Throughout the history of the built environment there has been no more significant endeavor than the construction of houses of worship, which were once the focal point around which civilizations and city-states developed. Constructing the Ineffable is the first book to examine this topic across continents and from the perspective of multiple faiths, including Christianity, Judaism, Islam, and Baha'i. It addresses how sacred buildings such as churches, mosques, synagogues, and memorials are viewed in the context of contemporary architecture and religious practice. Featuring more than a dozen essays by a broad range of leading international architects, historians, and theologians, Constructing the Ineffable offers a fundamental exploration of defining and understanding contemporary sacred spaces. This thought-provoking book also invites readers to consider the powerful influence of religion on civic life and to discuss the role that design and construction play in religious buildings. Distributed for the Yale School of Architecture

An illuminating study of the architecture of one of the 20th century’s most important tropical modernists Vladimir Ossipoff (1907–1998), known as the “master of Hawaiian architecture,� was at the forefront of the postwar phenomenon known as tropical modernism. Although he practiced at a time of rapid growth and social change in Hawai`i, Ossipoff criticized large-scale development and advocated environmentally sensitive designs, developing a distinctive form of architecture appropriate to the lush topography, microclimates, and vernacular traditions of the Hawaiian islands.   This stunning book, now available for the first time in paperback, surveys Ossipoff’s buildings, which demonstrate a striking interplay of indoor and outdoor space, as well as a vibrant and glamorous architectural style that has proven delightfully particular to its place and durable over time. Published in association with the Honolulu Museum of Art Exhibition Schedule: Honolulu Academy of Arts, Hawaii (November 29, 2007 – January 27, 2008) Yale School of Architecture, New Haven (Fall 2008) Deutsches Architekturmuseum, Frankfurt (Spring 2009)