Architectural, Individual Architects & Firms, History, Regional, Criticism, France 

Recalling the genesis of one of the most ambitious architectural and social challenges in recent history, this volume explores the derelict slaughterhouse of La Villette, located in the former notoriously rough sector of northern Paris. The record demonstrates how this location became the unlikely focal point of every major architecture firm in the world when the Paris city council decided to finance a major makeover. Featuring exclusive interviews with the likes of Christian de Portzamparc and Rem Koolhaas, the study offers numerous illustrations, making it ideal for architecture lovers while also appealing to the socially-conscious interested in learning how a slum became a major cultural venue. A brilliant and unusual essay about architecture at its best, this survey is also a powerful political statement unafraid to tackle the burning issue of urban wastelands and how to give them a revitalized future. - from Amzon