This text focuses on cities as the dominant form of human settlement for the future, examining the transformation that is happening in urban connobations worldwide today. The last few decades have seen a rate of change and growth in cities that has never been seen before, resulting in giant metropoles with over twenty million inhabitants. This book tackles the causes of these changes, and looks at how the planning and design of cities can shape the urban future.

This volume mixes the experience of particular urban places with a more general discourse about the nature of urbanism today. Well-known urbanists are asked to look at 16 cities around the world and the different ways they are changing and discuss their vision for the future. Interleaved throughout the book, are short theoretical pieces on issues relating to urban change written by leading urban theorists, offering a series of critical perspectives. This book links practical examples and theory through its highly accessible visual and writing style. It provides a stimulating source of ideas...