Michelle Provoost

Hugh Maaskant

Today considered the godfather and forerunner of a generation that includes Adriaan Geuze, Rem Koolhas, Winy Maas and Willem Jan Neutelings, Hugh Maaskant (1907-1977) was underappreciated for many years. Maaskant led the postwar reconstruction of Rotterdam, designing revolutionary, complex, large-scale buildings, such as the Groothandelsgebouw and Euromast, as well as the Amsterdam Hilton Hotel and the Scheveningen Pier in The Hague. In Hugh Maaskant: Architect of Progress, historian and Maaskant scholar Michelle Provoost orients the architect in an international as well as historical perspective, recounting his work in the context of the optimistic reconstruction of the postwar period as well as the exciting developments of the 1960s and Holland's increasing prosperity throughout that decade. The book features both historical and recent photographs, including a series taken especially for this edition by internationally renowned architectural photographer Iwan Baan.

Architect of Progress

Rachel Keeton

Africa's population and economic growth make it the world's fastest urbanizing continent. While some might still associate Africa with rural development, the future of Africa is, in fact, very urban. This urbanization is a huge challenge in areas with fragile institutional frameworks and chronic poverty. Many migrants moving to the city end up in self-organized settlements without basic services. One alternative is being offered by developers and investors who have designed and built new towns in Africa that are modelled after Asian and American cities. But is this really a proper alternative? Does one size fit all?00'Urban Africa' brings together authors from various academic, political and design backgrounds; as well as case studies on new towns in, amongst others Ghana, Egypt, South Africa, Angola, Morocco and Kenya. In this way, the book provides a critical narrative about contemporary 'Urban Africa' and the western world's role - if any - in the radical transformations happening today.

A History and a Manual

To Build a City in Africa

Cor Wagenaar

Kristin Feireiss

Twenty reporters, architects, town planners travelled Europe looking for icons of public happiness; architecture and town planning to promote public happiness. The public domain as a medium embody promises for a beter future, that point towards ideal, or idealized, ways for people to live in a community. The book focuses on Europe after 1945 and the results from the town planners, historians and sociologists are presented in the form of a travel guide.

Michelle Provoost

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