Dual Cities

Social Housing in London & New York

Paul Karakusevic, Mike Althorpe

$94.99

Hardback

Forthcoming
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English

RIBA Publishing
01 July 2025

Residential buildings, domestic buildings; History of architecture; Homelessness

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.

Edited by: Paul Karakusevic, Mike Althorpe
Imprint: RIBA Publishing
Country of Publication: United Kingdom
Dimensions: Height: 250mm, Width: 210mm, Spine: 26mm
Weight: 1.300kg
ISBN: 9781915722423
ISBN 10: 191572242X
Pages: 256
Publication Date: 01 July 2025
Audience: General/trade , Professional and scholarly , ELT Advanced , Undergraduate
Format: Hardback
Publisher's Status: Forthcoming

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 ’.