Interview with Jamie von Klemperer for CoRe Foro Urbano

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KPF Addresses Urban Resiliency, Density at Mexico City Forum

In early December, KPF President Jamie von Klemperer contributed to CoRe of the City’s 2017 Urban Forum (CoRe Foro Urbano). Hosted in Mexico City over two days, the conference gathered public and private experts to discuss and debate best practices of urban planning in the region.

On December 4th, von Klemperer participated in a roundtable discussion titled “Human City/Resilient City.’ The next day, he presented as a keynote speaker on the relationship between private development and open space, in particular designing the public realm of the modern megalopolis. Pointing first to Mexico City’s rich architectural history, he then delved into KPF examples mixed-use projects that integrate public space into their urban design, such as Covent Garden in London, Jing An Kerry Centre and Langham and Andaz Xintiandi in Shanghai, and Hudson Yards in New York.

Focusing on New York, he then reflected on two building projects that integrate highly trafficked corridors of Manhattan. On the one hand, the High Line activates 500 West 21st Street, a small-scale residential building that shifts in massing to appease public use of the recently revived elevated park. On the other hand, the rising tower One Vanderbilt structurally integrates a connection to Grand Central Terminal, alleviating the density of travelers to and from the landmark building.

CoRe represents a “multidisciplinary group of local and international experts that seeks sustainable and inclusive prosperity for Mexico City, while discovering and optimizing all available opportunities.” Its annual urbanism forum, CoRe of the City, supports its goal to promote replicable, responsible, scalable and sustainable practices for Mexico’s urban development.