Books in the Architectural Design series

A lively, thought-provoking exploration of the contemporary regeneration of London Plans to regenerate East London and transform the capital are integral to the vision of the London 2012 Olympic and Paralympic Games.

In this latest issue of Architectural Design the guest editors are drawn, like the content, from contrasting tastes and generations. Charles Jencks, the definer of Post-Modernism for thirty years, discusses some issues that have re-emerged today, while the young group of British architects, FAT, argues for a particular version of RPM.

Envisioning a positive future through design 2050: Designing Our Tomorrow describes the ways in which architecture and design can engage with the key drivers of change and provide affirmative aspirations for a not-so distant future.

Latin America at the Crossroads explores current urban design strategies within the historic urban context as Latin America stands on the precipice of globalization, and the opportunity to once again undergo major change.

Transgression will explore the idea that those working on and beyond the architectural periphery can make a positive impact on the mainstream.

Given the rapid evolution of concepts such as smart cities, who are the architects riding the wave of new possibilities for urban design? How do contemporary agencies find pathways to understand the challenges and opportunities presented by evolving urban technology, and how does architecture engage with the expanding pool of associated disciplines? How should schools of architecture and urban design engage with radical digitalised urbanism?This issue of AD claims that this is contested territory. The two-dimensionality of planners' urban construct is as limited as engineers' predilection to zero-in and solve problems. Urban Futures contends that society needs a much broader professional brush than has been applied in the past: interdisciplinary urban design professionals who can reach across the philosophy and mundanity of urban existence with a creative eye. The issue identifies a selection of internally resourceful visionaries who combine sociology, geography, logistics and systems theory with the practical realities and challenges of mobility, sustainable materials, food, water and energy supply, and waste disposal. Crucially, they seek to ensure better urban futures, and a civil and convivial urban experience for all city dwellers.Contributors: Refik Anadol, Philip Belesky, Shajay Bhooshan, Jane Burry and Marcus White, Thomas Daniell, Vicente Guallart, Shan He, Wanyu He, Dan Hill, Justyna Karakiewicz, Tom Kvan, Areti Markopoulou, Ed Parham, Carlo Ratti, Ferran Sagarra, and Bige Tunçer.Featured architects: Arup Digital Studio, Guallart Architects, Space10, Space Syntax, UNStudio, and XKool Technology.

Practical, technical and topical, this new title from Architectural Design brings together contributions on all aspects of housing around the world: from design solutions to the focus on technical and cultural approaches to affordable innovation in housing design Housing for the people.

Digital Cities looks at the impact of digital technologies on the design and analysis of cities, and how they might be used to help architects and designers operate at the urban scale, and design cities in a new way. Brings together work from established designers and theorists with work from emerging young talent and exciting new voices.

This book studies the social, political, and practical implications of the architectural celebrations for the Millennium worldwide. It investigates why the event is seen as an excuse for regeneration and revitalization of the built environment.

The illusive and uncertain world of translating ideas into matter is a negotiation between the ideal and the real and a central preoccupation of architectural production. By invading the toolbox of digital fabrication, design has transgressed into protocols of manufacturing previously the domain of other disciplines and skills sets.

China is undergoing a process of unprecedented urbanisation, with cities often being built from scratch in just three to five years. It is projected that 400 new cities will be built over the next 20 years with newly urbanised populations of over 240 million.