Where there are vacancies, there is room for new uses, such as housing and leisure and health-care facilities. This often results in surprising combinations, such as a school or a community centre in a factory complex, a shop in a church or a recreation area in a military zone.

Reuse, Redevelop and Design presents 20 inspiring redevelopment projects. The book addresses the story behind the success of redevelopment in essays on heritage policy, public-private partnerships, financing and design.

The creative way Dutch architecture offices deal with heritage is also catching on abroad, as evidenced by OMA's projects in Italy and Germany, West 8's in Russia, Mecanoo's in the United States and Maurer's in China.