Making the Arctic City

Hemmersam charts the unique motives and circumstances that have produced a distinct form of urbanism with comprehensive aplomb. The book provides urgent insight into the formation of Arctic cities and their trajectories from both a global polar view and from on the fragile ground in which they emerge. * Mason White, University of Toronto, Canada, founding partner, LATERAL OFFICE * In an increasingly relevant and global North, Peter Hemmersam brings a perspective of urbanism. Russia, Canada and Greenland of the last century offer Hemmersam ideas of relationships, and the historical and political frameworks that drive the built form. Hemmersam recognizes Indigenous communities and knowledge that provide a blueprint for thriving within the landscapes, which has been both embraced and ignored by settlers. With a sense of utility and in a place of extremes, we consider a new architecture and a new plan for imagining urban futures in the Arctic. * Julie Decker, Museum Director/CEO, Anchorage Museum, USA * Within a context of accelerated climate change, Hemmersam’s book brings much needed expertise to fill a void in scholarship that is long overdue for understanding the legacy and future of architecture and urban design in the incredibly important, complex, and rapidly changing Arctic region. * Matthew Jull, PhD, Arctic Design Group, School of Architecture, University of Virginia, USA *