Introduction

Traditionally, town or city halls have been the most important civic buildings within democratic societies, often dominating a central public space, with their dome or tower competing with church and cathedral spires for both supremacy of the urban skyline and control of their citizens’ lives. For architects, the building type has always represented a major commission in terms of its civic importance, the budget available and the potential for architectural expression, and the selected examples represent some of the greatest architectural achievements of the century by many of its greatest architects including Alvar Aalto, Arne Jacobsen, Richard Meier, Kenzo Tange and Aldo Rossi. Cities and towns were growing fast as their country’s economy and population shifted from agrarian production to industrial and these new urban communities required both increased civic accommodation for their effective management and civic symbols to reflect their newfound local power, wealth and status.