Unified Design by Arup Associates and Paul Brislin

The book exemplifies Arup Associates vision of the state of architecture, as demonstrated by current and future projects of the practice. It is divided into three sections: an explanation of unified design; a demonstration of the sustainable agenda that is a the heart of this practice, and a complementary series of essays by respected commentators outside of the practice that place the vision of people-focused design in the context of other critical social thought. The content of the book is a straightforward, critical reflection on contemporary architecture - a manifesto of sorts, polemical in parts, philosophical; and determined to set an honest agenda. The objective is to have a straight-talking, hands-on quality: this is the strength of the book, and its attraction for readers.