How Home Design Can Break the Housing Crisis
01.14.2026
When it comes to single-family houses, custom construction can provide good design for less.
When it comes to single-family houses, custom construction can provide good design for less.
Affordable housing
New York City Is Losing Affordable Housing at an Alarming Rate
02.20.2025
The problem is that City of Yes was an open call to build with no requirements that lost affordable units be replaced.
The problem is that City of Yes was an open call to build with no requirements that lost affordable units be replaced.
A Radical (and Totally Practical) Rethinking of U.S. Housing Construction
01.06.2025
Vienna and Paris demonstrate that there are easier, less-expensive ways to build homes.
Vienna and Paris demonstrate that there are easier, less-expensive ways to build homes.
Will Mayor Eric Adams’ “City of Yes” Be a City for All?
12.16.2024
New York’s massive zoning overhaul has passed. What now?
New York’s massive zoning overhaul has passed. What now?
NYC’s ‘City of Yes’ Proposal Is a Free Pass for Big Real Estate
09.10.2024
It won’t create affordable housing, but instead lead to continued gentrification and displacement.
It won’t create affordable housing, but instead lead to continued gentrification and displacement.
What Happened to New York City Public Housing, and How Can We Fix It?
04.04.2024
The former chief architect for NYCHA on what ails the the system.
The former chief architect for NYCHA on what ails the the system.
How the NIMBY-YIMBY Debates Worsened the Housing Crisis
09.11.2023
And how to change things for better results.
And how to change things for better results.
Making the Case for Sustainable Housing: It’s Time for a New Argument
05.01.2023
How to undo the tension between affordability and sustainability.
How to undo the tension between affordability and sustainability.
Big Real Estate’s Continuing Stranglehold Over New York City
02.14.2022
The problem isn’t an inability to build housing, but an inability to build the kind of housing the city actually needs.
The problem isn’t an inability to build housing, but an inability to build the kind of housing the city actually needs.
New Construction Is Not Always the Answer
01.19.2022
Housing, and creating more of it, is much more complex than a recent Atlantic piece suggests.
Housing, and creating more of it, is much more complex than a recent Atlantic piece suggests.
Reaching for Zero Energy in High Density Housing
12.01.2021
Five ways to think differently about lowering greenhouse gas emissions in multifamily projects.
Five ways to think differently about lowering greenhouse gas emissions in multifamily projects.
Let’s Recognize California’s Informal Settlements as the Places They Are
09.15.2021
It’s time to make visible the long invisible.
It’s time to make visible the long invisible.
We Already Have Viable Models for Quality Affordable Housing
06.15.2021
History offers up myriad ways to solve the problem.
History offers up myriad ways to solve the problem.
A Less Atomized, More Communitarian Los Angeles? Low-Rise Winners Point the Way
05.16.2021
Christopher Hawthorne, L.A.’s Chief Design Officer, on new directions in density and housing.
Christopher Hawthorne, L.A.’s Chief Design Officer, on new directions in density and housing.
How Do We Solve America’s Housing Crisis?
04.25.2021
Transforming the suburbs might be a crucial first step.
Transforming the suburbs might be a crucial first step.
Alissa Walker: Echo Park and the Housing Crisis in Los Angeles
04.04.2021
What the recent mass eviction of the homeless means for the city.
What the recent mass eviction of the homeless means for the city.
Christopher Hawthorne on Low-Rise: Housing Ideas for Los Angeles
12.10.2020
The newest effort organized by the city’s chief design officer.
The newest effort organized by the city’s chief design officer.
Whack-a-Mole Urban Planning in Los Angeles Is Not Working
08.17.2020
Solving one problem adds troubles somewhere else. The region needs to think holistically.
Solving one problem adds troubles somewhere else. The region needs to think holistically.
Boris Johnson’s Wake-Up Call to Housing Advocates in California
08.10.2020
His attempt to end local control of housing development echoes attempts in the Golden State.
His attempt to end local control of housing development echoes attempts in the Golden State.
Rob Walker on the Mistakes of Brad Pitt’s Make It Right
02.18.2019
A talk with the journalist and New Orleans resident, who recently took a deep and critical look at the architectural experiment.
A talk with the journalist and New Orleans resident, who recently took a deep and critical look at the architectural experiment.
Donate to CommonEdge.org, a Not-For-Profit website dedicated to reconnecting architecture and design to the public.
Donate