After two decades of evolution and transformation, Londonhad become one of the most open and cosmopolitan cities in theworld. The success of the 2012 Olympics set a high water-mark inthe visible success of the city, while its influence andsoft power increased in the global systems of trade, capital,culture, knowledge, and communications.
The Making of a World City: London 1991 - 2021 sets out inclear detail both the catalysts that have enabled London to succeedand also the qualities and underlying values that are at play:London's openness and self-confidence, its inventiveness,influence, and its entrepreneurial zeal. London's organic,unplanned, incremental character, without a ruling design code orguiding master plan, proves to be more flexible than any plannedcity can be.
Cities are high on national and regional agendas as we all tryto understand the impact of global urbanisation and there-urbanisation of the developed world. If we can explainLondon's successes and her remaining challenges, we canunlock a better understanding of how cities succeed.
Greg Clark
Architecture Architektur Bauentwurf Building Design Business & Management Immobilien u. Grundbesitz London Property & Real Estate Stadtentwicklung Urban Development Wirtschaft u. Management
"The Making of a World City: London 1991 to 2021, byleading global cities expert and Centre for London Associate GregClark, which is published this month, seeks to remedy this byconsidering how London got where it is today, and setting out thechallenges still facing us." (Centre for London,10 December 2014)
The future of cities depends on their resilience. London -messy, unplanned, organic and ungovernable - has become amodel of global city resilience. Anyone interested inunderstanding the complexity of cities should read thisbook.--Ricky Burdett, Professor of Urban Studies, LondonSchool of Economics, Director, LSE Cities and Urban Age
In The Making of a World City: London 1991 to 2021 Greg Clarkdraws on over 25 years of experience working within London policyand economic development organisations, and on interviews witharound 100 leading thinkers about the past, present and future ofLondon, including commentators and leaders in New York, Tokyo, HongKong, Paris, Singapore, and São Paulo.--ProfessorRosemary Scanlon, Dean, Shack Institute of Real Estate, New YorkUniversity
London has captured the world's imagination as a centerfor financial, business, cultural, and social development. GregClark has drawn on his own vast experience and that of leadingexperts to write a must-read assessment one of the world'smost important cities.--Michael J. Enright, Sun Hung KaiProfessor, University of Hong Kong
The emerging world cities need to know the secrets and thechallenges of London, New York, Paris and Tokyo. This books helpsus to see London from the inside out, and it explains very clearlyhow London became a leading world city.--Professor MiguelBucalem, Director, Centre for Cities, University of SaoPaulo
London's rebirth as a leading World City is indeed a majorstrategic achievement. Greg Clark's remarkable and positive accountof this story gives food for thought to other global cities, suchas Paris, who are following a different -less businessfocused and more citizen oriented- path.--PaulLecroart, Senior Urban Planner, Paris Region Planning Agency (IAUîdf)
Moscow's role as a global hub of business and finance isevolving in ways which understand that culture, higher education,and international promotion are critical ingredients for success.The London story, as told by Greg Clark, reinforces these messagesand shows how former Imperial Cities can become great world citiesin the modern age.--Professor Andrei Sharonov, Dean,Skolkovo Business School, Former Deputy Mayor of Moscow, Chairmanof Moscow Urban Forum
As Barcelona continues on its path towards to being a globalcity in Europe, lessons from London become increasingly moreinteresting and relevant. This book reveals London's formulafor global success in ways which educate andentertain.--Mateu Hernandez, CEO, Barcelona Global
In this book Greg Clark tells the remarkable story of how Londonreinvented itself over the past quarter century, making it, alongwith New York, one of the world's two leading centers of commerce,finance, communications and innovation.--Professor BobYaro, President, Regional Plan Association of New York
Clark tells a fascinating story - how on old and seemingly tiredglobal city got a new lease of life - extremely well.--BenRogers, Director, Centre for London.
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