King's Cross

This book provides the most accurate and most complete account of the evolution of King's Cross Central, one of Europe’s most successful, and most significant, urban regeneration projects. It is already the subject of considerable international interest, attracting the attention of planners, politicians and urban designers both at home and abroad. The four authors of this book all played key roles in the development of the project and together they describe how and why King’s Cross Central came about.

Beginning by setting out King's Cross’s rich and complex history, the book then provides fascinating insights from the main protagonists, from initial concept, based on an innovative mixed-use approach based on ten guiding principles which set out the ‘human city’; through its evolution with various stakeholders involved; the complex negotiations regarding planning, conservation and financing; to the development and creation of the public spaces and landscapes and the selection of individual architects and buildings which, together with the renovation of historical buildings, has created King's Cross’s unique and successful character.

Throughout, it is generously illustrated with historic photos and maps, drawings and diagrams, photographs recording the construction phase and specially commissioned graphics summarising key data and images of the site today.

Bob Allies and Graham Morrison are founding partners of Allies and Morrison, one of the UK’s leading architecture and urbanism practices. Bob Allies is Chair of the Architecture Faculty at the British School at Rome, Professor of Architecture at Bath University, and Architect in Residence for the city of Bath. Graham Morrison is a trustee of Portsmouth’s Historic Quarter and was a Commissioner of English Heritage and a Member of the Royal Fine Art Commission and the South Downs National Park. Robert Evans is a planner, chartered surveyor and developer. He was part of the Argent leadership team for King’s Cross from 2001 and the first Chief Executive of the Estate from 2018, leaving both roles in 2023. He is a founder governor of King’s Cross Academy School. Demetri Porphyrios, Princeton graduate, Driehaus Prize Laureate, Archon of the Ecumenical Patriarchate and former trustee of The Prince’s Foundation, has a global reputation as architect, urbanist and theorist. He held visiting professorships at Yale and has published award-winning books on architecture and the city.