Through a series of essays by urban historians and designers, "Two Squares" examines the changing role of public space in the cities of Beirut and Istanbul as they undergo major urban redevelopment.

The study of Beirut looks at the redesign of Martyrs' Square, the city's primary public space, in the aftermath of the civil war and the ongoing reconstruction efforts to rebuild the center.

In Istanbul, the focus is on Sirkeci Square, one of the main intermodal hubs in the historic peninsula, as it readies itself to host a new station for the first under-Bosphorus train tunnel.

The...