January 25, 2018

January 25, 2018, New York, NY – The Center for Architecture is proud to announce the opening of Social Housing – New European Projects on Thursday, February 15 at 6:00 pm. The exhibition, curated and designed by Karakusevic Carson Architects, brings together 25 projects by 20 practices to showcase the best new affordable housing in Europe.

Originally debuted at the Royal Institute of British Architects in London and based on a 2017 publication of the same name, Social Housing captures some of the best and most innovative examples of public and not-for-profit housing from eight European countries: Austria, Belgium, Denmark, France, Germany, the Netherlands, Switzerland, and the UK. The exhibition examines a range of building and dwelling typologies, emerging design approaches, and refurbishment strategies. Common to them all is the idea that there are alternatives to purely market-oriented housing provision.

Across Europe, a new generation of architecture practices are transforming affordable housing. Responding to increasing demand, changing clients, and new funding methods, architects are addressing how homes can be delivered affordably while achieving high standards of design. The projects on view in Social Housing invite housing professionals and citizens in the US to rethink how and what they design and build.

New York is currently facing similar issues with the affordable housing crisis. Over the past year, the NYC Public Design Commission (PDC) has worked with the Department of City Planning, the Department of Housing Preservation & Development, the Fine Arts Federation of New York, and AIANY to find new ways of meeting the ever-increasing demand for affordable and well-designed housing. The resulting research, to be released in spring 2018 in conjunction with this exhibition, hopes to tackle the issue of affordability and provide a platform for conversation and growth. As PDC Executive Director Justin Garrett Moore, AICP, said, “By looking closely at a range of contemporary affordable housing development models, such as those presented here, those working in housing today can establish methods by which to effect tangible change and not only produce better buildings but better serve our city.”

Paul Karakusevic of Karakusevic Carson Architects said, “It’s an exciting time for public-sector-led housing across Europe, with great things being done by city authorities and community groups. While economics and architecture differ from country to country, what unites them all is a new confidence and ambition we haven’t seen for some time and so it’s a great moment to bring these projects to New York.’

The Social Housing exhibition with its book is about raising awareness, championing great architecture and client-side processes. At a time when the City of New York is thinking about the future of its own housing provision, we hope it will generate plenty of discussion and provide a set of meaningful case studies from which to draw practical lessons from.”

The exhibition will include drawings, photographs, and 18 models of the featured projects, along with filmed interviews and a country matrix that together offer an essential guide to the wider context for social housing in Europe.

Copies of Social Housing will be available for purchase at the opening and throughout the length of the exhibition.

Featuring projects and contributions by:
Adam Khan Architects (UK), Assemble (UK), Avenier & Cornejo Architectes (France), biq architecten (The Netherlands), Chartier Dalix (France), Frédéric Druot Architecture (France), Hans van der Heijden (The Netherlands), einszueins architektur (Austria), Hawkins\Brown (UK), Haworth Tompkins Architects (UK), Henley Halebrown (UK), Jaccaud Spicher Architectes Associés (Switzerland), Karakusevic Carson Architects (UK), Lacaton & Vassal (France), LAN architecture (France), Mae (UK), Mecanoo (The Netherlands), Mikhail Riches Architects (UK), Mole (UK), muf architecture/art (UK), Niall McLaughlin Architects (UK), s333 architecture + Urbanism (UK), Sergison Bates architects (UK and CH), Stephen Taylor Architects (UK), TVK (France), Witherford Watson Mann (UK) and zanderroth architeckten (Germany).

RELATED PROGRAMS

Opening
Thursday, February 15, 6:00 – 8:00 PM
Press Preview / VIP Opening: 5:00 – 6:00 PM

Symposium: Transforming Social Housing
Saturday, February 17, 1:00 – 6:00 PM
With Paul Karakusevic, Abigail Batchelor and Mike Althorpe, Karakusevic Carson Architects; Adam Khan, Adam Khan Architects; Christelle Avenier, Avenier Cornejo Architectes; Hans van der Heijden; Frédéric Chartier & Pascale Dalix, Chartier Dalix; and Katharina Bayer, einszueins architektur.

Affordable Housing in North America
Tuesday, March 20, 6:00 – 8:00 PM

Members of the press are invited to all related events. Please RSVP to cschaulsohn@aiany.org

This exhibition is supported in part by public funds from the New York City Department of Cultural Affairs in partnership with the City Council.

About Karakusevic Carson Architects
Karakusevic Carson Architects are an award-winning UK based practice at the forefront of public housing design across London. Design and strategy led, the practice formed with the sole intent to raise standards in housing in the UK after 40 years of neglect. The practice has developed a unique portfolio of small and large scale public housing schemes and pioneered a new generation of confident and ambitious city-led masterplans, urban design and viable mixed-use/tenure housing projects, often in the most challenging of neighbourhoods. The practice is committed to working with public sector client groups, municipal authorities and community groups to deliver housing, public buildings and neighbourhoods of exceptional quality with real social value. Karakusevic Carson Architects’ projects have won numerous RIBA, Housing Design and Civic Trust Awards. www.karakusevic-carson.com/

About the Center for Architecture
The Center for Architecture is the premier cultural venue for architecture and the built environment in New York City, informed by the complexity of the City’s urban fabric and in dialogue with the global community. The Center shares a home with the AIA New York Chapter and has the unique advantage of drawing upon the ideas and experiences of practicing architects to produce thought-provoking exhibitions, informative public programs, and quality design education experiences for K-12 students. It also leads New York City’s annual month-long architecture and design festival, Archtober. The Center for Architecture’s aim is to further public knowledge about New York City architecture and architects, foster exchange and collaboration among members of the design, development, building, scholarly, and policy sectors, and inspire new ideas about the role of design in communities by presenting contemporary and practical issues in architecture and urbanism to a general audience. www.centerforarchitecture.org