Throughout the 20th century, there were periods when there was urgent demand for housing to accommodate the rapidly increasing population (or rebuilt following wars). Driven primarily by the need to provide housing as cheaply and efficiently as possible, the ideas developed by the early Modernists have informed housing schemes worldwide. Today, in the context of a very different urban landscape, architects optimistic about high-density living are revisiting these seminal designs as they seek to develop their own solutions to our current housing crisis. Chronologically ordered, this book provides a unique survey of over 80 seminal housing projects from across Europe which were constructed during the 20th century. Together with concise contextual history and analysis, each housing study includes carefully redrawn context plan, plans and sections (some also include elevations) which are presented in a way that makes them readily comparable. Beginning with Parker & Unwin’s Hampstead Garden Suburb (1907), case studies include Garnier’s La Cité des États-Unis; Fisker’s Hornbaekhus; Oud’s De Kiefhoek; Taut and Wagner’s Hufeisensiedlung; Ehn’s Karl Marx Hof; the Werkbundsiedlung Neubühl and Siedlung Siemensstadt; Lubetkin’s Highpoint; Aalto’s Sunila factory housing; Le Corbusier’s Unité d'Habitation; Jacobsen’s Alléhusene; Moretti’s Complesso in Corso Italia; Markelius’s – Vällingby; Távora’s Ramalde; Rietveld’s Vlashof and Klaverhof; Atelier 5’s Siedlung Halen; Utzon’s Kingo Houses; Stirling & Gowan’s Avenham; Ungers’ Neue Stadt; Brown’s Alexandra Road and Medina; Rossi’s Monte Amiatagio; Bofill’s Walden-7; Fiorentino’s Nuovo Corviale; Siza Vieira’s Bouça; de Portzamparc and La Quinta da Malagueira; the IBA Rauchstrasse; Valle’s Giudecca; Nouvel’s Nemausus; de las Casas’ Alcobendas; OMA’s Chassé Park; West 8’s De Whale; through to MVRDV’s Silodam and Herzog & de Meuron’s Rue des Suisses.

"DASH" 9 focuses on the objectives and outcomes of housing exhibitions, which have had a significant impact on the development of twentieth-century residential architecture. An interview with Barry Bergdoll examines the sculpture garden at The Museum of Modern Art, New York.

This issue of "DASH" examines the history and the future of the sustainable home, with particular attention to technical issues such as solar energy and ventilation and material-use concepts. Essays and planning documentation provide a critical analysis of the current state of affairs as well as an exploration of possibilities for the future.

What prompts architects, at any given moment in history and in any given culture, to return to the architectural past for inspiration? "Dash 06: Living in a New Past" investigates, in essays by Nelson Mota, Dirk Baalman, Wolfgang Voigt, Jeroen Schilt and Dick van Gameren and in project studies.