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The article presents several contemporary architectural projects designed by young architects of the Local Architecture Network (LAN). These are the Ribera Del Duero headquarters designed by Estudio Barozzi Veiga, the Tibidabo in Barcelona, Spain, the Instituto de Microcirugia Ocular designed by Josep Llinas, and the Biblioteca Sant Anton designed by RCR Aranda Pigem Vilalta Arquitectes. Also included are the Centre de Cultura Contemporanea de Barccelona designed by Albert Viaplana, and the Can Framis museum designed by Jordi Badia.

The article offers a look at life in modern Korea as represented in the 2010 Anyang Public Art Project in Seoul, South Korea and the book "Seoul Steel Life," edited by Alberto Bologna, Michele Bonino and Marco Bruno. It describes the cityscape of Seoul and it satellite towns and the way Koreans live. It examines the continued demolition and reconstruction process in Korean towns and cities that has turned city-dwellers into nomads. The article presents Korean architect Kyong Park's views of modern community life in Korea.

The article discusses several notebook design activities from the book written by Rachel Fincken and Stefano Miti that challenge student abilities and question their social awareness and test their ability to manufacture simple physical objects. The notebook exercises tackle design as a form of narrative, technical drawing and the concept of scale. Another exercise focuses on an experiment with different shapes and joins such as cut-and-slot, punch and glue.

The author criticizes the Cairo 2050 urbanization plan of the Egyptian government, which is to transform Cairo into a city modeled after Dubai in the United Arab Emirates (UAE). He discusses plans to clear areas of the city center and to protect areas of tourist and archaeological interest. Some of the changes to be made are the construction of a high-speed road network through various neighborhoods and the creation of parks by modifying the City of the Dead. The possible displacement of or deportation of people due to construction plans is discussed.

The article reports on the Torino Geodesign exhibition. It states that the exhibition has been dismantled and the design is back to those who made it up. It expresses that the crowd gathered on the official opening provided a picture of what was special about Geodesign. Involvement of everybody contributing in designing a prototype and installation of the various objects to arrive at the final stage of Geodesign has been evidenced in the high standard of the prototypes.

The article focuses on 48 design projects. The project of Jonathan Olivares is a structure designed to house the Fratìa Association waiting-room's seating in Turin, Italy while also separating the seating area from the association's offices, creating greater privacy for both. Marco Lampugnani and Antonio Scarponi have created a lightweight urban development system for the Balon neighbourhood. The Sentieri Urbani or City Paths project rethinks pedestrian crossings, so that the crosswalk is marked by decorations with new forms of visual interest.

The article presents an update on Geodesign meetings and activities. Matteo Ragni is designing a range of bathing accessories for a hammam in Via Fiocchetto in collaboration with Martini. Designer Wei Weng is collaborating with designer Francesco Gatti and Lucifero on developing means of promoting Peru as a tourist attraction. The rowers at Cerea club are working with designers, Lorenzo Damiani and Luisa Bocchietto, on devising lightweight landing stages which can be installed and removed without the aid of a crane.

The article discusses urbanism in South Africa following the 2010 International Federation of Association Football (FIFA) World Cup. Topics addressed include the design of the Constitutional Court in Pretoria, South Africa as a post-apartheid symbol, the role of race in organizing the 2010 World Cup stadium locations, and improvements to South African cities such as the Bus Rapid Transit (BRT) system in Johannesburg and architectural projects and housing developments improving city conditions.

The article discusses urbanism in South Africa following the 2010 International Federation of Association Football (FIFA) World Cup. Topics addressed include the design of the Constitutional Court in Pretoria, South Africa as a post-apartheid symbol, the role of race in organizing the 2010 World Cup stadium locations, and improvements to South African cities such as the Bus Rapid Transit (BRT) system in Johannesburg and architectural projects and housing developments improving city conditions.

An interview with a representative of Urbanus, an architectural firm in China, is presented. When asked about the employees at the firm, the interviewee stated that the firm employs less than 70 people. It has completed the design section for more than 170 projects of which 50 of them have been built or are under construction. He reveals that the firm's design-oriented philosophy is influenced by their study and work experience. He also provides an overview of the firm's Toulou project, a low-income housing prototype.

