London: No 1 (World Cities S.) - Hardcover

First in the World Cities series, "London" provides an unrivalled insight into the city. It is divided into four main categories opening with "social and political background", where the history of the city is discussed with personal views on the environment and its effect. Andrew Saint, Robert Cowan, Cedric Price and David Mackay feature in this section with the proceedings of the symposium held at the Royal Academy of Arts on May 14th 1993. The second section which covers "London as it might have been", illustrates schemes which have been proposed for London over the last decade that will not be realized. The largest section of this book is "contemporary London", covering the gamut of buildings that exist within the city from private houses to social housing from bars and restaurants to large office developments. The range includes Broadgate, Canary Wharf, Quaglino's, Imagination Building and so on. The authors of these schemes range from large films to individual architects. And the final section "future London", includes projects yet to be realized but still on the drawing board and indicates the progress made by the city. A positive and inspiring outlook for the city is revealed. The volume is completed by a series of maps which indicate where all the projects mentioned can be found. This book covers comprehensively the last decade of London's architectural projects, built and unbuilt, some published here for the first time. Reference maps pinpoint all the buildings discussed throughout the book. Together, the World Cities series should offer a fascinating library of urban development.

World Cities London Edited by Kenneth Powell London is unique in its architectural approach. Despite the absence of a grand projets plan there has been an explosion of activity throughout the built environment; in less than ten years one third of the City of London has been rebuilt. An extraordinary range of buildings has been developed across the whole spectrum of architectural styles, producing diversity and vigour within a strong historical framework. The first in the World Cities series, London presents an exhaustive coverage of the projects which have captured the imagination of the public and the critics alike. It is extensively illustrated (including many specially commissioned photographs) and is divided into four main sections. The first of these covers the social and planning history of the city with essays by Andrew Saint, Robert Cowan, David Mackay, Cedric Price and the proceedings from the Academy International Forum Learning from London. London As It Might Have Been features projects which will never be realised, for example Rogers' Coin Street, Calatrava's East London Bridge and schemes for the National Gallery, offering a nostalgic look at missed opportunities, for better or for worse. London As It Is discusses the city we see today from the boom period of the Thatcherite eighties with the 'triumphalism' of newfound wealth typified by Canary Wharf. Transport, social housing, offices, restaurants, shops, night-clubs, theatres and cinemas are all included, many for the first time. London As It Will Be looks to the future. Transport is unarguably the key to London development in the next decade and the book highlights the importance of schemes such as CrossRail and the Jubilee Line Extension Project. In addition a new face to London is presented by such projects as the Royal Opera House and the Centenary Bridge. London is illustrated in all its complexity, demonstrating both its problems and its potential as one of the great cities of the world. It is to be hoped that in the nineties architecture will resume its historic role: that of an art which celebrates the finest achievements and aspirations of an age. World Cities: London is the first in a prestigious series about prominent cities of the world, stemming from the vital need to consider our urban environment in the latter part of the twentieth century. The series will present a detailed and intelligent analysis of the state of the world's cities and their visions of the future. It will examine not only the social environment and planning history of each city, but the projects that were never realised: the missed opportunities that might have created a city with a very different atmosphere. Comprehensive collections of essays, illustrations and projects representing the gamut of architectural styles give this series a unique viewpoint. Other cities to be explored within the series include: Los Angeles Berlin Tokyo New York Barcelona