States of architecture in the twenty-first century : new directions from the Shanghai World Expo / Rodolphe el-Khoury & Andrew Payne ; photographs by Nic Lehoux.

Captures the extraordinary architectural event known as the Expo 2010 Shanghai which is the most ambitious World Expo todate. The said event boasts a remarkable collection of pavillions that reperesent the ambitions of individual nations as well as a collective vision for cities in the new millenium. Together these buildings constitute a cross-section of contemporary trends by some of the world's leading architects, showcasing a full spectrum of cutting-edge technology, building materials and design sensibilities. The thorough documentation includes detailed photographic records and plans of the various architectural features and of the public spaces and landscapes that bind them into aunique environment. The accompanying text situates the event in a longstanding tradition of international exhibitions while underscoring the particular geographic,cultural and political aspects of contemporary China that shape the Shanghai Expo and its guiding theme "Better City-Better Life".