Because urban architecture does not generally enjoy the luxury of unlimited space and natural light, architects and designers face the challenge of creating spaces that are both functional and attractive. These works, by Gad, Kitayama, Foba and others, display particular ingenuity in resolving unique constraints. Where natural light is scarce, one architect opts for a translucent roof of stretched fabric; another for vertical light shafts; height restrictions are overcome by a sunken ground floor and limited space is enhanced by the construction of an external stairwell.

Urban architecture does not generally enjoy the luxury of unlimited space and natural light. The projects in this collection, featuring work from the studios of GAD, Kitayama, FOBA and others, display particular ingenuity in resolving the unique constraints with which each was faced.