Rezoning: At What Cost? by Tatiana Kalainoff

Rezoning: At What Cost? is an interactive data physicalization that transforms complex housing policy data into a tactile and immersive experience. The project visualizes the impact of the 2021 Gowanus neighborhood rezoning by mapping all permitted residential buildings since the rezoning’s approval and their affordable housing breakdowns. Each building is represented as a 100% stacked bar chart, laser-cut from colored acrylic and scaled to the actual height and massing of the planned structure. The piece allows users to physically interact with the data by removing, rearranging, and reconfiguring building floors, encouraging hands-on social engagement of affordability and equity in urban development.

This project grew from the belief that data should be accessible, engaging, and inclusive. While digital visualizations often require users to interact through toggles and filters for complex datasets on a screen, this project invites them to learn through touch, play, and experimentation. The making process of the piece involved filtering and cross-referencing multiple NYC Open Data sources, including the Housing Database, Affordable Housing Production by Building, and filed construction permits, and manually building axonometric models in 3D software. The challenge of reconciling these datasets underscored the messiness of public data and the barriers that often prevent communities from fully understanding policies that impact them.

Beyond the physical map, Rezoning: At What Cost? includes an accompanying zine that breaks down key housing policy terms and provides context for navigating NYC’s affordable housing system. This additional layer ensures that users—regardless of their prior knowledge—can engage meaningfully with the subject matter. Reflection cards invite participants to document their thoughts and contribute to a growing dialogue on rezoning, housing justice, and urban change.

By turning abstract data into a tangible, interactive art piece, Rezoning: At What Cost? bridges the gap between policy and lived experience. It empowers users to take ownership of the data, ask critical questions, and engage in conversations that go beyond the gallery space. Ultimately, the project seeks to make housing policy more transparent and accessible, sparking meaningful dialogue about affordability, displacement, and the evolving landscape of New York City.