Rural regions and their local architecture receive far too little attention. This book aims to change that. The variety of realized projects shows the hidden potential of these areas and how architecture can contribute to a good life in the countryside. The projects presented here include homes, workshops, agricultural buildings, village stores, wineries, hotels, museums, chapels, sports facilities or public buildings. The geographical focus is on Germany, Austria and Switzerland, with individual projects from Europe also included. By highlighting selected regions and places, the book illustrates the overall changes in different area - whether through shrinkage or growth. This attractive volume is enhanced by essays on the realization process of projects, on important building types, on infrastructure, and on what can be learned from building in the countryside. The catalog portrays 65 projects by numerous renowned architecture offices, including Bernardo Bader Architekten, Gion A. Caminada, Peter Haimerl, Jan Roesler Architekten and Andy Senn Architekt.

Bicycles as a means of transport in cities are playing an ever more important role. The reasons are: reduction of motorcar traffic, sustainable traffic planning, reduction of noise and exhaust emissions, enhancement of the value of public space, healthier form of transport, savings potential in national health services and infrastructure expenditure. The book illustrates urban design ideas and architectural projects which go far beyond purely redesigning road layouts; its eight essays focus on the trend in urban design, landscape design, and traffic planning, it introduces nine exemplary bicycle traffic concepts in various cities (Barcelona, Copenhagen, New York, and Oslo amongst others), and presents 28 forward-looking individual bicycle infrastructure projects.