Paris Metro Style: In Map and Station Design [Hardcover]

This book is the first detailed analysis of the rich graphic and architectural history of the Paris Metro stations and its system maps.

With over 1000 images this vibrantly colourful and lavishly illustrated book unravels the captivating history of station design and the amazingly diverse range of maps.

So despite a dreadfully poor level of French, I moved to Paris to begin research on the city's well known and much loved urban icon.

From the bits and pieces that existed elsewhere, mainly in French of course, plus hours of research in archives and private collections, I accumulated a mountain of fascinating material.

The results included so many different maps that I concluded Paris has had a more varied cartographic representation than any other urban transit system. With about a dozen different logos and with at least six attempts at revamping the signage, it has quite possibly also had the most varied graphic design history of an urban rail system too!

So, inspired by the colour scheme and typography of the RATP's current graphic standards, I have attempted to assemble all this in some sort of logical order which will hopefully be as much use to the student of graphic design as to the casual tourist or transport enthusiast.

Though Paris is one of the most photographed cities on earth, I hope that its captivating history, the beautiful and varied maps and the plethora of photographs will inspire those who know the city well as much as the new visitor".

This book is the first to focus exclusively on the rich design history of the maps, stations, signage and graphics used daily by five million inhabitants and tourists. It tells the fascinating story of a fifty year battle to build the system against the backdrop of a country in revolt. The eventual opening, growth and development are lavishly illustrated by over a thousand captivating images.

From the author of international best-seller "Metro maps of the world" comes a work so thorough it is both a gripping read and a thing of beauty. With lush photos and hundreds of beautiful, rare and unusual maps, some seen for the first time since their original publication, this book is a must-have for lovers of Paris, design students, transit fans and cartophiles."

It was the first collection of the official maps and diagrams of every metro, underground, subway and u-bahn system in the world. The book received very positive coverage in The Times, The Observer, The Guardian, Wallpaper Magazine and BBC Radio 4.

The book sold out in two months and was reprinted several times including a substantial re-write and new cover in 2005.

It was picked up by a Dutch imprint called Terra Lannoo who translated it and published it in 2006 under the name of "Metrokarten Van de wereld". It was well received by the Dutch press.

In 2007 it was updated and revised again by the author and published by Penguin in paperback form as "Transit Maps Of The World". This edition received great critical acclaim incuding from The New York Times, Washington Post and National Public Radio.

Ovenden is a former journalist, radio and TV producer and was trained as a graphic designer.