I was disappointed with this book. It seems the author's desire for glossy photos overwhelmed the critical analysis and description of the passive technologies. Too often, I was enamoured with the photos, and left guessing about the method. The main subject of the book, eco-tech and high technology, are superficially described in the intro, and barely touched upon in the "case studies." Consequently this book becomes yet another photo-architecture book on the already overcrowded coffee table. This book does not do justice to the complexity of the passive systems used in the buildings it features and at best could serve as a pictoral supplement to other more descriptive texts.

very immportant issue indeed, but i would have thought that a more thorough text, with richer details on each project outlined will be more suitable. i mean this is't a fancy archi movement, it is an exploding concept, which deserved a more detailed book, each project leavs you so thirsty cause it wasn't covered enough and the aim of selecting them as examples of the title wasn't really clearly demonstrated, so at the end you are more woundering than satisfied. but why the 4 stars then? well, the outline, the fantastic photos, the projects themselves. i would really wish that the authors would come up with a part 2 or something.

although a few of the projects seem out of place, the layout,concise reviews and images are of the highest quality. foster,rogers and piano steal the show.there are some lesser known architects too, which give the book and the ''eco-tech'' movement a nice balance.splendid drawings by the architects as well, including a few early hand scetches.great book, great photography,great price.