The article reports that Geodesign will be designing 41 prototypes of everyday objects to be displayed in May 2008 at PalaFuksas in Turin, Italy. It notes that representatives of 41 local communities in Turin, 41 international designers and a team of technicians from leading Italian companies operating in the furniture design sector will work together in a series of workshops.

The article announces that the Turin Geodesign Project, a partnership between the Council of Turin and Abitare, will be part of Turin 2008 World Design Capital. Starting in December 2007 selected Geodesign items from international designers will be studied and made into prototypes which will be publicly exhibited in April 2008 in Turin.

The article focuses on seminars held by the organisation Uninomade in various places in Europe. It is inferred that seminars were developed to encourage critical thinking. It is said that the seminars dealt with contemporary issues such as the metropolitan riots in 2005 or the global financial crisis in 2008. Information about the debates during the seminars could be accessed through the Web site www.globalproject.info.

The article focuses on a collective film project originated by several veteran producers and the Film Commission Regione Campania (FCRC) of Italy. The group commissioned director Paolo Sorrentino to assemble three-minute clips shot by young film-makers and talented people using every means at their disposal, including mobile telephones and the Internet. The film aims to depict the true complexity of the city of Naples and how urban spaces are put to different uses within a 24-hour timespan.

The article focuses on the magazine supplement "Yalla, Italia!" The supplement is run by Italian-born Muslims who aim to assert their right to hybridise cultural and religious identities instead of playing the role of victims. It adds that members of the supplement try to remove the assumptions about the Islamic world through their columns, reviews, articles and commentaries. It states that people behind the supplement are fighting for normality.

The article focuses on Xing, a Italian network that designs and organises events, productions and publications related to culture. The curators of Xing include Andrea Lissoni, Danielle Gasparinetti and Silvia Fanti. Netmage festival is one of the events organized by the network. Xing also manages a space called Raum in Bologna.

The article focuses on the Project 157, a design consisting of zero-energy solar lights, developed by Antonio Scarponi with Andrea Zausa for the memorial site Piazza Olivotti in Mestre, Italy. The 157 lights used in the design represents the 157 victims of modernity who died from diseases contracted while working in Petrolchimico factory of Porto Marghera. It is said that the terrestrial constellation created by Scarpino replaces traditional forms of public memory.

The article discusses the Geodesign project, wherein over forty groups of people in Turin, Italy, were found, questioned and mobilized, in order to create a link between their desires and skills and those of designers and companies. It notes that Geodesign was an opportunity to demonstrate something to an inattentive market and society. It mentions the project's political power, as the diplomatic skill that went into linking a designer and one or more companies, produced some unexpected results.

The article reports that the first Geodesign workshops were held in the city of Turin, Italy in the middle of December 2007. After the city experienced an explosion and fire in the ThyssenKrupp factory, it has been transformed into a city of culture, art and events or a city of communication. It notes that this project should aim to have an effective production of the objects, create new entrepreneurs in the business community and extend the grid of relationship underlying Turin's public sphere.

The article features designer Guta Moura Guedes and the philosophy behind her design. Together with Marco Sousa Santos, Guedes set the international platform ExperimentaDesign for the spread of architectural design and culture. This Portuguese Biennial has reportedly overtaken the Venice Architectural Biennial in terms of visitors.

An interview with urban planning professor Giovanni Caudo is presented. When asked about the impact of the economic recession on mortgage holders and those who seek to purchase a house, he cites that it is difficult to fully evaluate because one major aspect of the issue is overlooked. He explains why the credit crisis has a worse impact in the U.S. compared to Italy or other countries in Europe. He also tackles the objectives of a new law on home ownership proposed by the Italian government.

An interview with EuroMilano chief executive officer (CEO) Alessandro Pasquarelli is presented. When asked about the status of the real estate business as of 2009, he asserts that he does not observe a decline in prices of buildings under construction. He notes that 90% of the mortgages in Italy were previously in normal condition. He cites that the housing legislation of the Italian government is attempting to revive the rental market through limited profit housing.

The authors reflect on the impact of the global financial crisis on the housing and construction industries in Italy and around the world. They note that the problem in the sub-prime mortgage market is the primary factor that caused the crisis. They question whether infrastructure policies and subsidised house-building schemes offer any hope of recovery for real estate agencies. They also dispute whether the crisis is starting to reveal the defects of an urban development model.