Now more than ever, especially as it prepares itself to become a world stage for the 2008 Olympics, Beijing is opening itself up to the influence of world architecture. This image-heavy catalogue from the first ever Beijing Architecture Biennial (2004) covers 3 individual exhibitions of avant-garde work: the Fast Forward exhibition featuring 13 advanced architectural firms, the Hot Spot series of individually curated exhibitions from 10 various cities, and the Brain Cells exhibition of architectural research institutes. The works in the exhibition are well-designed, innovative, distinct, and fresh--qualities that this catalogue also possesses. Showcased here, through some 300 architectural drawings and photographs, are examples of the most exciting new talent emerging within architectural culture today.

Edited by Neil Leach and Xu Weiguo,

Essays by Elizabeth Diller, Karl Chu, FOA, Asymptote, Yamaguchi and Gutierrez + Portefaix.

Paperback, 8 x 10.25 in./168 pgs / 300 color.