With the aim of exposing emerging themes in the future of contemporary collective housing, a+u examines 15 recently completed projects from Europe, America and Asia. Locations of each project vary, as do the site characteristics, methods of financing, demographics, form and volume of the building and the design and materials used. Introduced by an essay from Ramias Steinmann, the issue includes the following projects: David Chipperfield's Ninetree Village, China; Jakob + MacFarlane's 100 Social Apartments, Paris; the 'Blue' project in New York by Bernard Tschumi; WOHA Architects' Newton Suites, Singapore; and, La Grande Cour in Amsterdam by Meyer en Van Schooten Architecten, Heren 5 Architecten and Cie. All works and projects are accompanied by colour photographs and technical drawings.