James Carpenter is an artist and sculptor whose work focuses on developing new glass and material technologies. His interest in architecture has evolved into a unique design practice that ranges from technical glass and materials consulting to designing curtain walls, roofing systems, bridges, and sculptures. In James Carpenter: Environmental Refractions, the artist's first monograph, author Sandro Marpillero explores the unique opportunities afforded by the transparency, reflectivity, and compressive strength of glass. With over 300 images, this book brings to light the work of an exciting designer crossing the boundaries between architecture, engineering, and fine arts. James Carpenter Design Associates, founded in 1978, has worked collaboratively with preeminent architects and engineers in the United States and abroad including Norman Foster, Richard Meier, SOM, and Michael Van Valkenburgh creating the artistic complement to many significant buildings. James Carpenter, in collaboration with Hellmuth, Obata + Kassabaum, have been chosen to design and build an undulating glass dome for the new Penn Station.

Sandro Marpillero is an associate professor at Columbia University in New York. Born in Italy, he is an architect and writes regularly for the architecture journals A + U, Casabella, Rassegna, and Lotus International.