European office buildings -- office building design and national context

Author: (Dutch) Vermeer, translated by Li Chunqing et al.
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Features: Office buildings are the symbols of the global knowledge economy today. They dominate contemporary cities and accommodate more than half of the working population. However, we still know little about the various influences that shape office buildings. Why have office buildings developed into their current state? This book clearly explains that office building design is not merely a transformation of technical and functional requirements. It conducts a comparative study of office building designs in five European countries, revealing that local urban context, market conditions, labor-management relations, cultural norms, and regulatory standards all have significant impacts on office buildings. The book discusses a series of key issues in office building design, ranging from virtual office buildings to high-rise structures. It selects more than 40 exemplary cases from five countries—Britain, Germany, Sweden, Italy, and the Netherlands. For international architects and owners seeking to design successful office buildings, this book also serves as a guide.