This volume discusses star architecture in a Western European context, and addresses how star architecture projects can be better studied and understood as social constructs that influence the dynamics of urban transformation in order to analyze issues related with heritage preservation, tourism and media. The book describes the impacts of star architecture through the interaction among multiple actors that influence the characteristics of the projects, and argues that the process and implementation of projects into meaningful parts of cities are not the product of star architects alone. In fifteen chapters, the book presents a multidisciplinary collection of expert contributions in the fields of urban planning, architecture, media studies, urban economics, geography, and sociology. The book begins by discussing star architecture in and across European cities as a socio-material construct, then addresses the costs and implications of projects that have been implemented in old cities. The second half of the book presents and analyzes the multidimensional effects of star architectural design, including the resulting social and media narratives. The volume concludes by assessing the place of star architecture in academia, and future research implications that may be useful to urban decision makers. The book will be of interest to architects, sociologists, urban planners, location development promoters, and public administrators.weiterlesen