Many cities in the developed world are facing a housing crisis — rising homelessness, unaffordable rents, younger generations excluded from buying homes. Dreams of decent homes and neighbourly communities are squeezed by the pressures of property values. Rowan Moore presents solutions drawn from contemporary Europe and post-war history and shows the role that architecture can play in creating new — and better — places to live.

Rowan Moore is the architecture critic of The Observer. His writing appears regularly in the Guardian newspaper.

Moore’s most recent book is Property, the Myth that Built the World published by Faber in 2023. Previous books include Slow Burn City (Picador 2016) which explores the unprecedented transformations of London in the 21st century. Why We Build (Picador 2012) received the international Bruno Zevi Book Award.

Moore was formerly director of the Architecture Foundation, architecture critic of the Evening Standard, and editor of Blueprint magazine. His awards include Critic of the Year at the UK Press Awards.

Moore studied architecture at the University of Cambridge. He is a Doctor of Civil Law (Honoris Causa) at the University of East Anglia and an Honorary Fellow of the Royal Institute of British Architects.

Rowan Moore can be followed on Twitter: @rowanmoore