Dual Cities
Social Housing in London & New York
1st Edition
Published on 1. July 2025
Book
Hardback
256 pages
978-1-915722-42-3 (ISBN)
Description
The Big Smoke. The Big Apple.
Bright lights and skylines set the scene for a housing tale of two cities: 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, widespread homelessness is all too visible on the streets. 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.
Bright lights and skylines set the scene for a housing tale of two cities: 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, widespread homelessness is all too visible on the streets. 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.
More details
Language
English
Place of publication
London
United Kingdom
Target group
Professional and scholarly
Professional Practice & Development
Dimensions
Height: 216 mm
Width: 257 mm
Thickness: 30 mm
Weight
1270 gr
ISBN-13
978-1-915722-42-3 (9781915722423)
Copyright in bibliographic data and cover images is held by Nielsen Book Services Limited or by the publishers or by their respective licensors: all rights reserved.
Schweitzer Classification
Other editions
Additional editions
E-Book
07/2025
RIBA Publishing
€59.49
Available for download
E-Book
07/2025
RIBA Publishing
€59.49
Available for download
Persons
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 studio's first monograph Public Housing Works and in 2019 co-authored Revolutionary Low Rise: Informing London's 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 '.
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 studio's first monograph Public Housing Works and in 2019 co-authored Revolutionary Low Rise: Informing London's 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 '.
Content
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 London's 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 York's Affordable Dwellings by Brian Laughlin
3.8 Negotiated Settlements - Planning in London Today by Abigail Batchelor
3.9 New York City's 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 What's 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
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 London's 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 York's Affordable Dwellings by Brian Laughlin
3.8 Negotiated Settlements - Planning in London Today by Abigail Batchelor
3.9 New York City's 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 What's 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