Via Verde is a subsidized housing development going up in a gentrifying part of the South Bronx, combining towers with townhouses and a contemporary design.
Michael Kimmelman writes that Via Verde "...makes as good an argument as any new building in the city for the cultural and civic value of architecture."
The project was a collaboration between two architectural firms, one with a reputation for high-end design but little experience with affordable housing. The other architect had a lot of affordable housing experience but isn't a design star.
"Unlike so many public-housing projects, Via Verde rethinks the mix of private and public spaces to encourage residents to spend time outside, in the fresh air. It breaks the mold of subsidized housing whereby clinics, low-income rentals and home ownership are all conceived, financed and regulated separately. Piecing them together, it takes the healthier, holistic tack."
FULL STORY: In a Bronx Complex, Doing Good Mixes With Looking Good
Take a Tour of the Revitalized South Bronx
In this article and accompanying video, architecture critic Michael Kimmelman and Planning Commissioner Amanda Burden tour the Melrose section of the South Bronx. Along the way, affordability and density are apparent hallmarks of the undertaking.
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This six-course series explores essential urban design concepts using open source software and equips planners with the tools they need to participate fully in the urban design process.
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