News

Henk Ovink’s “Design and Politics” studio makes headlines

Two articles have been published about Henk Ovink’s urban planning and design studio “Design and Politics: Managing Risks and Vulnerabilities.” 

Modeled on the Department of Housing and Urban Development’s competition, Rebuild By Design, the studio challenged GSD students to consider the region affected by Hurricane Sandy by identifying different layers of risks and vulnerabilities and designing spatial and political systems that carry significant regional impact. A report on the results of the studio will be published by the GSD later this year.

Related Links:

Avoid the ‘science of yesterday’: Dutch analyst seeks ideas to sidestep flooding from the next Hurricane Sandy,” Harvard Gazette, May 12, 2014

Harvard Students Tackle Policy and Design for Post-Sandy Resiliency,” Architect’s Newspaper, May 14, 2014

Design critic Henk Ovink is senior advisor to Shaun Donovan (MArch ’95), Secretary of Housing and Urban Development (HUD), in his role as Chair of the Hurricane Sandy Rebuilding Task Force. The Rebuild By Design competition addresses structural and environmental vulnerabilities that Hurricane Sandy exposed in communities throughout the region, and develops fundable solutions to better protect residents from future climate events. 

Photo: Stephani Mitchell/Havard Gazette