Contemporary House

There is no one way to design a modern urban house. Demand for space in cities the world over is higher than ever and new buildings must meet stringent energy saving requirements and negotiate a myriad planning regulations. But the best new urban architecture suggests invention and innovation are as critical as ever. The Contemporary House brings together seventy solutions, drawn from cities around the globe to explore the many ways in which architecture can enhance the experience of living in the city. Organized geographically, The Contemporary House offers a fascinating insight into the sheer variety of contemporary approaches to urban design, from reinventions of longstanding vernacular forms like terraces and townhouses, through to the fastchanging suburbs and inner cities of modern Japan, where the short lifespan of family houses provides architects with a template for aesthetic and technical experimentation. The book also provides an insight into the conditions that shape the architecture of some of the world’s major cities, through recent history, signature styles, and current conditions on the ground. The Contemporary House is an essential guide to design in the modern city.

'An in-depth insight into the factors that influence the design of the world’s major cities' - Sunday Business Post, 'A fascinating insight into 21st-century urban life' - House & Garden

Jonathan Bell is an Editor-at-Large at Wallpaper* magazine. He is also the author and editor of nine books, including Carchitecture, The 21st Century House, Penthouse Living and The Modern House. Ellie Stathaki is Architecture Editor at Wallpaper* magazine. She trained as an architect at the Aristotle University of Thessaloniki and studied architectural history at the Bartlett in London. She is the co-author of The New Modern House: Redefining Functionalism and Todd Saunders: Architecture in Northern Landscapes.