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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Episode guests

Sara Bronin

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Episode notes

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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.

Bronin's National Zoning Atlas initiative aims to make zoning data accessible, providing insights into land usage that can inform community decisions on affordable housing.

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.

Intro

2min

Exploring Sustainable Design and Personal Reflections

2min

From Foundations to Frameworks: An Architect's Journey

11min

Navigating Zoning Laws

14min

Zoning Reform and the National Zoning Atlas Initiative

5min

Unraveling Zoning Complexities

14min

The Intersection of Architecture Education and Urban Planning

17min

This week David and Marina of FAME Architecture & Design are joined by Sara Bronin, Professor of Cornell University; Founder of National Zoning Atlas; and Author of Key to the City: How Zoning Shapes Our World; the three discussed Sara’s childhood & education; her early career; Key to the City book; legalities and authorities of zoning codes; negative effects of zoning codes; National Zoning Atlas; improving zoning regulations; architecture education’s impact on zoning perspective; affordable housing and gentrification; and more.

This episode is supported by Integrated Projects • Enscape • Autodesk Forma & Autodesk Insight • Programa

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