"A fundamental change is currently taking place in society: for the first time, half the world's population lives in urban areas. In this context, London and Tokyo provide interesting case studies for investigating the problems raised by living in a continually growing city. By examining the work of Ryue Nishizawa in Tokyo and Stephen Taylor in Lomlon, we may observe that the notion of a progressive homogenization of living conditions in the world's great cities is only an apparent phenomenon. The profound cultural differences that exist between these centres - reflecting different interpretations of the idea of proximity, privacy, and the relationship between inhabitants - inevitably inform the development of their projects and, consequently, the ways in which a community lives together. Taylor and Nishizawa have developed new ideas for living born of their respective cultures. Their innovative residential designs challenge conventional norms and offer approaches that simultaneously shape the life of the resilient and the face of the city."--Jacket.