International Exhibitions and Urbanism

This book provides an insightful and comprehensive historical review of international exhibitions, in its first half, which is then illustrated with a thorough technical analysis of the Zaragoza 2008 project, in its second half. The first section offers a comparative analysis of nearly 50 events which took place over the past 150 years, as well as exploring the relationships with urbanism from a planning perspective: the debate about international exhibitions, their ephemeral or permanent impact; their importance as opportunities for strategic planning; and, their alleged reinforcement of urban narcissism, capitalistic consumerism and 'spectacularization'. The second part is devoted to the Zaragoza project for the 2007 Exposition. After giving contextual (historical and demographic) information, the Expo's master plan and building projects are then described. The treatment of the planning and environmental strategies underpinning this event is consistent with the criteria and methodology used for analysing the past events examined in the first part of his book, but it is also enriched by the first-hand information to which the author has access as one of the event's organizers.