King's Cross Central is one of Europe's most successful, and most significant, urban regeneration projects. It is already the subject of considerable international interest, attracting the attention of planners, politicians and urban designers both at home and abroad. The four authors of this book all played key roles in the development of the project - either as masterplanner or client - and here they provide the most accurate and most complete account of the evolution of the project, describing how and why King's Cross Central came about. Kings Cross's rich and complex history is first set out in an excellent chapter by urban historian Dave Hill. the book then provides fascinating and useful insights from the main protagonists, from the initial concept, based on an innovative mixed-use approach based on ten guiding principles which combine to set out the 'human city'; to the evolution of various stakeholders involved in the development; the complexities and innovations in the negotiations regarding planning and conservation and the financing; through to the development and creation of the public spaces and landscaping and the creative selection of individual architects and buildings which, together with the renovation of historical buildings creates Kings Cross's unique and successful character. Throughout, it is generously illustrated with historic photos and maps, drawings and diagrams produced during the design process, photographs recording the construction phase, specially commissioned graphics summarising key data and images of the site today.
