The panoramic history of the world as seen through the lens of real estate development.
Buy Book“A fascinating study of real estate development that goes back to some of the earliest days of land ownership and our relentless, exhausting quest to build. Auerbach and Nadel bring the evolution of all our human settlement-making to captivating and vivid life.”
—Kerry Gold, real estate columnist, Globe and Mail
From Augustus, emperor of ancient Rome, who was responsible for shaping the world’s largest city into an imperial capital, to Joseph Smith of frontier America, who preached about the “Promised Land” while practising land speculation, Placemakers focusses on the visionaries and profiteers who put their stamp on history—and on the land. It celebrates their legacy around the globe, from the Middle East to Europe and North America, making side trips to China and even outer space. It will appeal to architects, planners, and all others who are curious about the history of real estate development.
“A fascinating study of real estate development that goes back to some of the earliest days of land ownership and our relentless, exhausting quest to build. Auerbach and Nadel bring the evolution of all our human settlement-making to captivating and vivid life.”
—Kerry Gold, real estate columnist, Globe and Mail
“Who’d have thought a history of real estate could be such a deeply satisfying and riveting read? Rich in wit, anecdote and authorial commentary, Placemakers transforms one’s view of the world around us in unexpected ways.”
—Lisa Birnie, New York Times best-selling author