King’s Cross: The Making of a Masterplan

This book provides the most accurate and most complete account of the evolution of King’s Cross Central, 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 and together they describe how and why King’s Cross Central came about.

Beginning by setting out King’s Cross’s rich and complex history, the book then provides fascinating insights from the main protagonists, from initial concept, based on an innovative mixed-use approach based on ten guiding principles which set out the ‘human city’; through its evolution with various stakeholders involved; the complex negotiations regarding planning, conservation and financing; to the development and creation of the public spaces and landscapes and the selection of individual architects and buildings which, together with the renovation of historical buildings, has created King’s Cross’s unique and successful character.

Throughout, it is generously illustrated with historic photos and maps, drawings and diagrams, photographs recording the construction phase and specially commissioned graphics summarising key data and images of the site today.