The assemblage of city faces: Transnational networks, architectural projects, and urban effects

This chapter introduces the roles and contributions of technology providers as part of the expert networks behind the design of key buildings and areas in contemporary cities. I discuss specifically the link with architectural and urban designers while showing the recurrent collaboration with other experts involved in the creation of buildings and in transforming the city fabric. Drawing connections between images and representations of cities like New York, London, Paris, Frankfurt, Hong Kong, Shanghai, Sydney, and others is a simple but effective way to explore how the faces of these cities have been evolving in recent decades. This chapter intersects the broader arguments and discussions presented in this book to show that one can seek urban effects in and beyond the transnational availability of innovative technologies and technical expertise in the design and construction of selected buildings and places.