The Architecture of Urbanity by Vishaan Chakrabarti with Paul Goldberger

Vishaan Chakrabarti, one of today's most inspired architects and urban advocates, launches a manifesto for architecture as a force for addressing our biggest social challenges. He will be in conversation with leading architecture critic Paul Goldberger.

PLEASE NOTE: RSVPs are encouraged but not required. Seating is limited and will be first come, first served. Doors open at 5:30 pm.

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The world is facing unprecedented challenges, from climate change and population growth, to political division and technological dislocation, to declining mental health and fraying cultural fabric. With most of the planet's population now living in urban environments, cities are the spaces where we have the greatest potential to confront and address these problems. In this visionary book, Vishaan Chakrabarti argues for an "architecture of urbanity," showing how the design of our communities can create a more equitable, sustainable, and joyous future for us all.

Taking readers from the great cities of antiquity to the worldwide exurban sprawl of our postindustrial age, Chakrabarti examines architecture's relationship to history's greatest social, technological, and environmental dilemmas. He then presents a rich selection of work by a global array of practicing architects, demonstrating how innovative design can dramatically improve life in big cities and small settlements around the world, from campuses and refugee camps to mega-cities like São Paulo, Lima, Los Angeles, New York, Paris, and Tokyo.

Lavishly illustrated with a wealth of original graphics, data visualizations, photographs, and drawings, The Architecture of Urbanity eloquently explains why cities are the last, best hope for humanity, and why designers must, alongside political, business, community, and cultural leaders, steward the healing of our planet.

Vishaan Chakrabarti is an architect, public thought leader, and the founder of Practice for Architecture and Urbanism (PAU), a Manhattan-based design studio dedicated to building ecological, equitable, and joyous communities. He is the creative director for PAU’s growing portfolio of cultural, institutional, infrastructure, urban planning, and public space projects including Brooklyn’s Domino Sugar Refinery, Cleveland's Rock and Roll Hall of Fame, Princeton's Hobson College, New York’s Pennsylvania Station, Columbus’ InterOculus, Indianapolis’ Wave Bridge, Philadelphia’s Schuylkill Yards, and the FAA’s new sustainable air traffic control tower prototype. As former Manhattan Planning Director after the events of 9/11, he helped to save the High Line, extend the #7 subway line, advance Moynihan Station, rebuild the East River Waterfront, expand Columbia University’s campus, and reincorporate the street grid at the World Trade Center. He taught at Columbia for over a decade and served as the Dean of the College of Environmental Design at UC Berkeley. Chakrabarti is the author of the highly acclaimed book A Country of Cities: A Manifesto for an Urban America (Metropolis Books, 2013) and The Architecture of Urbanity: Designing for Nature, Culture, and Joy (2024, Princeton University Press). He speaks widely on matters of urban architecture and the need to design cities to foster flourishing communities. You can see him speaking about his work and vision for TED ?url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.youtube.com%2Fwatch%3Fv%3DB8kyrIQCFXQ&data=05%7C02%7CJodi_Price%40press.princeton.edu%7Cbd7876d0552443a31ac008dc74eeda80%7Ce07c4d477d7c45e0a0123272632a829e%7C0%7C0%7C638513816458592495%7CUnknown%7CTWFpbGZsb3d8eyJWIjoiMC4wLjAwMDAiLCJQIjoiV2luMzIiLCJBTiI6Ik1haWwiLCJXVCI6Mn0%3D%7C0%7C%7C%7C&sdata=15pTU%2FAnqC4GV43OhZ649KijOAOIRg58jRire%2Fs1syk%3D&reserved=0">span> and ?url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.youtube.com%2Fwatch%3Fv%3DhItQZfVU6-g&data=05%7C02%7CJodi_Price%40press.princeton.edu%7Cbd7876d0552443a31ac008dc74eeda80%7Ce07c4d477d7c45e0a0123272632a829e%7C0%7C0%7C638513816458603728%7CUnknown%7CTWFpbGZsb3d8eyJWIjoiMC4wLjAwMDAiLCJQIjoiV2luMzIiLCJBTiI6Ik1haWwiLCJXVCI6Mn0%3D%7C0%7C%7C%7C&sdata=kU3GZyfU8DxzHN9Z%2BbwB9cWb53ASgO9P8SEWl6%2B0cEM%3D&reserved=0.

Paul Goldberger, cited by The Huffington Post as “the leading figure in architecture criticism,” is a Contributing Editor at Vanity Fair. From 1997 through 2011 he served as the Architecture Critic for The New Yorker. He is the author of numerous books, including BALLPARK: Baseball in the American City; Building Art: The Life and Work of Frank Gehry; Why Architecture Matters; Blue Dream and the Legacy of Modernism and the Hamptons, and DUMBO: The Making of a Neighborhood. He also holds the Joseph Urban Chair in Design and Architecture at The New School in New York City and was formerly Dean of the Parsons School of Design at The New School.