The question of how to build in historic city centres has increasingly troubled - and inspired - the architectural profession over the last 20 years. Stigmatized by the effects of five decades of modernist planning yet equipped with a fresh understanding and appreciation of tradition, architecture has reached what is arguably the most critical crossroads of the century. Architects around the world have begun to break out of the long period of self-imposed abstinence from contextual considerations, seeking ways by which to engage traditional and historic settings in meaningful dialogue and producing some of most engaging proposals in recent times. Differences abound, however, and raise questions concerning the exact nature of intervention. How far should historical precedents be taken as models? How are contemporary social and technological parameters incorporated in the new proposals? How should tradition and originality be understood? How can we retain traditional urban forms within the constraints of contemporary practice? What is the nature of the dialogue between architects and the people for whom they build? These and similar issues have been addressed by some of the world's foremost theorists and practitioners in the discussions of the Symposium here summarized, including Jacquelin Robertson, Maurice Culot, Demetri Porphyrios, Rob Krier and John Simpson.