Will Alsop is one of the most exciting British architects working today, responsible for such striking, often colourful, buildings as Le Grand Bleu in Marseilles, the Ferry Terminal in Hamburg and, more recently, the Sterling Prize-winning Peckham Library in south London. This, the first of two volumes on Alsop's work, examines not only his architecture, but also his distinctive creative process. Rarely for an architect, his first development of a new project is through paintings. Beginning with Alsop's student days at the Architectural Association in London, the book traces his development through study abroad, competitions, collaborations with artists and fellow architects, early projects and built works up to 1990. The book ends by looking at the early designs for the landmark Hotel du Departement des Bouches-du-Rhone in Marseilles (Le Grand Bleu), the project that truly launched his career. The book is lavishly illustrated with sketches, paintings, plans and photographs from Alsop's own archives.

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Kenneth Powell is an architectural critic and journalist based in London. His many books include monographs on the work of Norman Foster, Edward Cullinan and Richard Rogers. He is currently consultant director to the Twentieth Century Society.