.
Physically, black is defined as an (almost) complete absorption of all frequencies of light; it describes the impression of color when visual stimuli are missing. In many cultural contexts of the past and present, this "uncolored" color holds a special place: regardless of context, this special color is always met with great respect.
This is also true for the current and intense interaction of architects and designers with the color black. Black buildings seem majestic, filled with a special aura, and dominant, but they can also emphasize their surroundings precisely because of their lack of color. The projects presented in this volume show the great variety of approaches by the contemporary building culture to this fascinating physical and cultural phenomenon
