Providing a new insight into twentieth-century architecture, this is the first book in English on the work of French architect Fernand Pouillon (1912-1986). It includes Jacques Lucans analysis of his post-war urbanism and its critique of mainstream modernism, a description of material construction by Adam Caruso, and a text by Pouillon himself reflecting on the contemporary architects position in a cultural continuum. At the books heart lie survey drawings and photographs of Pouillons key Parisian housing projects.

Fernand Pouillon was an architect, urban planner, building contractor, teacher, publisherand writer - his novel Les pierres sauvages is a worldwide bestseller. Jacques Lucan is an architect, historian and architectural critic, and Professor at EPFLausanne and EAVT (Marne-la-Vallé). His great interest lies in 20th-century and contemporary urban issues. Adam Caruso studied architecture at McGill University in Montreal. He worked for Florian Beigel and Arup Associates before establishing his own practice with Peter St John in London,1990 and Zurich, 2010. He holds a Chair of Architecture and Construction at ETH Zurich. Helen Thomas studied architecture at Liverpool University and has a PhD in Art History and Theory from the University of Essex. She has worked as an editor and educator at the Victoria & Albert Museum, Phaidon Press and London Metropolitan University.