We <3 Cookie Cutter Housing

​Join us for a lecture and conversation with Daniel Jonas Roche, Brad Isnard, and Zara Pfeifer — exhibition curators of Jessor — on the history of radical, affordable housing in New York City through a new lens. On view at Citygroup through May 23, Jessor features original photographs, drawings, and biographical research about Herman Jessor, the most prolific affordable housing architect in New York City history.

​​Between 1925 and 1974, Herman Jessor designed over 40,000 units of cooperative housing, often generic in appearance. With his primary clients — the International Ladies Garment Workers Union, Amalgamated Clothing Workers Union, and United Housing Foundation — Jessor oversaw the construction of Co-op City, Penn South, Rochdale Village, and Starrett City, to name a few.

​This lecture will revisit Jessor and the politico-economic machine which supported the astounding volume of mass-produced, limited-equity cooperative housing he achieved. For architects, planners, and politicians that aspire to build a “Mitchell Lama 2.0” program in order to tackle today’s housing crisis, learning from the immigrant architect Herman Jessor is a good place to start.

​This event is free with RSVP. Light refreshments will be served.

​Event Schedule

​6 pm: Doors open

​6:30 pm: Lecture

​7:15 pm: Reception

​​NOTICE OF ACCESS, FILMING, AND PHOTOGRAPHY

​​Van Alen is committed to ensuring that all of our events are inclusive and accessible for all participants. Van Alen Institute is on the ground floor and ADA-accessible. If you require accommodations or have any questions about access needs, please email [email protected] and we will do our best to support your participation.

​​​When you attend this event, you enter an area where photography, audio, and video recording may occur. By entering the event premises, you consent to such recording media and its release, publication, exhibition, or reproduction.