Essays on Thermodynamics, Architecture, and Beauty brings together arguments and designs centered on the concept of "thermodynamic beauty." It is a compendium of essays and projects, that creates a projective document able to set up new scenarios for the Architecture of the next decade. The new aesthetic category opens up novel and unexpected directions in architectural practice, connecting architecture and thermodynamics without leaving behind the tectonic tradition. The compilation of essays will be organized according to the following concepts: Somatisms, Monsters Assemblage, Verticalism, and Thermodynamic Materialism, in order to summarize design strategies and to open up new territories in building, public space, and landscape.

Iñaki Ábalos received his MArch and PhD from Madrid’s School of Architecture (ETSAM). Since 2013, he has been chair of the Department of Architecture at Harvard University’s GSD, where he has also served as the Kenzo Tange Professor, professor-in-residence, and visiting critic. Ábalos was formerly founder and director of Ábalos & Herreros (1984–2006); since 2006, he has worked as founder and director for Ábalos+Sentkiewicz Arquitectos, and, since 2001, Laboratorio de Técnicas y Paisajes Contemporáneos LTPC.  In 2009, he won the RIBA International Fellowship, and he has taught at Columbia University, the Architectural Association in London, the EPF Lausanne, Princeton University, Cornell University, and BIArch in Barcelona, Spain. His books include Le Corbusier: Skyscrapers (Madrid Town Hall, 1988), Técnica y Arquitectura (Nerea, 1992), Tower and Office (MIT Press, 2003), and Natural Artificial (EXIT, LMI, 1999).

Renata Sentkiewicz received her MS from the Cracow Polytechnic School of Architecture in 1998. Since 2012, she has served as design critic at Harvard University’s GSD, as well as founder and director of Ábalos+Sentkiewicz Arquitectos (2006–present), a member of the Zero Energy Alliance (2009–present), and a collaborator at Ábalos and Herreros (1999–present). Formerly, she has taught at BIArch in Barcelona, ETSAM, and the Laboratorio de Técnicas y Paisajes Contemporáneos. Her publications include Ábalos, Herreros, Sentkiewicz Arquitectos (Documentos de Arquitectura 63, COAA, 2007), Ábalos+Sentkiewicz Arquitectos: Thermodynamic Beauty (GG, 2011), and New Natures: High Speed Train Station in Logroño (Qestudio, 2013). In addition, she has edited Cuatro observatorios de la energía (COA Canarias, Santa Cruz de La Palma, 2007) and Campos Prototipológicos Termodinámicos (ETSAM, UPM, Madrid).