Books in the Architecture in Focus series

Although convention and conference centers are in high demand, the competition is tough, so fresh concepts are constantly being developed. They come in a range of forms, shapes, sizes and contexts. They can form part of a hotel, an airport, a skyscraper, a mountain-chalet or stand completely on their own. This title deals with this topic.

Compiles designs worldwide that break through the stereotype of doctors practices as cold and often stressful environments. This title includes projects that intend at balancing medical technology and functionality with the need to create a welcoming and comfortable environment for the patients, visitors and staff.

Showcases 60 of the most outstanding innovations worldwide in the field of kindergarten. This title covers: Kindergarten in Sighartstein, Austria (Kadawittfeldarchitektur); Els Colors Kindergarten in Barcelona, Spain (RCR Architectes); Taka Tuka Land in Berlin, Germany (Baupiloten); Bubbletecture M in Shiga, Japan (Shuhei Endo); and, more.

The evolution from yesterday's bathroom to todays wellness oasis continues to open new frontiers. With its international selection of projects, this title represents the spectrum ranging from small and intimate baths to wide open spa landscapes, all with their own invitation to immerse, relax and let go.

In 2009, plans by New York mayor Michael Bloomberg to transform part of Broadway including Times Square into a pedestrian area caused a sensation, not just in the city but internationally. Based on a careful selection of projects, this volume presents the functional and design variety of these popular urban spaces.

Buildings for the police, fire brigades and ambulance stations have lost their often purely functional and shed-like appearance and have begun to strive for recognition as an equitable architectural typology since Zaha Hadids trailblazing Vitra fire station in Weil am Rhein. This title shows the diversity of emergency architecture.

Pharmacies constitute a special form of commercial architecture. This title features examples that show the design sophistication with which pharmacies, from a functional as well as atmospheric standpoint, set themselves apart from the historical chemists shelves and the competitors.

Parking garages and gas stations as species of architecture and showrooms whose exhibition spaces and display windows are markedly different from the usual businesses have decisively changed the cities. This book is dedicated to this type of architecture, showing esthetic and technical solutions of the past few years.

Street furniture is the secret star of urban outdoor design. Benches, fountains, street lamps, rubbish bins, post boxes, tourist information signs, bus stops and public toilets are items that reoccur in various urban spaces. This book features 100 examples of contemporary street furniture.

Serving as gateways to the cities, train stations were the important urban building developments at the turn of the 20th century. One century later this building mission is experiencing a fascinating renaissance. On a world-wide basis, facilities are emerging that need to fulfill various functions very often they have to serve as shopping malls.

Public urban spaces vary widely in type, form and size, encompassing plazas, squares and streetscapes. This volume features projects from various continents, showing the different approaches and solutions to this sophisticated design task at the intersection of architecture, landscape design and urban planning.