The Transformation of Great European Cities

Across Europe, cities are redefining urban development by placing quality of life at its centre. In The Transformation of Great European Cities , Martin Aarts examines how public investment, governance strategies and spatial planning contribute to more liveable, resilient environments.

Drawing on contributions from professionals and experts in Barcelona, Paris, Rotterdam, Copenhagen, Berlin, Vienna and Milan, it moves beyond familiar narratives to foreground local perspectives and lived experience. Climate change and biodiversity loss provide the broader context, shaping an evolving urban condition in which collaboration between residents, businesses and public institutions becomes essential.

Written from a perspective informed by years of public service in Rotterdam, the book follows the people, projects and ideas transforming metropolitan regions today. It also offers a thorough account of how European cities are negotiating long-term change.

Martin Aarts has published numerous articles and books, mainly on the reinvention of Rotterdam. From 1984 to 2004 he was an urban planner involved in the redevelopment of Rotterdam’s city centre. He subsequently served as head of the Urban Development Department (2004-2017), where he was responsible for shaping the future of the city and the region. Martin teaches at the Academy of Architecture in Rotterdam and Amsterdam.

The Transformation of Great European Cities posits that the city – both as a complex organism and as a level of governance – may represent the most effective scale at which to initiate these necessary changes. - Floris Alkemade