Born in Lima in 1936, Ciriani moved to France in 1964, where for a decade he was concerned primarily with the design of buildings with institutional and social functions, such as the residences at Marne-la-Vallee, the kindergarten and complex at Saint-Denis and the kitchens of Saint-Antoine Hospital in Paris. With the '80s his work came to international attention through the design and construction of the Museum of the Great War at Peronne, the archaeological museum in Arles and residential projects in the Netherlands.

The monograph presents and analyzes over fifty works by Ciriani and describes his role within French and European architectural culture. For the first time the individual projects are illustrated not only by technical drawings and wide photographic coverage, but also by a rich selection of study sketches by Ciriani himself, who uses this tool to constantly monitor projects as they progress. The book is completed by a registry of the works.