The Second Studio Design and Architecture Show
#430 - Sara Bronin, Professor of Cornell University and Author of Key to the City
Jan 21, 2025
Sara Bronin, a professor at Cornell University and founder of the National Zoning Atlas, dives into the intricacies of zoning laws and their profound impact on communities. She reveals how zoning regulations can perpetuate issues like gentrification and housing inequity. Highlighting her book 'Key to the City,' Bronin discusses the need for zoning reform and emphasizes the importance of diverse voices in urban planning. The conversation also touches on the role of architecture education in shaping better zoning practices for sustainable and inclusive communities.
01:04:38
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Quick takeaways
- Sara Bronin's journey illustrates how her upbringing in a city without zoning profoundly shaped her perspective on urban planning and development.
- The complexities and obscurities of zoning regulations hinder public understanding and engagement, emphasizing the need for reform in their communication.
Deep dives
Sarah Bronin's Journey and Background
Sarah Bronin shares her unique journey from architecture to law, emphasizing how her upbringing in Houston, a city without zoning, shaped her perspective on the built environment. Growing up around her civil engineer father, she developed an early interest in how drawings translate into real structures. Her educational path led her to the University of Texas for a Bachelor of Architecture, followed by a Rhodes Scholarship that allowed her to delve into historic preservation at Oxford. This diverse background laid the foundation for her eventual focus on zoning as a mechanism to influence urban livability and policy.
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