This series of essays outlines a number of case studies from Europe, North America, Australia and Asia and provides first hand accounts of the experiences that planners, architects and politicians have had in reshaping cities. These insights provide a pragmatic assessment of the challenges and constraints posed by changing patterns of urban growth in a broad spectrum of urban environments. The reader will discover, through these multiple voices and views, the diverse forms of global cities, and will have a grasp of where the debate on urban design stands today, and where it may be going in the future.

1. Hear first hand from planners and architects who have worked on some of the most challenging urban design projects
2. Gain an insight into the latest debates on urban design, including reconstruction and sustainability
3. International examples from Melbourne through Tokyo to New York provide a global perspective on the subject