This is the first book to examine the development of the town hall during the twentieth century and the way in which these civic buildings have responded to the dramatic political, social and architectural changes which took place during the period. Following an overview of the history of the town hall as a building type, it examines the key themes, variations and lessons which emerged during the twentieth century. This is followed by 20 case studies from around the world which include plans, sections and full-colour illustrations. Each of the case studies examines the town hall's procurement, the selection of its architect and the building design, and critically analyses its success and contribution to the type's development. The case studies include:
Copenhagen Town Hall, Denmark, Martin Nyrop
Stockholm City Hall, Sweden, Ragnar Ostberg
Hilversum Town Hall, the Netherlands, Willem M. Dudok
Walthamstow Town Hall, Britain, Philip Dalton Hepworth
Oslo Town Hall, Norway, Arnstein Arneberg and Magnus Poulsson
Casa del Fascio, Como, Italy, Guiseppe Terragni
Aarhus Town Hall, Denmark, Arne Jacobsen with Eric Moller
Saynatsalo Town Hall, Finland, Alvar Aalto
Kurashiki City Hall, Japan, Kenzo Tange
Toronto City Hall, Canada, Viljo Revell
Boston City Hall, USA, Kallmann, McKinnell and Knowles
Dallas City Hall, USA, IM Pei
Mississauga City Hall, Canada, Ed Jones and Michael Kirkland
Borgoricco Town Hall, Italy, Aldo Rossi
Reykjavik City Hall, Iceland, Studio Granda
Valdelaguna Town Hall, Spain, Victor Lopez Cotelo and Carlos Puente Fernandez
The Hague City Hall, the Netherlands, Richard Meier
Iragna Town Hall, Switzerland, Raffaele Cavadini
Murcia City Hall, Spain, Jose Rafael Moneo
London City Hall, UK, Norman Foster