Launched in May 2000, the aims of the COST C12 cooperative action were:

• to develop, combine and disseminate new technical engineering technologies
• to improve the quality of urban buildings
• to propose new technical solutions to architects and planners
• to reduce the disturbance caused by construction in urban areas and improve urban quality of life.

This volume contains the proceedings of the COST C12 final conference held in Innsbruck, Austria from January 20-22 2005. The book reflects not only the outcome of the four yearsa (TM) work of the cooperative, but also the contributions made by other international experts at the conference, focused on three broad themes: mixed building technology; structural integrity under exceptional actions; and urban design.