Star architecture and urban transformation: introduction to the special issue

For nearly as long there have been urban centres, exceptional architecture projects contributed to transforming city form and fortunes. In this special issue of ‘European Planning Studies’, we focus on star its ability contribute transformation, with articles the phenomenon from a range disciplines. Star is topic where concerns about place, identity, economy, innovation communication intersect. introduction issue, overview how participates in transformations, address research into connects ideas identity branding, media, governance itself. We also methodologies for studying transformation: choice methods approach affects problematization types questions that can be answered. Studying offers insight disparate fields including network analysis, media studies, geography, planning, cultural branding spectacle. By looking beyond economic effects, researchers expand audience studies architecture, more fully understand role transformation.