The fourteen critical essays included in the book explore the work of architects who have significantly interpreted the layering of history and memory in the contemporary context: Paulo David, Marcio Kogan, Cristián Undurraga, Jonathan Sergison and Stephen Bates, Kengo Kuma, Solano Benítez, Angelo Bucci, Ángela García de Paredes and Ignacio Pedrosa, Níall McLaughlin, João Nunes, Rafael Moneo, Sean Godsell, Paulo Mendes da Rocha, Diébedo Francis Kéré.
The volume aims at critically reflecting on the work of these protagonists of the international architecture culture, who have lectured within the Mantovarchitettura programme and fostered the debate between professional experience and university teaching.

Luigi Spinelli is Full Professor in Architectural and Urban Design at the Department of Architecture and Urban Studies of Politecnico di Milano.