It's always about each specific location, the people, and a vision. This is the message distilled from these portraits of 30 reused industrial areas. In a wide variety of places all round the globe, reinterpretations of the legacy of the industrial age are releasing tremendous potential energy and creativity - in the USA, Russia, Brazil and China just as much as in Europe. The book examines the background, protagonists and concepts involved and shows various strategies for reuse. In essays and interviews, specialists from both the theoretical and practical fields explain their findings and experiences. Dutch book designer Joost Grootens, well known for his self-explanatory 'infographics', has given the 30 projects a visual form allowing fascinating comparisons.