For many of us who live in New York City, it’s an experience of extremes: the highs are euphoric, and the lows have us face-planting onto our beds at the end of the day, shoes still on. While there is magic in the make-it-or-break-it cycle, there are many aspects of city life that are just plain difficult, imbalanced, or outright inequitable, especially when it comes to the housing, public infrastructure, and the systems we all need to move through our days with adequate support. In this issue of Oculus, our contributing writers focus on the ways architects are working to make the city a more livable place for citizens of all types—including themselves—such as creatively adapting to zoning changes that would bring about more affordable housing options, or executing a planning exercise that resulted in less segregated public schools. The work documented on the following pages touches on many of the precise and surgical ways that architects can improve the housing situation, upgrade and beautify neighborhoods, and connect residents to their communities.
