Lessons learnt and future research

The chapters in this volume offered diverse perspectives on complex urban cases and issues. The investigations regarding the interplays among star architecture, media, urban effects and heritage (as well as the links across them) provide insights that add new knowledge regarding the processes of making exceptional projects and more generally about the ways in which urban transformations occur in cities in Europe. In this concluding chapter, we highlight three important lessons that can be learnt from this volume. First, any scientific investigation of star architecture must acknowledge and differentiate between star architecture as an output and as a process. Mixing up the categories of investigation frequently hinders the scientific grounding of findings and the possible impact in the public debate. Second, the power of stardom must be understood beyond its capacity to brand places to include also its contribution to the political and symbolic legitimisation of contested projects. Third, star architecture can only be explained where and when it takes place; its effects and impacts indeed greatly vary across contexts. We conclude by providing an outlook for future research.