With comparable global ambitions, post-industrial economies and international demographics, there is much that unites the cities of London and New York.
Growing up in tandem and maturing as urban democracies during the 19th and 20th centuries, London and New York have both influenced the shape and form of cities around the world. There is much that connects the two: global ambitions, post-industrial economies and international demographics. As both cities grapple with a housing crisis, fuelled by escalating prices, ageing stock and a scarcity of genuinely affordable homes, homelessness and inequality have become entrenched. The two metropolises are united by a pressing need to address urban housing provision and social equity.
Offering a practical guide to the past, present and future of housing, Dual Cities explores social and affordable housing models in London and New York. Illustrated case studies showcase best practice in parallel, demonstrating how the cities have inspired and learnt from each other. Complemented by a set of thoughtful essays and interviews with experts from both sides of the Atlantic, the book demystifies current policy, delivery mechanisms and ways of working, providing valuable lessons in creating better and more resilient cities through improved housing.
Featuring:
- Contextual case studies, including: Alton East West, Blackfriars, Becontree and Dujardin Mews in London, and East River Houses, Riverbend City, Sunnyside and Williamsburg in New York.
- 20 contemporary case studies from New York and London, fully illustrated with photographs, drawings and plans.
- Featured projects by: Adam Khan Architects, Al-Jawad Pike, Archio, Bernheimer Architects, FXCollaborative, Karakusevic Carson Architects, Mae, Magnussen Architecture and Planning, Mary Duggan Architects and Shakespeare Gordon Studio.
- Expert contributors include: Abigail Batchelor, John Boughton, Patrice Derrington, Alex Ely, Moses Gates, Karen Kubey, Matthew Lasner, Brian Loughlin, David Madden and Kath Scanlon.
Dual Cities is supported by the AIA New York Chapter
00.00 RIBA/AIA Foreword
1 FORWARD MATTER
1.0 Side by Side, London + New York in numbers (statistics)
1.1 A Tale of Two Cities by Paul Karakusevic
1.2 Parallel Municipal Cultures by John Boughton
2 TIMELINE
2.0 London + New York Timeline
2.1 Blackfriars
2.2 Boundary
2.3 Becontree
2.4 Amalgamated
2.5 Sunnyside
2.6 Ossulston
2.7 First Houses
2.8 Williamsburg
2.9 East River Houses
2.10 Golden Lane
2.11 Alton East West
2.12 Riverbend
2.13 Lillington Gardens
2.14 Co-op City
2.15 Marcus Garvey Village
2.16 Alexandra Road
2.17 Via Verde
2.18 Dujardin Mews
3 URBAN THEMES
3.1 Londons Social Housing Stock, Comfort and Renewal by Helen Garett +
Mike Althorpe
3.2 Social + Affordable Toolkits - A Historic Context of Housing
Intervention in New York City by Matthew Lasner
3.3 New York City Social Housing Stock Profile and Public Legacy by Moses
Gates
3.4 Defining Social + Affordable Housing in London Today by Kath
Scanlon
3.5 Defining Affordable in New York City Today by Patrice Derrington
3.6 London Dwellings Standards Enabling the Equitable City by Alex Ely
3.7 The Tyranny of the Unit Count The Shifting Space of New Yorks
Affordable Dwellings by Brian Laughlin
3.8 Negotiated Settlements - Planning in London Today by Abigail Batchelor
3.9 New York Citys Land Use System By Vicki Been and Will Gomberg
3.10 Agitators & Alt Developers - Community-Led Housing in London by Lois
Innes
3.11 Housing Inequality in New York City - The Twentieth Century Through to
Today by James Rodriguez
3.12 An Inventory of Whats Possible - Community Housing + Action in New
York By Karen Kubey
4 CASE STUDIES
4.1 Citizens House By Archio
4.2 Chowdhury Walk + Tori Ann Walk by Al-Jawad Pike
4.3 Appleby Blue Almshouses by WWM
4.4 Nightingale Estate Plot E by Stephen Taylor Architects
4.5 The Rise by Magnussen Architecture + Planning (MAP)
4.6 175 Delancey Street by Dattner Architects
4.7 Covenant House By FXCollaborative
4.8 Caesura Brooklyn by Bernheimer Architects
4.9 Tower Court by Adam Khan Architects
4.10 El Borinquen Residence by Alexander Gorlin Architects
4.11 Lion Green Road by Mary Duggan Architects
4.12 Hegeman Residence by Cook/Fox
4.13 Tres Puentes by Shakespeare Gordon Studio
4.14 Lexden Steyne Estate by Karakusevic Carson Architects
4.15 Landing Road + Reaching by ESKW/Architects
4.16 Agar Grove By Mae
4.17 Spofford, La Peninsula by Body Lawson Associates + WXY
4.18 Kings Crescent Estate by Karakusevic Carson Architects
4.19 Colville Estate by Karakusevic Carson Architects
4.20 NYCHA Campus Responses
a. Baychester + Murphy Houses By Curtis + Ginsberg Architects b + c Casa
Celina + Sol on the Park By Magnussen Architecture + Planning (MAP) d Cooper
Park By Peterson Rich Office (PRO)
5 END MATTER
5.1 Social Housing Futurism by David Madden, LSE
5.2 Glossary London + New York
Paul Karakusevic is founder of Karakusevic Carson Architects and over the past 20+ years he has worked with residents and local government to improve the design and delivery of social and genuinely affordable homes. To date, the studio has completed 10 major public housing schemes in London and has projects in Europe and North America. In 2017, Paul co-authored the book Social Housing: Definitions and Design Exemplars, published by RIBA and co-authored both Public Housing Works in 2021 and Retrofit Social Housing: A Practical Guide for Local Authorities & Registered Providers of Social Housing in 2023.
Mike Althorpe is an urban historian and researcher at Karakusevic Carson Architects whose work focuses on social housing and urban policy. In 2021 he co-authored the studios first monograph Public Housing Works and in 2019 co-authored Revolutionary Low Rise: Informing Londons Suburban Densification. While public programmes lead at RIBA, he produced the exhibitions A Place to Call Home, The Brits Who Built The Modern World and Mackintosh. He is also an independent curator of walks and tours, compiling stories of architecture and the city as The London Ambler .
