DPZ CoDesign facts for kids
DPZ CoDesign, also known as DPZ, is a company that designs towns and buildings. It was started in 1980 by a husband-and-wife team, Andrés Duany and Elizabeth Plater-Zyberk, in Miami, Florida.
DPZ is famous for promoting something called New Urbanism. This is a way of designing communities to be walkable, friendly, and have a mix of homes, shops, and parks close together. DPZ has helped design over 300 new and existing communities in the United States and other countries. Other important partners at DPZ include Galina Tachieva, Marina Khoury, Senen M. A. Antonio, and Matthew J. Lambert.
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What DPZ CoDesign Does
DPZ CoDesign works on many different types of projects. They help plan entire regions and downtown areas. They also design brand new towns and villages.
Their work includes:
- Designing new towns and villages.
- Improving existing city areas.
- Creating communities near public transport, like train stations.
- Updating older suburban areas.
- Designing college campuses and different types of housing.
- Planning for affordable housing and public buildings.
DPZ has its main office in Miami, Florida. They also have offices in Gaithersburg, Maryland, and Portland, Oregon.
Awards and Recognition
DPZ has won many awards for their amazing projects. These include two National AIA Awards and the Thomas Jefferson Award. They also received the Vincent Scully Prize.
One of their most famous projects is Seaside, Florida. This was the first truly new town built successfully in the United States in over 50 years. In 1989, Time magazine even called Seaside one of the top 10 design achievements of the decade.
Cool Projects by DPZ
DPZ has designed many well-known communities. Here are some examples:
- East Beach, Norfolk, Virginia
- Village of Providence, Huntsville, Alabama
- Alys Beach, Florida
- Prospect New Town, Longmont, Colorado
Helping Communities After Disasters
DPZ CoDesign has played a big role in helping communities rebuild after natural disasters. After hurricanes Katrina and Rita hit the Gulf Coast, DPZ helped a lot. They worked with government groups in Mississippi and Louisiana.
DPZ's designers created plans for rebuilding at different levels. These plans helped entire regions, local towns, and even individual neighborhoods. They also made guides for homeowners who wanted to rebuild their homes.
Some of their important recovery work includes:
- Organizing the Mississippi Renewal Forum. This event created plans for eleven towns along the Mississippi Coast.
- Developing plans for rebuilding the Southern Louisiana coast as part of the Louisiana Speaks effort.
- Helping with the Unified New Orleans Plan. They planned for areas like the French Quarter and Gentilly.
After the earthquake in Haiti in 2010, DPZ also helped. They worked with The Prince's Foundation for the Built Environment to create a recovery plan for Port-au-Prince.
