In terms of urban design, Kees Christiaanse is one of the most influential forces of the past half century. He is responsible for major urban projects such as Hamburg HafenCity, the revitalisation of the Rotterdam banks and the Olympic Legacy Plan in London. The Textbook covers 30 years of his thinking about cities.

The subjects of the collected texts range from charting the personal influence of the bicycle on his thinking about future mobility to the examination of dominant concepts and projects in the contemporary built environment. Christiaanse’s sketches, personal notebook pages, and watercolours complement this unique collection.

Kees Christiaanse, has written a large number of books and essays on architecture and urbanism and has received a several prestigious awards including the lifetime award '2016 RIBA International Fellowship' for his contribution to architecture, the 'ARC17 Oeuvre Award' for his lasting and innovative contribution to the improvement of the built environment and the 'ULI Leadership Award 2018' for his exceptional commitment and bravery with which he has campaigned for sustainable urban development and a better quality of life in German cities.