Vishaan Chakrabarti, an architect, urbanist, and educator founded the global organization PAU – Practice for Architecture and Urbanism in the year 2015. The PAU team consists of visionaries who believe in creating innovative urban solutions to bring about a sense of connection and sensitivity towards their human recipients. These individuals are experienced in implementing sustainable designs for cities, infrastructure, and public sectors that tangibly enrich society. They also venture into social advocacy projects where they address many issues that we are facing today.
Some projects that highlight their design policy are:
1. Domino Sugar Refinery, Brooklyn, NY
Client: Two Trees Management
In 2017, architect Vishaan Chakrabarti envisioned a plan for adaptive re-use of the former refinery building located in the neighborhood of Williamsburg in Brooklyn, New York. According to this, PAU started designing a mixed-use building that encompasses office spaces, affordable housing, community facilities, and retail. This resulted in a unique approach of fitting the new building inside the original building with a 10 to 12 feet gap between them to achieve standardized height while also providing the inhabitants with unobstructed views of Manhattan. The windows on the ground floor will be converted to doors to allow people to pass from Kent Avenue to Domino Park.
2. JFK Towers at Schuylkill Yards, Philadelphia, PA
Client: Brandywine Realty Trust
The designs of the mixed-use towers, collectively termed as JFK towers, are the result of a collaboration of PAU and Drexel University which includes 1.5 million square feet of transit-oriented office, residential and retail space. Devised to be reminiscent of the varied architectural heritage of Philadelphia, the forms of the towers interact with each other to turn an underutilized space into a center for social activity.
3. Ulaanbaatar Village, Ulaanbaatar, Mongolia
Client: National Amusement Park
Commissioned to design a mixed-use village in the heart of Ulaanbaatar, the PAU proposed a new model that displayed Mongolia’s rich nomadic traditions in an urban context. Contrary to the traditional building styles that restricted pedestrian movement, this model proposed a non-linear and non-gridded plan for freedom of movement. While retaining its character, the Village, made up of local materials and construction methods, also responds to its surroundings efficiently.
4. Sunnyside Yard Master Plan, Queens, NY
Client: New York City Economic Development Corporation
While leading the Master Plan effort for Sunnyside Yard, PAU proposed a plan which responded to many pressing needs of the community which also reflected the diverse neighborhood. The plan presents many prospects such as – creating open spaces and varied social infrastructures, improving transportation facilities, affordable housing, workforce opportunities, and sustainable growth.
5. Attainable New York, Brooklyn, NY
Client: Christian Cultural Center
PAU, along with the Gotham organization is currently working with Reverend Bernard on developing the 11-acre site occupied by the church and parking lot to create a hub for the community and cultural activities. This plan is to include facilities like – a school, a performing arts center, social services, housing for local communities, and retailers including a fresh-food grocery shop and other small shops. All these spaces and services are connected with green spaces and walkways to create a sense of communal living.
6. Riverfront Square, Newark, NJ
Client: Lotus Equity Group
For the development of the master plan of the site located at the nexus between the Passaic River and Branch Brook Park and the design of a residential building, PAU was engaged by the Lotus Equity Group. As the property is surrounded by a diverse neighborhood with rich historical and social significance, the organization adopted a pedestrian-focused approach by creating public spaces linking Broad Street Station to the future Newark Riverfront Park. For the residential complex with mixed-use ground floor, PAU offered a proposal named ‘Street and Sky’ a fusion of contextual constraints and the owner’s interest in the courtyard housing style of Europe.
7. Gowanus Office & High School, Brooklyn, NY
Client: Two Trees Management
Reflecting the industrial neighborhood of Gowanus, PAU has proposed a mixed-use building with high school at the base of the building and space for offices on the upper floors. Increasing pedestrian walkways and improving daylight in public areas, the building is designed to encourage interactions throughout its body. The use of hand-laid bricks and the modulation of the façade will help bring its historical and social context to attention.
ADVOCACY PROJECTS:
8. Penn Palimpsest, New York, NY
Client: The New York Times
As a response to the growing concerns regarding Penn Station, PAU created a vision where the station is reimagined as a center for social activity by repurposing parts of the Madison Square Garden to create a glass pavilion. As compared to building a new structure, this idea would cost less and be less disruptive. Passive heating and cooling systems and many protective measures make this proposal more desirable.
9. The Silverline (ing), New York, NY
To facilitate long-lasting surface mobility and pedestrian-oriented streets in New York, PAU proposes a two-phase project called ‘Silver Line’ focused on creating new station pavilions along 14th Street. This could help create safer, more inclusive, and sustainable public areas. While beautifying the area, this idea could also enhance the public experience by providing segregated parking, shopping areas, and advertisement spaces.
10. Nation Station: A Bellport Transformation, Bellport, NY
PAU proposes the relocation and repurposing of the beach pavilion in Bellport Village to bridge the gap between it and North Bellport. This pavilion would serve as a social hub and bike depot. Additionally, the use of permeable pavers and segregated bike lanes, as suggested by PAU could bring activity and interest to an otherwise abandoned location.
